Pinecone Burke Provincial Park

Public Advisory
BC Hydro has begun site preparation to twin 250 kilometres of their main electrical transmission line from the Interior (Nicola Valley) to the Lower Mainland (Coquitlam). Known as the “ILM”, the project has been approved by the BC Environmental Assessment Office and is required in order to reliably deliver clean and renewable energy and help meet the future electricity demands of the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. The transmission line corridor is adjacent to Sasquatch Park, and it passes through the southern end of Golden Ears Park and Pinecone Burke Park. Park visitors may expect to encounter crews and vehicles accessing the transmission line corridor from various locations within these three parks until November 2012 to facilitate vegetation removal and work along the right of way, in advance of further electrical line infrastructure upgrade slated for 2013. Some traffic disruption may be experienced along roadways in order to facilitate access for workers and equipment to the transmission corridor.

For more information on BC Hydro’s initiative, please see: (http://www.bchydro.com/energy_in_bc/projects/ilm.html)

For the 2012 season:

• Campfires are not permitted within the park at any time.
• Please use the food cache provided at Widgeon Creek campsite to prevent bear/human conflicts.
• Please utilize the existing tent pads at the Widgeon Creek campsite when camping, to minimize your impacts on the area. Do not camp on vegetated areas.
• The Widgeon Creek campsite is a user maintained area. There are no trash cans provided - pack out everything you pack in. Leave nothing behind.
• Dogs must remain on leash at all times while within the park. Always clean up and properly dispose of your dog's waste.

About This Park

This park designation is part of the Lower Mainland Nature Legacy initiative. Pinecone Burke is going through the master planning process. Current park operations are at a minimum. As a result mapping and information about the opportunities is limited. It is the hope of BC Parks to further develop information pertaining to this park over the coming years.

Park Size: 38,000 ha

Stay Safe: Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park. Creek water is available at all day-use and camping areas. Always boil, filter and otherwise treat your water before consuming.

Location and Maps

• Location Map

The park lies south of Garibaldi Provincial Park, west of Pitt Lake and Pitt River and extends south to include Burke Mountain in Coquitlam. Nearby communities include Coquitlam and Maple Ridge.

Burke Mountain is accessible by using old logging roads and trails from the Port Coquitlam and the District Hunting and Fishing Club at the end of Harper Road to Munro and Dennett lakes and Burke Ridge. This area is also accessible via Coast Meridian Road, Apel Drive (which becomes Victoria Drive), and Quarry Road.

Widgeon Slough and Widgeon Valley are accessible by boat. Canoes or kayaks can be launched from Grant Narrows at the south end of Pitt Lake, and paddled through Widgeon Slough. An old logging road leads hikers up the lower valley where a trail branches off for Widgeon Lake.

West Pitt Lake, including DeBeck Valley is accessible by boat. An old logging road extends from the mouth of the creek to a point approximately one quarter of the way up the valley. An intermittent trail leads over the pass to Boise Valley.

From the east, access to Boise Valley and Pinecone Lake is via boat to the north end of Pitt Lake, and then by logging road (16 km and 30 km respectively) to the trailhead leading through the main valley. From the west, logging roads lead to the park through the Mamquam and Indian River valleys.

Maps and Brochures

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

• Park Map (pdf)

Nature and Culture

• Cultural Heritage - Pinecone Burke Park includes part of the traditional territory of the Katzie First Nation, and borders a Katzie Indian Reserve. The area within the park was used extensively for its plant, fish and wildlife resources.
  
  The Five Fingers alpine area north of Widgeon Lake, has long been a destination for mountain climbers. First assents date back to the early 1920’s. An abandoned mine tunnel and old steam donkey west of Pitt Lake are evidence of resource use in the area.
• Conservation - Pinecone Burke Park protects the western shore of Pitt Lake, the largest fresh water tidal lake in North America. It is a wilderness area protecting old-growth forests, numerous alpine lakes, rugged terrain and remnant icefields. Widgeon Slough is the largest freshwater marsh in southwestern BC and Widgeon Lake is largest hanging lake in Greater Vancouver’s north shore mountains.
  
  All five species of Pacific salmon, cutthroat trout, steelhead trout, and migratory Dolly Varden char can be found in the park. Pinecone Burke Park provides habitat for black-tailed deer, mountain goats, black bears and grizzly bears. Six sensitive or vulnerable species occur in the park, including the tailed frog, great blue heron, Vaux’s swift, Huttons’ vireo, shrew mole, and the Pacific jumping mouse. The park also contains nationally recognized wetlands in the Widgeon Valley.

Management Planning

Management Planning Information

• online documents not available at this time.

Activities Available at this Park

Canoeing

Fishing

Hiking

Hunting

Pets on Leash

Swimming

Wildlife Viewing

Winter Recreation

Facilities Available at this Park

Group Camping

Picnic Areas

Pit or Flush Toilets

Walk-In/Wilderness Camping

Winter Camping