Traboulay PoCo Trail

The Traboulay PoCo Trail in this section winds past the CPR freight and repair yard, Pitt River Bridge and other river-based industry. Peace Park and the Citadel Landing boardwalk are other features of this stretch of trail, which offers scenic views of the river and Douglas Island as well as the resident birds and plantlife.

This is a good spot to see birds such as killdeer, Bald Eagles, Northern Shovelers and Double-Breasted Cormorants. Native plants include black hawthorne and Pacific crabapple.

This stretch of trail traverses historic Colony Farm, a rich floodplain and one of the most biodiverse parts of the region.

More than 150 bird species, as well as mammals and fish, live among the marshes, forests and varied riparian vegetation that includes bulrushes and wild roses.

Keep your eyes open for Short-Eared Owls, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harriers (hawks), River Otters and beavers. You can spot large-leaved lupines along the dyke, watch salmon in their natural habitat, and see plenty of Red-Winged Blackbirds in the spring.

Lined with trees and following the scenic Coquitlam River, the paved Downtown stretch – popular with inline skaters – winds through areas where local residents live, play, and work. The trail snakes around Gates Park, with its busy soccer and softball fields, and continues on to Lions Park, whose impressive playground is a draw for families.

Pearly everlasting flowers and Red-Osier Dogwoods are common along this stretch of the trail. You’ll see salmonberries and big leaf maples, and be sure to keep an eye on the Coquitlam River for migrating salmon.

North of Lougheed Highway, the trail turns to gravel and the sound of traffic fades into the distance. Migrating salmon are commonly seen in the Coquitlam River as well as the side channels and ponds created 
as additional salmon habitat. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot a painted turtle near the ponds. After the trail curves to the east, it passes through parks and neighbourhoods before approaching the hatchery on Hyde Creek, another prime spot for viewing salmon.

Vegetation lines the trail; watch for western trillium flowers, red huckleberry and oceanspray bushes, and cascara and beaked hazelnut trees. Birdlife includes Pileated Woodpeckers, Cedar Waxwings, Golden-crowned Kinglets and Stellar Jays.

This portion of unpaved trail follows DeBoville Slough and the north Pitt River, offering splendid views of farmland and the mountains, including the Golden Ears. The slough, habitat for a variety of bird 
species, fish and wildlife – is a tranquil wetland at the confluence of creeks flowing down from Burke Mountain.

It joins with Pitt River, which offers views of boat activity and log booms. 

Watch for Belted Kingfishers, Ospreys, Green Herons, Bald Eagles, Bald Eagles and the occasional Greater Sandhill Crane. The vegetation on this stretch is also diverse, featuring Nootka rose and beautiful stands of black cottonwood as well as Pacific crabapple, red alder and paper birch.