2020 September 5: Crystal Falls

This month’s walk follows the Coquitlam River north from Lions Park along a combination of gentle, wooded stretches of the Traboulay, PoCo, and Trans Canada Trails until you emerge at David Avenue. You walk on the road for a short distance and then cross to find the entrance to the Crystal Falls Trail. This section has more rocks and roots underfoot, but it is a very gentle slope up to the falls — at which point, the official plan was to retrace our steps back to the start. Some groups chose to vary the river section on the return by walking on the west side.

This month, we were sorted into four groups (a six, two fives, and a four), with the first three groups walking out and back for a total 13.5 km and the fourth group walking a 10.5 km route. Departure times were staggered for social distancing.

The meeting and departure point for the first three groups was Lions Park. The fourth group started and ended at Coquitlam River Park.

The groups

Group 1 — by Michael

We (Janet S., Larrie, Adrienne, and Jean, with Michael leading) met at Lions Park just before 10:00 — while there were still parking spots available. Lower Mainland parks like this (and their parking lots), as well as walking trails everywhere, are in high demand this summer, particularly on weekends.

The route north along the east bank of the Coquitlam River was easy to follow. On the last section, from the trailhead to Crystal Falls, the trail was rougher, narrower, and muddier (in spots), with significantly more walkers.

After a brief snack break at the foot of the falls, we retraced our steps, meeting Groups 2 through 4 at roughly 15-minute intervals. At David Avenue, we crossed the Coquitlam River to follow the path on the west bank downstream, crossing back at Patricia Avenue. Following a quick head count at Lions Park (to ensure that no Looper had been left behind) we set up chairs beside a birthday piñata to await the remaining groups.

Group 2 — by Fred

Group 2 included Joette, Fred, Julie, Alan, Carol and Sandy. After the starting selfie (where the camera on the ground made for an interesting shot), we headed out with enthusiasm and lots of talking which pretty much held up until the end. The trip to Crystal Falls was fun with the Falls Trail being decidedly more rugged but actually much busier than the Traboulay. We had a short lunch stop and then decided to return on the west trail (which is actually two trails in some parts with the TCT running alongside the Traboulay and then joining it).

The return trip was equally pleasant but uneventful apart from a very fast biker whose command to “get out of the way” was acted on with alacrity. We also passed by Saltspring and Gabriola!

Group 3 — with Dave

Group 3 consisted of Dave, Maurice, Anne, and Carolyn. There were no surprises, other than that the group was so enmeshed in stimulating discussions that they took a wrong turn on the way back. Fortunately, this was only a diversion to the new Crystal Falls trailhead and so was not significant.

Group 4 — with Jon

Our group managed to cross or avoid the muddy stretches quite smoothly. We particularly commend (a) Gord, for apparently walking on water and having his orange shoes remain completely unscathed, and (b) Liz, for her creative combination of hiking with yoga and/or ballet movements.

We took the west side of the river and just before crossing back found the circular chalk board that we remember from previous visits.