# Buntzen Lake — Anmore > Buntzen Lake guide — swimming beaches, the lake loop trail, parking, dog area and Anmore-side day-trip notes from Craig Johnston, REALTOR®. **Source:** https://soldbycraig.ca/buntzen-lake-anmore-guide/ **Author:** Craig Johnston, REALTOR® (BC Licence V99960) · The MACNABS · Royal LePage Elite West **Site:** https://soldbycraig.ca --- Buntzen Lake · BC Hydro Recreation Area ## Buntzen Lake — Tri-Cities' busiest BC Hydro recreation area. Updated July 2026 · Craig Johnston, REALTOR® V99960 · 47-year Tri-Cities local A 4.8 km lake managed by BC Hydro, in northeast Anmore. Free vehicle reservations May 14 – September 7, 2026 (mandatory in peak season). Two beaches with summer lifeguards. The famous 10 km Buntzen Lake Trail loop with a 70 m suspension bridge. Plus Diez Vistas if you want a harder day. [Reserve your free spot](https://www.bchydro.com/buntzen)[Book a Strategy Call](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) At a glance 4.8 km Lake length Glacier-fed · cold but swimmable in summer · in northeast Anmore 4 Named trails Buntzen Lake Loop, Diez Vistas, Lakeview, Energy Trail ~10 km Main loop length Includes 70 m suspension bridge near North Beach (opened 2023) Free Vehicle reservation Mandatory May 14 – Sept 7, 2026 · book at bchydro.com/buntzen 90%+ Anmore congestion drop Since the reservation system launched in 2022 2 Beaches South Beach (lifeguarded peak summer) and quieter North Beach Craig's insider intel ## Reserve at 7 a.m. the day before. Or come by bike. Buntzen is the closest "real" wilderness lake to the Tri-Cities — 4.8 km of glacier-cold water with a serious trail loop around it. The reservation system is the thing most visitors get wrong. **It opens at 7 a.m. the day before your visit**, weekend Morning passes go inside the first 10 minutes, and if you don't have a pass you can't get in (cyclists and transit users are exempt — that's a real workaround). If you want the main loop, do it counter-clockwise — you'll hit the suspension bridge as the reward at the back of the lake. If you want a hard day, Diez Vistas is 6–7 hours and has ten viewpoints, but the early scrambles are real. The Energy Trail is a 30-minute loop if you just want a walk while the kids swim at South Beach. Craig Johnston REALTOR® V99960 · 50+ years in the Tri-Cities · trail-runs Mundy & hikes Belcarra weekly [Book a strategy call →](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) 2026 reservation system — active May 14 – Sept 7 ## Free parking pass. Day-before booking. No pass, no entry. BC Hydro's reservation system enters its fifth summer in 2026. Mandatory for vehicles May 14 – September 7. Three pass types — Morning, Afternoon, or Full-Day — all free. Reservations open at 7:00 a.m. the day before your planned visit at bchydro.com/buntzen or via the Yodel app. Cyclists and transit users don't need a pass. Repeat no-shows get account-suspended. [Reserve at BC Hydro](https://www.bchydro.com/buntzen) Trails ## Four trails. Easy to hard. Pick your day. Buntzen's network ranges from a 30-minute family loop to a 6-hour viewpoint epic. The suspension bridge on the main loop opened in April 2023 and is now the trail's signature shot. Moderate ### Buntzen Lake Trail (main loop) **Length** ~10 km loop **Time** 2.5–4 hours **Elevation** ~250 m cumulative **Surface** Dirt, roots, some boardwalk **At the end:** Floating bridge at the south end. 70 m suspension bridge near North Beach (opened April 2023). The classic Buntzen day. Dog-friendly (leashed) Suspension bridge Hard ### Diez Vistas (Ten Views) **Length** 13–15 km loop **Time** 6–7 hours **Elevation** ~460 m (2,125 ft) **Surface** Dirt, roots, rock, scrambles **At the end:** Ten panoramic viewpoints over Indian Arm and Burrard Inlet. The hardest day in the area. Don't attempt when wet — slippery early scrambles. Dog-friendly (leashed) Advanced Moderate ### Lakeview Trail **Length** 6 km one-way (12 km return) **Time** 5–6 hours return **Elevation** 150 m **Surface** Dirt, roots **At the end:** Winds past North Beach and the suspension bridge. Quieter alternative to the main loop with some very steep portions. Dog-friendly (leashed) Easy ### Energy Trail **Length** 1 km loop **Time** ~30 minutes **Elevation** 15 m **Surface** Dirt, gravel **At the end:** Loops a wooded knoll southwest of the South Beach boat launch. Best for families with young kids or anyone who just wants a quick walk while the rest of the group swims. Dog-friendly (leashed) Family-friendly Beaches, boating, dogs, picnic ## What else is at Buntzen. Two beaches, dog-friendly off-leash swimming area, boat rentals, picnic shelter. Everything you need for a full day. ### South Beach (lifeguarded summer) The main beach off the primary parking lot. Larger and family-friendly. Lifeguards from the Lifesaving Society of BC patrol during peak summer (weather-dependent — check signage). Picnic areas plus a covered picnic shelter. This is the default Buntzen day with kids. ### North Beach Smaller, quieter, reached via the Lakeview Trail or by boat. NO lifeguards. The view back across the lake is the postcard shot. Bring a packed lunch — there's no concession on this end. ### Off-leash dog beach Designated off-leash area for swimming with dogs. Dogs are leashed everywhere else in the park, so this is the spot if your dog wants in the water. ### Kayak / canoe / SUP **Motorized boats prohibited** — only small battery-powered electric motors allowed. Car-top and hand-launch dock at South Beach. Rentals from **Buntzen Lake Rentals** and from the **Anmore Store** on Sunnyside Road on the way to the park. ### Picnic shelter & areas Picnic areas at both North and South Beach. Covered picnic shelter at South Beach. First-come, first-served. Saturday afternoons fill fast — earlier the better. ### Cyclist / transit hack Cyclists and transit users do NOT need a reservation. The road into Buntzen has limited transit (no SkyTrain) but if you can bike there from Anmore or Port Moody, you skip the entire reservation game. It's the underused workaround for locals. Frequently asked ## Buntzen Lake — frequently asked ### Do I need a reservation to visit Buntzen Lake? Yes — mandatory for vehicles May 14 to September 7, 2026. Reservations are free, open at 7 a.m. the day before your visit, and can be booked at bchydro.com/buntzen or via the Yodel app. Three pass options: Morning, Afternoon, or Full-Day. Cyclists and transit users are exempt. ### How long is the Buntzen Lake loop trail? The main Buntzen Lake Trail loop is approximately 10 km with ~250 m of cumulative elevation gain. Takes most hikers 2.5–4 hours. Surface is dirt, roots, and some boardwalk. The 70 m suspension bridge near North Beach (opened April 2023) is the trail's signature feature. ### Is Diez Vistas a hard hike? Yes. Diez Vistas is rated Hard — 13–15 km, ~460 m elevation gain (2,125 ft), 6–7 hours, with steep technical scrambles in the early sections. Ten panoramic viewpoints reward the effort. Don't attempt when wet — the early scrambles are slippery. ### Can I swim at Buntzen Lake? Yes. South Beach is lifeguarded during peak summer (weather-dependent). North Beach is unguarded and quieter. There's also a designated off-leash dog swimming beach. The lake is glacier-fed so it's cold even in August. ### Are dogs allowed at Buntzen? Yes — leashed on the trails. There's a designated off-leash dog swimming beach. Two other designated off-leash areas exist for trail use. Diez Vistas has technical terrain that may not suit all dogs. ### Can I bring a motorboat to Buntzen Lake? No. Motorized boats are prohibited. Only small battery-powered electric motors are allowed. Car-top and hand-launch only at South Beach. ### Where can I rent a kayak or paddleboard at Buntzen? Two options. **Buntzen Lake Rentals** operates at the lake itself (canoe, kayak, paddleboard). The **Anmore Store** on Sunnyside Road — on the way to the park — also rents canoes. ### What's the suspension bridge at Buntzen Lake? A 70-metre pedestrian suspension bridge near North Beach, opened in April 2023. It's part of the main Buntzen Lake Trail loop and crosses the inlet at the back of the lake. The signature photo of the park. ### Can I bike or transit to Buntzen Lake to skip the reservation? Yes — cyclists and transit users don't need a reservation. Transit options are limited (no SkyTrain access; bus options minimal), but biking from Anmore or Port Moody is a legitimate way to bypass the reservation system. ### Is Anmore real estate worth the premium for Buntzen access? Anmore commands a premium specifically because of its proximity to Buntzen and Belcarra. Anmore village homes are typically on 1-acre minimum lots, with the trade-off being a longer commute to Vancouver and no SD43 busing. For families who hike, paddle, and swim multiple times a week, the lifestyle value is real. For occasional visitors, the premium is harder to justify versus living in Port Moody or Burke Mountain with shorter commutes. Companion reads ## Keep exploring. [Adjacent park ### Belcarra Regional Park 1,100 ha · 26 km of hiking trails · Sasamat Lake warm swim.](/belcarra-regional-park-guide/) [Neighbourhood ### Anmore Village The closest residential pocket to Buntzen. 1-acre minimum lots.](/anmore/) [Buying guide ### Moving to Anmore What to know before you commit to the village.](/moving-to-anmore/) [Catchment ### Anmore Elementary The only public school in the Village of Anmore.](/anmore-elementary-school-guide/) Buying or selling near here? ## Considering an Anmore home? Anmore is the closest neighbourhood to Buntzen and Belcarra trails. The trade-off is no SD43 busing, longer commutes, and acre-minimum lots. Book a 20-minute strategy call and I'll walk you through whether the lifestyle premium is right for your family — or whether Port Moody or Burke Mountain gets you 90% of the access for less. 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