# Minnekhada Regional Park, Coquitlam > Minnekhada Regional Park, Coquitlam — the complete local guide. High Knoll and Low Knoll viewpoints, the marsh dike, named trails, the historic 1934 Lodge, wildlife, free parking and directions, by a 47+ year Coquitlam resident. **Source:** https://soldbycraig.ca/minnekhada-regional-park-coquitlam-guide/ **Author:** Craig Johnston, REALTOR® (BC Licence V99960) · The MACNABS · Royal LePage Elite West **Site:** https://soldbycraig.ca --- Minnekhada Regional Park · NE Coquitlam · Metro Vancouver ## Minnekhada Regional Park, Coquitlam — the marsh, the knolls, and the quietest weekend hike in the Tri-Cities. Minnekhada is a 211-hectare Metro Vancouver regional park in northeast Coquitlam — freshwater marsh, forested slopes and rocky knoll viewpoints beside the Pitt River and the Pitt-Addington Marsh. High Knoll gives you the Pitt River, Burke Mountain and the Golden Ears in one panoramic; the historic 1934 Lodge is the heritage layer most people miss. This is the complete local guide: trails, viewpoints, the Lodge, wildlife, parking and directions. Written by Craig Johnston, REALTOR® V99960 — a 47+ year Coquitlam resident who has hiked it dozens of times. [See every Tri-Cities trail →](/hikes-and-trails-coquitlam-tri-cities/) [Free Move-Up Planner (PDF) →](/coquitlam-move-up-planner/) **Updated:** July 7, 2026 · **License:** V99960 · **Brokerage:** Royal LePage Elite West ★ Tri-Cities Move-Up Specialist 47+ year Coquitlam resident Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS® Top 2% Team Member — Royal LePage nationwide Medallion Club Team Member since 2021 Quick Answer What is Minnekhada Regional Park? Minnekhada Regional Park is a 211-hectare Metro Vancouver regional park in northeast Coquitlam, BC — a rugged landscape of freshwater marsh, forested slopes and rocky knoll viewpoints beside the Pitt River and Pitt-Addington Marsh. Its signature hike, High Knoll (about 180 m / 600 ft), is roughly 5 km round-trip and delivers panoramic views over the Lower Marsh, the Pitt River and Pitt Meadows. Entry and parking are free. The historic Minnekhada Lodge, built 1934–1937, opens to the public on the first Sunday of each month. Guide written by Craig Johnston, REALTOR® and 47+ year Coquitlam resident. Quick answer · Where is Minnekhada Regional Park? Minnekhada Regional Park is in northeast Coquitlam, BC, beside the Pitt River and the Pitt-Addington Marsh. The main entrance is at **4000 Quarry Road** (primary trail access); a secondary **Oliver Road** entrance serves the historic Lodge. It is a **Metro Vancouver regional park** covering roughly **211 hectares**, with about **12 km of trails** and five named lookouts. Parking and entry are **free**. High Knoll (about **180 m**) is the summit reward, and the marsh dike is the best wildlife-viewing spot in the park. Fast facts ## Minnekhada, before you go. The essentials for planning a visit — the size, the setting, the summit, the Lodge, and the cost. Every tile links to a deeper page where it makes sense. [211 ha Marsh, forest & rocky knolls See Tri-Cities trails](/hikes-and-trails-coquitlam-tri-cities/) [Metro Van Metro Vancouver regional park All Coquitlam parks](/coquitlam-parks-and-trails/) [NE Coquitlam By the Pitt River & Addington Marsh Where it sits](/coquitlam-parks-and-trails/) [~180 m High Knoll viewpoint (600 ft) The summit hike](/hikes-and-trails-coquitlam-tri-cities/) [1934 Historic Minnekhada Lodge The heritage layer](/coquitlam-history-and-heritage/) [FREE Entry & parking, year-round No fee, no reservation](/coquitlam-parks-and-trails/) What it actually is ## What Minnekhada actually is. Minnekhada is one of my favourite Coquitlam hikes — quieter than Buntzen, more open than Burke, and rich with wildlife in a way few Metro Vancouver parks can match. It's a rugged 211-hectare Metro Vancouver regional park at the northeast edge of Coquitlam, where the forested slopes meet the flat expanse of the Pitt River and the Pitt-Addington Marsh. The landscape is a mix of three things: a large freshwater marsh split into an Upper and Lower basin by a dike and footbridge; rocky knoll viewpoints that rise out of the forest; and a network of well-marked trails threading between them. This is not a manicured city park with playgrounds and sports fields — it's wild country, and that's the whole appeal. The signature reward is High Knoll: a roughly 5 km round-trip climb to a rocky bluff at about 180 m, with a panoramic that takes in the Lower Marsh, the Pitt River, Pitt Meadows, Burke Mountain to the north and the Golden Ears to the east. The Mid-Marsh dike is the easy, flat counterpoint — the most reliable wildlife-viewing spot in the park. And tucked in the forest is the historic Minnekhada Lodge, a Scottish-style country hunting estate built in the 1930s that most weekend visitors never realize is there. Minnekhada sits just north of the [Burke Mountain](/burke-mountain/) area and adjoins [Pinecone Burke Provincial Park](/pinecone-burke-provincial-park-guide/) to the north. It's a genuine destination hike — pack water and a snack, keep the dog leashed, and give yourself a couple of hours to do it properly. Trails & viewpoints ## About 12 km of trails, five lookouts. Pick your day. Minnekhada's trail network is compact and well-marked, and most trails connect at the Quarry Road parking area. The marsh is split into an Upper and Lower basin by a dike and footbridge; Low Knoll gives you a lower-marsh view, and High Knoll is the summit reward. Here are the named trails and what each one delivers. [High Knoll Trail ~5 km round-trip · ~180 m summit The summit of the park. A moderate climb of roughly 140 m of gain to a rocky, exposed bluff with panoramic views over the Lower Marsh, the Pitt River, Pitt Meadows, Burke Mountain and the Golden Ears. Careful footing near the top in wet weather. Tri-Cities trail guide](/hikes-and-trails-coquitlam-tri-cities/) [Low Knoll Trail Lower-marsh viewpoint A rocky knoll overlooking the Lower Marsh — lower than High Knoll and often quieter. A good alternative view when High Knoll is busy, and part of the popular Lodge–Fern–Mid-Marsh loop. Tri-Cities trail guide](/hikes-and-trails-coquitlam-tri-cities/) [Mid-Marsh Trail Easy family loop · best wildlife Crosses the dike between the Upper and Lower Marsh on an elevated footbridge. The most reliable wildlife spot in the park — geese, mergansers, buffleheads, beavers, bald eagles and great blue herons. Tri-Cities trail guide](/hikes-and-trails-coquitlam-tri-cities/) [Quarry Trail Main artery from the car park The main artery from the Quarry Road parking lot, connecting to every other trail in the park. Old quarry remnants are visible along the route — the natural starting point for most visits. Coquitlam parks & trails](/coquitlam-parks-and-trails/) [Lodge Trail Easy walk · heritage destination Connects the Quarry Road parking lot to the heritage Minnekhada Lodge through a cedar and Douglas-fir grove. An easy family walk with a genuine historic destination at the end. Coquitlam history & heritage](/coquitlam-history-and-heritage/) [Perimeter Loop Quarry + Fern + Lodge combined Circumnavigates the developed park area, hitting the Lodge, the Lower Marsh and a section of the knoll forest. The best ‘show me everything’ route if you're new to Minnekhada. Coquitlam parks & trails](/coquitlam-parks-and-trails/) The heritage layer ## Minnekhada Lodge — the historic country retreat in the woods. Most weekend hikers never realize it's there: a Scottish-style hunting lodge tucked into the forest, built nearly a century ago. Minnekhada Lodge was built **1934–1937 by Eric Hamber**, who served as Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia from 1936 to 1941. Designed by architect Bernard Palmer as a Scottish-style country hunting estate on a substantial $50,000 budget for the era, the Lodge reportedly hosted **King George VI and Princess Elizabeth** (later Queen Elizabeth II) during their 1939 royal visit. The Metro Vancouver Regional District acquired the farm and Lodge in the mid-1990s, expanding the existing regional park to its current 211 hectares. The Lodge is open to the public on the **first Sunday of each month, February through December, from 1:00–4:00 p.m.** (closed in January). It's also available for rental — weddings, events and meetings — through Metro Vancouver at 604-432-6352. The Lodge Trail from the Quarry Road parking lot makes an easy family walk out to it. For more on the area's heritage, see the [Coquitlam history & heritage](/coquitlam-history-and-heritage/) guide. Wildlife & what to do ## What you'll actually see. Minnekhada is one of the richest wildlife sites in Metro Vancouver — a 1993 Burke Mountain Naturalists survey recorded 151 bird species in the park. Between the marsh and the forest there's birding, hiking and photography in equal measure. Here's the honest read on the wildlife and the activities. ### Wildlife & birding The freshwater marsh is the draw — the Mid-Marsh dike is the highest-success wildlife-viewing spot in the park. - [Waterfowl — mergansers, buffleheads, wood ducks, mallards, Canada geese](/coquitlam-parks-and-trails/) - [Great blue herons & bald eagles over the marsh](/coquitlam-parks-and-trails/) - [Beavers maintain the marsh; black-tailed deer browse the forest edges](/coquitlam-parks-and-trails/) - [Black bears patrol the slopes — keep dogs leashed, make noise](/coquitlam-parks-and-trails/) - [151 bird species recorded (1993 Burke Mountain Naturalists survey)](/coquitlam-parks-and-trails/) ### Things to do here A compact park that packs in a genuine summit hike, easy marsh loops and heritage — plan a couple of hours. - [Hiking — the High Knoll summit loop (about 1.5–2 hours)](/hikes-and-trails-coquitlam-tri-cities/) - [Birdwatching & photography from the Mid-Marsh dike](/coquitlam-parks-and-trails/) - [Visiting the historic Lodge (first Sunday of the month)](/coquitlam-history-and-heritage/) - [Easy family walks on the flat marsh loops](/coquitlam-parks-and-trails/) - [Comparing it to other Tri-Cities hikes](/hikes-and-trails-coquitlam-tri-cities/) Access, parking & getting there ## Parking, entrances, hours & the practical stuff. Free parking is the headline. There are two main entrances — Quarry Road for the trails, Oliver Road for the Lodge — plus a secondary northwest entrance with no parking. Cell coverage on the knolls is unreliable, so download offline maps before you go. Quarry Road entrance 4000 Quarry Road · FREE The primary trail access for hikers and birdwatchers, and the natural starting point for High Knoll, the marsh loops and the Perimeter Loop. Fills first on weekends — arrive before 10 a.m. for an easy spot. Metro Vancouver does not charge for parking. Oliver Road entrance Lodge & some trails The secondary entrance for access to the historic Minnekhada Lodge and some connecting trails. The Lodge is open the first Sunday of each month, 1–4 p.m. (February–December). A quieter alternative when the Quarry Road lot is full. Hours, dogs & washrooms Leashed dogs · vault toilets Generally accessible around 7 a.m.–5 p.m.; gates close overnight and closing times vary seasonally — confirm before a late-day hike. Leashed dogs are welcome on all trails (no off-leash area). Vault (outhouse-style) toilets at the Quarry Road lot and near the Lodge — no flush washrooms. A note on bears & safety Minnekhada has an active black bear population — it's the subject of an ongoing WildCAMS wildlife-camera study because of the density. Travel in groups, make conversational noise as you walk, keep dogs leashed at all times, carry bear spray if you have it, and never approach wildlife. Check Metro Vancouver Regional Parks advisories before you visit. [Trail safety & more hikes →](/hikes-and-trails-coquitlam-tri-cities/) Neighbourhoods near Minnekhada ## Where you'd live to have this on your doorstep. Minnekhada itself has no homes — it's a wild regional park. But the residential pockets closest to it are the northeast-Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam neighbourhoods just to the south and southwest. If a park like this is part of what you're buying for, here's where to look. [Burke Mountain Newer NE-Coquitlam pocket The newer-construction Coquitlam-side residential area just south of Minnekhada, with strong trail access and family-oriented streets. The closest residential neighbourhood to the park. Burke Mountain guide](/burke-mountain/) [Oxford Heights Northeast Port Coquitlam An established family neighbourhood in northeast Port Coquitlam, on the PoCo side near the De Boville Slough dike network that links toward Minnekhada. Oxford Heights guide](/oxford-heights-port-coquitlam-guide/) [River Springs Northeast Port Coquitlam A quiet, established pocket in northeast Port Coquitlam near the river and dike trails — one of the nearest residential areas to the Minnekhada side of the Pitt River lowlands. River Springs guide](/river-springs-port-coquitlam-guide/) Questions answered straight ## Minnekhada Regional Park FAQs. The questions visitors ask first about Minnekhada — answered straight, from someone who has hiked it dozens of times. How long is the hike to High Knoll at Minnekhada? About 5 km round-trip from the Quarry Road parking lot, with roughly 140 m of elevation gain to the summit at about 180 m. Plan 1.5–2 hours total. The trail is moderate — dirt with roots, plus rocky scrambles near the top. From the summit you get panoramic views of the Pitt River, the Pitt-Addington Marsh, Burke Mountain to the north and the Golden Ears to the east. Compare it to other [Tri-Cities hikes](/hikes-and-trails-coquitlam-tri-cities/). Where is the Minnekhada parking lot, and is it free? The main entrance is at **4000 Quarry Road, Coquitlam**, with a secondary entrance at **Oliver Road** for Lodge access. Metro Vancouver does not charge for parking at Minnekhada — it's **free year-round**. The Quarry Road lot fills first on weekends; arrive before 10 a.m. for an easy spot. See all [Coquitlam parks & trails](/coquitlam-parks-and-trails/). How many trails does Minnekhada have? About **12 km of trail network** with five named lookout points. The named trails include High Knoll, Low Knoll, Mid-Marsh, Quarry, Lodge and Fern, plus a Perimeter Loop that combines several trails into an approximately 5 km circuit. Most trails connect at the Quarry Road parking area. Can I visit Minnekhada Lodge? Yes. The historic Minnekhada Lodge, built **1934–1937** by Eric Hamber (later Lieutenant Governor of BC), is open to the public on the **first Sunday of the month, February through December, 1:00–4:00 p.m.** (closed January). It's also available for rental through Metro Vancouver at 604-432-6352. More on the area's story in the [Coquitlam history & heritage](/coquitlam-history-and-heritage/) guide. Are there bears at Minnekhada, and are dogs allowed? Minnekhada has an active black bear population — it's the subject of an ongoing WildCAMS wildlife-camera study because of the density. Leashed dogs are welcome on all park trails; there's **no off-leash area**, a rule tied directly to bear activity. Travel in groups, make conversational noise, keep dogs leashed, and never approach wildlife. Always check Metro Vancouver Regional Parks advisories before you go. Is Minnekhada a good wildlife-viewing park? One of the best in Metro Vancouver. A 1993 Burke Mountain Naturalists survey recorded **151 bird species** in the park. The freshwater marsh hosts mergansers, buffleheads, wood ducks, mallards, Canada geese and great blue herons; beavers maintain the marsh, black-tailed deer browse the forest edges, and black bears patrol the slopes. The Mid-Marsh dike is the most reliable wildlife-viewing spot. What does the name “Minnekhada” mean? It's a Sioux (Dakota) word meaning **“rattling water”**, given by Harry Leroy Jenkins, a Minnesotan who acquired the land in 1912 to establish the Minnekhada Dairy and Stock Farm. Despite a common misconception, it does *not* mean “many beaver,” though the marsh does host beavers. Minnekhada sits within the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the kʰikʰəƛ̭əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation. Where does Minnekhada connect to other trails? Minnekhada sits adjacent to [Pinecone Burke Provincial Park](/pinecone-burke-provincial-park-guide/) to the north, accessed via Quarry Road past the park entrance. The [Traboulay PoCo Trail](/traboulay-poco-trail-guide/) connects to Minnekhada via De Boville Slough on the south side, making it possible to loop the park with the longer Port Coquitlam dike network. Who's writing this ## Why 47+ years in Coquitlam matters when you're buying near Minnekhada. I'm not going to pretend to be a park ranger — but I've hiked Minnekhada dozens of times, and I know this corner of northeast Coquitlam the way only a 47+ year local can. If a wild regional park on your doorstep is part of the lifestyle you're buying for, I can tell you honestly which nearby neighbourhoods actually deliver that access, what they trade against Burke Mountain and the Port Coquitlam pockets, and what's moving in the area. That's the read a fly-in agent can't copy. ### Craig Johnston, REALTOR® Tri-Cities Move-Up Specialist · 47+ year Coquitlam resident · Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS® · Top 2% Team Member — Royal LePage nationwide · Medallion Club Team Member since 2021 · The MACNABS Team · Royal LePage Elite West · BCFSA #V99960. Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore, Belcarra. REALTOR® V99960 47+ year Coquitlam resident Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS® Top 2% Team Member — Royal LePage nationwide 5.0 stars · 34+ verified Google reviews Medallion Club Team Member since 2021 [Read Craig’s full bio →](/coquitlam-realtor-craig-johnston/) [Why pick a Coquitlam specialist](/best-realtor-in-coquitlam/) Verified client reviews ## What clients say. 5.0 stars across 34+ verified Google reviews. Three, verbatim. ★★★★★ “We received seven offers, and Craig held firm on our priorities: no subject to sale and achieving our price.” Jim Turnbull · Google Review ★★★★★ “Craig sold my property in just 6 days. Before I knew it, we had multiple offers — all over asking price.” Heather Fox · Google Review ★★★★★ “Craig worked with my wife and me for over 3 years to find the perfect home.” David Catterall · Google Review Methodology ## Where the details come from. Every fact on this page is drawn from Metro Vancouver Regional Parks information, the park's documented history, and first-hand visits — never fabricated. Trail distances and elevations are approximate working figures; always check current park advisories and hours before you go. Sources below. ### Sources & Methodology - **Park operator, size & access:** Metro Vancouver Regional Parks — Minnekhada Regional Park (211 hectares; free parking; Quarry Road & Oliver Road entrances). - **Trails & viewpoints:** Metro Vancouver trail information and first-hand visits — High Knoll (~180 m), Low Knoll, Mid-Marsh dike, Quarry, Lodge, Fern and the Perimeter Loop (~5 km). - **Wildlife:** 151 bird species recorded in the 1993 Burke Mountain Naturalists survey; WildCAMS Minnekhada black bear study. - **Minnekhada Lodge:** Built 1934–1937 by Eric Hamber (Lt. Governor of BC 1936–1941); public open first Sunday of the month, Feb–Dec, 1–4 p.m.; rentals via Metro Vancouver (604-432-6352). - **Name & land:** “Minnekhada” is a Sioux (Dakota) word for “rattling water” (Harry Leroy Jenkins, 1912). Traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the kʰikʰəƛ̭əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation. Authored by Craig Johnston, REALTOR® V99960 · Royal LePage Elite West · 47+ year Coquitlam resident. This page is editorial commentary, not legal or tax advice. Always verify current park hours, advisories and trail conditions with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks before visiting. Continue your research ## Related Coquitlam pages. Keep exploring — the nearby parks, the neighbourhoods, the trails, and the money pages. Or hit **⌘K** any time to search the whole site. #### Nearby parks & trails - [Pinecone Burke Provincial Park](/pinecone-burke-provincial-park-guide/) - [Belcarra Regional Park](/belcarra-regional-park-guide/) - [Mundy Park](/mundy-park-coquitlam-guide/) - [Traboulay PoCo Trail](/traboulay-poco-trail-guide/) - [Coquitlam Parks & Trails](/coquitlam-parks-and-trails/) - [Tri-Cities Hikes & Trails](/hikes-and-trails-coquitlam-tri-cities/) #### Neighbourhoods nearby - [Burke Mountain](/burke-mountain/) - [Burke Mountain Homes](/burke-mountain-homes/) - [Oxford Heights](/oxford-heights-port-coquitlam-guide/) - [River Springs](/river-springs-port-coquitlam-guide/) - [Coquitlam (city guide)](/coquitlam/) #### Area & heritage - [Coquitlam History & Heritage](/coquitlam-history-and-heritage/) - [Where to Buy in Coquitlam](/where-to-buy-in-coquitlam/) - [Coquitlam Schools](/coquitlam-schools/) #### Buy, sell & authority - [Coquitlam Homes for Sale](/coquitlam-homes-for-sale/) - [Best Realtor in Coquitlam](/best-realtor-in-coquitlam/) - [Best Realtor in Burke Mountain](/best-realtor-in-burke-mountain/) - [About Craig](/coquitlam-realtor-craig-johnston/) - [Free Home Evaluation](/home-evaluation/) - [Book a Strategy Call](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) ## Thinking about a home near Minnekhada? Burke Mountain and the northeast-Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam pockets are the closest residential neighbourhoods to Minnekhada. If a wild regional park on your doorstep is part of what you're buying for, the next step is a 20-minute call — no pressure, every question answered. [Book a 20-min strategy call](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) [Get my home value](/home-evaluation/) [Call 604-202-6092](tel:+16042026092) Best REALTOR® by area ## A specialist for your specific Tri-Cities city or neighbourhood. [Coquitlam](/best-realtor-in-coquitlam/) [Burke Mountain](/best-realtor-in-burke-mountain/) [Westwood Plateau](/best-realtor-in-westwood-plateau/) [Heritage Mountain](/best-realtor-in-heritage-mountain/) [Port Moody](/best-realtor-in-port-moody/) [Port Coquitlam](/best-realtor-in-port-coquitlam/) [Anmore](/best-realtor-in-anmore/) [Belcarra](/best-realtor-in-belcarra/) [Or compare all Tri-Cities specialists →](/best-local-realtor-tri-cities/)