At a glance
Craig's insider intel
I hike Belcarra year-round — usually Admiralty Point because the inlet views from The Point never get old, and you can stop at Cod Rock or take a private bluff scramble along the way. In summer my family makes a weekday tradition of it: come up after work, picnic dinner at the Belcarra picnic area or White Pine, swim while the sun's still up. Sasamat is the warmest freshwater swim in Metro Vancouver — it actually warms up by late June.
For Father's Day, the move is Jug Island. ~2 hours round trip, leashed dogs allowed the whole way, and you finish on a small pebble beach with a view of the island. Pack a sandwich and you'll be back before dinner.
REALTOR® V99960 · 50+ years in the Tri-Cities · trail-runs Mundy & hikes Belcarra weekly
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Every trail in the park, with verified distance, difficulty, dog policy, and what you actually find at the end. Pick the one that fits the day.
The weekday tradition
When the weather turns in late June, Belcarra becomes the easiest weekday family dinner in the Tri-Cities. Pack a cooler, head up after work, eat at the picnic area or White Pine, swim while the kids still have light. The trick: come on a Tuesday or Wednesday, not a weekend. Weekend lots are full by mid-morning.
Swim spots & beaches
Belcarra has three swim spots and they're each different. White Pine is the warm freshwater family swim. The Picnic Area is the saltwater inlet swim. Jug Island is the trail-reward swim.
Practical info
The stuff that determines whether your visit goes well. Saved here so you don't have to dig through Metro Vancouver's site.
təmtəmíxʷtən · "the biggest place for all the people"
təmtəmíxʷtən is a hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word meaning "the biggest place for all the people". It was a primary winter village of the səlilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation — and the archaeological record at site DhRr 6 documents continuous occupation for over 4,000 years, with shell middens carrying ~3,000 years of stratified record and abundant salmon vertebrae dating Coast Salish fishery stewardship back to roughly 850 BC.
In October 2021, Metro Vancouver Regional Parks formally renamed the park to təmtəmíxʷtən / Belcarra Regional Park in recognition of that history. This isn't a "former" presence — Tsleil-Waututh have lived here, fished here, and gathered here continuously for thousands of years. Takaya Tours, a Tsleil-Waututh-owned operation based at the Belcarra Paddling Centre, runs cultural canoe tours that surface the history of the place in the words of the people whose territory it is.
Source: peer-reviewed archaeological research (PLOS ONE 2023), Tsleil-Waututh Nation, and Metro Vancouver Regional Parks.
Frequently asked
Yes — and it's the one I do. ~2 hours round-trip (5.5 km), leashed dogs allowed the entire way, ends on a small pebble beach with a view of the island. Manageable for most fitness levels, just expect roots and some rocky scrambles. Pack lunch and swim gear in summer.
White Pine Beach on Sasamat Lake — it's one of the warmest natural freshwater bodies in Metro Vancouver. Sandy, shallow, family-friendly, lifeguarded in peak summer. No dogs allowed on the beach. Arrive before 10 a.m. on summer weekends or the lot will be full.
Yes — leashed dogs are allowed on every named trail in the park: Admiralty Point, Jug Island (including the beach), Burns Point, Bedwell Bay, Springboard, and the Sasamat Lake loop trail. Dogs are NOT permitted at White Pine Beach or any of the Sasamat Lake beaches/swim areas.
Pay parking applies April 1 – September 30, but only after 10:00 a.m. — $2.50/hour or $15/day maximum. Parking is FREE before 10 a.m. in summer, and free year-round before April 1 or after September 30. Arrive before 10 a.m. and you save money and you actually get a spot.
It's a hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word meaning "the biggest place for all the people" (or, in another translation, "lots of land"). The area was a primary winter village of the səlilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation and has been continuously occupied for over 4,000 years. Metro Vancouver renamed the park to təmtəmíxʷtən / Belcarra Regional Park in October 2021.
Seven named trails totalling roughly 26 km of hiking plus about 9 km of bike-friendly trail (Springboard). The named trails: Admiralty Point, Jug Island Beach, Cod Rock (spur), Burns Point (extension), Sasamat Lake Loop, Springboard, and Bedwell Bay.
Anmore and Belcarra command a real premium specifically because of the park access. Anmore village is the closest residential pocket to Sasamat Lake / White Pine and the trail network; Belcarra village itself is even more exclusive (1-acre minimum lots, Indian Arm waterfront). For families who weekly hike or weekly swim at Belcarra, the premium is justified by the lifestyle. For families who'd visit a few times a year, it's worth comparing against Heritage Mountain or Burke Mountain where you get faster Vancouver commutes for less money.
Lifeguards from the Lifesaving Society of BC are on duty at White Pine Beach during peak summer (typically late June – early September). Belcarra Picnic Area Beach and Jug Island Beach are NOT lifeguarded. Always check posted signage on the day of your visit.
Entrance gates open daily at 8 a.m. Closing time varies seasonally and is typically around dusk. Gates are closed overnight. Check posted signage on the day for exact closing time.
Through Metro Vancouver's ActiveCommunities portal — search for Belcarra Picnic Shelter #1 or #2. Both accommodate groups up to ~50 with covered benches and BBQ areas. Outside booked dates, shelters are first-come, first-served.
Companion reads
Trail deep-dive
Per-trail breakdowns, parking realities, the local's read.
Adjacent park
BC Hydro's busiest rec area. Reservation system + trail rundown.
Neighbourhood
The closest residential pocket to Belcarra trails and Sasamat Lake.
Neighbourhood
Indian Arm waterfront homes. 1-acre minimums. The exclusive read.
Buying or selling near here?
Anmore and Belcarra command a real premium for park access — but the right address inside Anmore can save you six figures vs. Belcarra waterfront while keeping the same trail access. Book a 20-minute strategy call and I'll show you what's actually moving in each pocket.
Continue your research
Master guide
Indian Arm waterfront, the regional park, low-turnover inventory.
Price bands
Indian Arm waterfront — the honest tier-by-tier read.
Lifestyle
Dock, foreshore, the regional park as backyard.
Access types
The structural choice between Belcarra waterfront types.
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