Watershed Tours

B.C. Day Weekend Coquitlam Watershed Tours


July 19 Update

Registration is now full for both tour times, and we have a FULL waiting list. We will not accept anymore reservations. 

Please visit the Metro Vancouver website for details and registration information for more tour dates to visit the Capilano, Coquitlam and Lower Seymour Conservation Area watershed tours. 

  • Date: Sunday, August 4
  • Times: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 – 4 p.m.

Coquitlam Watershed Tour Description

Towering old growth trees, a historic water intake tower, the dam and breathtaking views of our largest reservoir are sure to inspire awe on this tour of the Coquitlam Watershed. 

This tour highlights everything from drinking water infrastructure to giant old-growth Western red cedars and Douglas-firs. Catch a glimpse of the past as you visit the 1913 water intake tower. Enjoy panoramic views of the watershed, Coquitlam Island and Coquitlam Lake. 

After a visit to 4-5 locations, participants will have a new appreciation for these protected lands and the source of your tap water. Through short presentations, attendees will learn about the history of our region’s water supply, water quality, treatment, how it gets to your home and the role of a healthy ecosystem in maintaining exceptional water quality. Please note these are technical tours geared towards youth and adults.

Accessibility

Participants must be capable of getting on and off the bus unassisted. While this is a bus tour, the tour stops involve some light hiking and short walks (200m) on trails with uneven terrain and a short set of stairs. Participants should be capable of getting off the bus 4-5 times and walking on rough, unsurfaced sloping trails. The tour also includes a significant amount of driving on gravel roads.

Please wear comfortable, sturdy shoes and dress in layers; the weather is unpredictable and often cooler in the forest.

Logistics

Please use a washroom before you arrive (there is no washroom at the parking lot), and ensure you have an adequate supply of water in a reusable container for the duration of the tour. There is a port-a-pottie along the way, but no running water or garbage cans. Be sure to bring a snack/lunch and a drink in a reusable container, and be prepared to pack out what you pack in.

Pickup and Drop-off

  • Meet the group 15 minutes before departure at Lincoln Park and Ride lot -northwest corner of Westwood Street and Lincoln Avenue (across the street from Glen Park) - look for a school bus
    • Access from Lincoln Avenue or Heffley Crescent 
  • Parking at this lot is free on Sundays
  • Look for a school bus in the parking lot, check in 15 minutes before departure 
  • The bus will depart the parking lot and head into the restricted access Coquitlam Watershed for approximately 3.5 hours
  • You will be dropped off at the same pick up location when the tour has ended

We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-kwuh-tlum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ  (Katzie), and other Coast Salish Peoples.