Proposed:Widgeon Lake Pocket Wilderness
Widgeon Lake, popular canoe-hiking destination, north of Pitt Meadows, B.C. Photo: Dave Markowski
Description
Widgeon Lake is a unique Pocket Wilderness on Vancouver's back door-step. This spectacular cirque lake has long been a popular destination for hikers, and has the added bonus of a leisurely 45 minute canoe paddle from Pitt Polder as part of the outing.
Despite their high recreational values, neither the lake nor the last stretch of trail through old growth forest have any protection whatsoever from logging or other development. In 1980 the Greater Vancouver Water District proposed to build a dam on Widgeon Lake, to divert its water to the Coquitlam Lake Water-shed for sale to B.C. Hydro as hydro-electric power (via the tunnel to Buntzen lake and thus the Indian Arm Power House). This machiavellian scheme would have involved an expensive 2 km tunnel through the mountains, permanent closure of Widgeon Lake to the public, and reduced water flows for the Widgeon Creek salmon stream and canoe route. Public opposition put a temporary halt to the project, but it may still be re-proposed in the future.
Access
Drive east on the Lougheed Highway past the Pitt River bridge and turn left at the Harris Road traffic lights in Pitt Meadows. After driving north on Harris Road for approximately 2 km, turn righton Dewdney Trunk Road for 5 km, then left on Neaves Road (208 St.). Drive north on Neaves all the way to the public boat launching ramp at Pitt Lake. After this point a canoe or kayak is required for the leisurely 45 minute paddle up Widgeon Creek to a Forest Service campsite, and from there signs will direct you on the 9 km hike to Widgeon Lake following old logging roads and trails.
Topographic Map Reference 1:50,000 scale 92G/7 Port Coquitlam
