Shoreline Trail

Markus posing on a bench along the Shoreline Trail

With restrictions starting to be lifted in British Columbia, we're beginning to take Markus farther out, but within the province so we can explore the Pacific Northwest yet again. Lately, we've been focusing more on doing trails and hikes with him, which we prefer because it tends to be a bit quieter.

About two months ago, we visited Rocky Point Park with Markus, one of our favourite locations in British Columbia. On the way out of the park, we noticed a map for the Shoreline Trail, which goes around the Burrard Inlet and we promised ourselves that we'd be back here at some point to check that trail out. Sure enough, here we are two months later.

Since we're writing this in the midst of COVID-19, the trail does look a little bit different now than it would during normal circumstances. We were allowed to only go one-way on the trail and then another way to circle back out of the trail and back towards the Rocky Point Park where we parked. Despite these limitations, it's great to be able to be out there and get some fresh air and we're grateful to the city for putting these restrictions in!

Type: Trail
Length: 6.0 km
Traffic: Moderate
Route Type: Loop

Markus looking at how busy it is by the Old Mill Site Park

Starting from Murray St. by the off-leash dog park, the trail is about 6 kilometres from one end of the trail, to the other end and looping back. That said, there are plenty of areas during the trail to cut onto the Shoreline Trail Bike Route to shorten it (which we had to do since it's been converted to the one-way path going back to Rocky Point Park due to COVID-19). While following the trail, we felt that we had gone on long enough about three-quarters of the way into the trail, cut into the bike route and started working out way back.

The trail was interesting. Since it was low-tide, there wasn't much water by the shores where we were walking. Beyond the trees, there was just a lot of grass and marshy areas, which doesn't exactly make for the most beautiful view. That said, the trail through the trees were nice and the path was fairly well-maintained. There are wooden walkways that cut through the grassy areas so that you never have to step on the marshy areas.

The view along Shoreline Trail in Port Moody during low tide

The Shoreline Trail wasn't very busy, though it was busier than we expected for being there in the middle of the day on a weekday. There were a few runners, other dog owners and pedestrians along the trail. There were also a number of cyclists up on the bike route, but as long as your dog is leashed, you'll be okay. Despite the circumstances and people not leisurely hanging around because of COVID-19, we enjoyed our time there and going out for some fresh air.

Our recommendation is to take a look at the tide if you're hoping to get a nice walk around the water. We didn't get much of a shore for a trail that's called the Shoreline Trail.

The Old Mill Site Park

Towards the end of the Shoreline Trail closer to the other end is the Old Mill Site Park. If you make it all the way down here, this is a great little hidden spot with nice views. As its name suggests, this spot used to be the site of an old cedar mill which burned down in 1949. As you walk through this quiet area, you’ll come across the old remnants and foundations of the old mill which you can (carefully) climb up. This spot was so beautiful and quiet that there was a wedding happening beyond some trees. We were here during low tide so we were able to walk quite a ways out with Markus.

What we liked

We liked how the trail becomes a boardwalk and then back to the trail. It felt very nicely built and well-maintained.
The trail was well-marked and it's nice that it is actually a complete loop with shortcuts in between.

What we didn't like

Considering the trail goes along the water and is called the Shoreline Trail, we expected to see more of the views you'd get from Rocky Point Park. Since it was low tide, there's really not much going on (or maybe we just didn't get down far enough on the trail).
Some of the paths on the trail ended up being really narrow and when other dogs caught up to us (some of the off-leash), it made for a bit of tension for us because of Markus' reactivity.

Our Recommendation for Reactive Dogs

We felt that some of the paths on the trail were very narrow, which isn't great for reactive dogs passing by. It helped that the path was one-way, so dogs weren't coming from both sides, but we were always able to see dogs catching up to us from a distance. We would try and hustle to get to a wider part of the path before the other dog reached us. Not all of the dogs were leashed, so that wasn't particularly fun for us especially if they were coming up quickly and too far from their owners.

Some of the paths along the Shoreline Trail are a bit narrow, making it hard for dogs to pass each other

Once we rounded the marshy boardwalk areas and got to the other side of the Shoreline Trail, we felt better about the trail with Markus. It eventually widened up again, so we were able to step aside to let the other pass more comfortably. The bike paths are also a lot wider, so we didn't have any issues with either dogs or cyclists there.

We’d actually recommend starting the hike from the other end of the trail by Old Orchard Park and working the other way instead. If you can make your way to the Old Mill Site Park, you might find that there’s a lot more space and room for your dog to play.

Markus walking along the bike route on the way back since the Shoreline Trail is currently one-way

Disclaimer

Markus is a reactive, but not aggressive dog. His instinct is to avoid other dogs and he may growl, bark or lunge if provoked, but will not attack. We normally do not have issues with leashed dogs when both sides are controlled, but we will be on guard when an oncoming dog is not leashed. There are varying levels to a dog’s reactivity and only you can decide if this park, trail or hotel is appropriate for your dog. Our visits generally will not include off-leash areas; most experiences shared on The Markus Project are within leashed or undefined areas.

Please remember that our past experience visiting a park, trail or hotel may not be the same as your experience at the same park, trail or hotel. We have no control of who visits the park and whether they adhere to park rules - like leashing their dogs on leash-required paths - or not. Please use your discretion with the information provided and with your personal knowledge of your dog’s reactivity when visiting these parks, trails or hotels.