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Jug Island Trail – Belcarra's Enchanted Forest Kids-Friendly Day Hike

Check out Jug Island Beach Trail @ Port Moody, BC Hiking with kids has never been more fun!

Firstly, I don't think any pictures can relate to the beauty of the Jug Island Beach Trail. Tall centuries-old pine trees and gigantic boulders, the greenery of the trees and bushes, the oxygen-rich warm almost-summer air, spectacular views of the Indian Arm and Deep Cove… Once on Jug Island hike and deep into Belcarra's enchanted forest you KNOW you are in British Columbia. If you are up for a half-day hike with your family, Jug Island Trail is perfect for you! this Belcarra hike is a perfect kid-friendly hiking trail to enjoy all year round!

We've attempted this hike last year, but Cosmos was only 2.5 yo at the time and could only make it to the first viewpoint by himself. This year however we were much better prepared. I am so excited we've finally we've made our way all the way to the beach and I can't wait to share our adventure with us!

There are other Belcarra hikes around, but none are as spectacular as the one we're describing below 🙂

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Jug Island Beach – On our YouTube – PerfectDayToPlay TV

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Directions to Jug Island Trailhead

Jug Island Beach hike trailhead is located in Belcarra Regional Park, near Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.

If you are heading to Belcarra hike from Coquitlam Centre, it will take you about 20 min or less to get there. The road is paved and well-maintained.

GPS / Google Maps anchor point: Belcarra Picnic Area, Tum Tumay Whueton Drive, Belcarra, BC

Parking at Belcarra

Beware parking at Belcarra is scarce – so on the weekend, it is better to come early, especially in the summer.

ATTENTION: as of April 2021, all parking at Belcarra Regional Park is now PAID parking.

The Jug Island Beach trailhead is located at the far corner of the parking lot.

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Belcarra picknic area

Belcarra Picnic Area is a great place to spend time with your family and friends all year round. It has proper parking, washroom facilities, a concession stand (open in the summer), picnic tables, roofed event space, kids playground, access to water, and a pier where you can watch people fishing and catching a crab. I believe there is a boat/kayak rental facility as well.

Washrooms are open year-round. Those are proper building-type with running water.

The actual Jug Island hike will take you anywhere between 2-4 hours depending on how much time you'd want to spend on the beach (our opinion: this one is perfect for a half-day hike). Take plenty of water with you and some snacks. A first aid kit is also recommended.

Is there cell phone Reception at Jug Island Beach Hiking Trail?

Just as at many other wilderness hikes near Vancouver, there is phone reception all along the trail. Isn't that cool? 🙂

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Hiking Jug Island Trail in the Summer

Overall the trail is about 2.6 km one way.

This afternoon we made it a total of 6 km hike, that's with the time at the beach and a few climb-over mini-hikes to viewpoints.

It took us about 3 hours of pure “moving time” to complete + about an hour to hang out on the beach. I'd say: take some snacks with you to enjoy at the beach and that's a perfect half-day hike!

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The Jug Island Trail Hiking Notes and Photos

Check out our amazing photos from the Jug Island Beach hike in Belcarra Regional Park! These were taken on a regular iPhone, we did not plan for the trip so we did not have our good camera with us. However, see how the colors turned out!

To start on this Belcarra hike, go to the far North-East corner of the parking lot to find the trail-head. You'll have to cross the road to start off the journey.

The trail is NOT stroller/wheelchair accessible. Although the road looks park-like at the beginning, don't be tricked – about half the trail turns into rough rocks-and-roots terrain. There are few patches of the trail with staircases – both man-made wooden ones and the natural rock-cut ones.

Cosmos, our 3.5 yo, was able to walk it all the way to and most of the way back. He was very tired at the end, however, especially at the elevation points. Alex had to carry him over the few rougher patches on our way back.

Unless your kiddo is super-fit and is used to long-distance hikes, I would not recommend this hike to families with kids under 4 yo. If you have a small baby in a carrier and are confident you're cool to make it all the way to and back – sure this can work.

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Jug Island Beach

The path leads to Jug Island Beach – a nice stony patch, with stunning views. It is not too big, but not too crowded either – perfect for an hour or so picnic.

Once you get to the destination, the view is simply magnificent – you can see deep into the Indian Arm fjord when looking North. You can also see Deep Cove on the other side! Once again, there are many other trails around the park, but this specific Belcarra hike is at the top of our popularity charts!

We've seen people fishing, as well as some kayakers making a stop on the beach.

You can walk along the beach. Some places you'll have to climb back along the shore to reach viewpoints.

Beware: the beach is dog-friendly. There are tons of dogs both on the beach and in the water. Cosmos had the time of his life playing with one of the dogs – throwing a stick into the water!

There is a washroom right next to the beach – a wooden hut type.

Whether you decide to make it a half-day hike or a full-day hike, you need to know that in the summer Belcarra Park gates are closed at 9pm (winter time – even earlier). As it can take you up to 1.5-2 hours to get back, plan to leave the beach no later than 7pm to make it out of the park.

Stay SAFE on the trail with your kids + Outdoor Ethics:
Hiking With Kids: 12 Simple Safety Rules Every Parent Should Follow
8 Best Natural Sunscreens For Kids. Organic. Chemicals-Free.
Leave No Trace & Outdoor Ethics – Zero Impact Family Adventures

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Fun Family Learning

More kids-friendly hikes in British Columbia HERE!!!

Want to have even more family fun outdoors? One way of engaging your kids on a trail is PerfectDayToPlay FREE printable Scavenger Hunt sheets!

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Concluding Notes

Since this first hiking visit to Jug Island Beach trail in 2019, we have taken the path about a dozen times. Jug Island trail is one of the easiest kids-friendly hiking trails near Coquitlam, BC you can find. We do recommend this hike to anyone who wants to introduce their little ones to the Great Outdoors!

Do you know any other cool hiking trails near Vancouver? Send us a note and share it!

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Enjoy!

Cheerfully yours,

Alexandra, Alex & Cosmos

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