Section at the start of the trail near Burnside & Hwy 1
A World Below the Streets
The first thing that strikes you about the Colquitz Trail is the topography. The trail and the creek it follows often dip a few meters below the surrounding urban areas. This isn’t just a path beside a road; it’s a sunken sanctuary. Dense vegetation, tall trees, and wide canopies create a natural ceiling that furthers the feeling of refuge.
Colquitz River Trail,
What makes this experience unique is the contrast. You aren’t deep in the wilderness; you are sandwiched between busy roads and residential streets. Yet, the rushing water, the high embankments, and the persistent birdsong effectively mute the urban buzz . It creates a sense of peace that feels almost intentional—a deliberate pocket of calm carved out of the concrete.
The Route
People can walk, run or cycle approximately 5 kilometres north on the trail until it connects with the Royal Oak Trail at Brydon Park, at the south end of Royal Oak Shopping Centre.
The trail can be done in sections, as an out and back, or you can make it into a large loop and joining up to the Lochside Trail and take the Lochside back to where it connects to the Galloping Goose and back to Tillicum Mall.
The south portion of the trail is arguably more scenic and shaded from the sun. On this part of the trail, people follow the meandering route of the creek until they reach Hyacinth Park, near Marigold Road.
The bridge across the Colquitz River
Signs along the trail remind users that the creek is still a significant salmon bearing stream. People are also reminded of community involvement with a number of pebble mosaics embedded at various points along the path. These mosaics were created, with guidance by local artists, by Grade 8 students at the nearby Colquitz Middle School as a B.C. Rivers Day project a few years back.
A narrow path across the Colquitz River on Marigold Ave
The trail emerges from the shade after Hyacinth Park as it makes its way toward Panama Flats and nearby Panama Hill Park, which boasts Garry oak meadows, wetlands as well as some First Nations archeological sites.
The Colquitz River in Hyacinth Park
The south trailhead is noisy, with traffic from the Trans-Canada Highway speeding overhead. It is also hard to spot, tucked to the west of the intersection of Interurban and Burnside Road West, both busy arterial roads. But the sound of traffic quickly gives way to the soothing sound of the creek as one enters the canopy of mature oaks that flank both banks of the trail. The path consists of compacted gravel suitable for bicycles and wheelchairs.
Entering Panama Flats
Panama Flats
Panama Flats
Once through the Panama Flats, the trail crosses Roy Rd and continues on through a green belt eventually crossing Carey Rd, where it enters Copley Park West, then across Vanalman Ave into Copley Park East. Here the trail enters another beautiful forested section running along Viaduct Creek.
Just north of the Roy Road crossing
Crossing Viaduct Creek in Copley Park East
Beautiful forested section along Viaduct Creek
This section of trail continues to follow Viaduct Creek, crossing Mann Ave and eventually spills you out onto a paved trail taking you to Brydon Park. From here it is a short distance to the Royal Oak Shopping district where you can find a spot to stop for a coffee or lunch at the many business located here.From here you can ride back the way you came. or you can carry on, traversing some roads to eventually join up with the Lochside Trail.
Map
For a complete map of the trail, click HERE.
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