Adventure & Outdoors
A forest hike in Pinecone Burke to two waterfalls, ending at the jagged Sawblade cascade that earns its extremely good name.
Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, Harper Road gate, Burke Mountain, Coquitlam
More infoThe brilliance of Sawblade Falls is the name, which promises something jagged and dramatic and then delivers exactly that, earned over 8 km round-trip through Pinecone Burke Provincial Park. The Woodland Walk crosses creeks to mellow Woodland Falls first, making the switchback finish to Sawblade feel even better. If you hear distant pops, that's a nearby gun club, a fact worth mentioning before the hike, not after.
Start at the metal gate on Harper Road in Coquitlam (off Coast Meridian Rd), there's no formal lot, so park along the road without blocking the gate, then walk in. The route climbs gently through second-growth forest on the Woodland Walk, with wooden steps, planks and creek crossings, running about 8 km round-trip with ~180 m of gain over roughly three hours. You'll reach mellow Woodland Falls first; don't miss pushing on and up the steeper switchbacks to Sawblade Falls, the dramatic payoff, find a rock near the spray, share a thermos, and let the noise of the cascade be your soundtrack. Shorter option: turn the lower loop into an out-and-back to Woodland Falls only (about 90 minutes) and skip the steep upper section. Footwear matters, it gets muddy and rooty, and you may hear pops from the nearby gun club, which is normal. Open year-round, no fee.
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