Burnaby Mountain Park sits above Simon Fraser University at the eastern edge of Metro Vancouver, and it packs an unusual amount into one hilltop: towering carved totem poles, a rose garden in full bloom half the year, forested trails, and a summit view that stretches from Burrard Inlet to the North Shore mountains, and on a clear day, all the way to Mount Baker. It’s one of the few places in the region where a short walk from the parking lot gets you a panorama most people drive an hour for.
The park is best known for Kamui Mintara, a collection of monumental wooden sculptures given to Burnaby by its sister city Kushiro, Japan. But there’s more to the mountain than the totems: wide lawns for picnics, a playground tucked into the upper slope, a network of walking and biking trails that connect into the Trans Canada Trail, and a small crowd of black-tailed deer that treat the place as home turf.
Getting There and Parking
Driving
From Lougheed Highway, head north on Gaglardi Way and follow it up to Centennial Way, which leads directly into the main parking lots by Kushiro Park and the totem poles. The road continues past the playground and picnic areas toward the Mintara restaurant lot near the summit.
Transit
Take the Millennium Line to Production Way-University or Lake City Way Station, then catch bus route 144, 145, or R5 toward Simon Fraser University. Ask to get off near the SFU Transportation Centre or University Drive, then follow Gaglardi Way uphill to the park entrance, a walk of roughly 10 to 15 minutes.
A Brief History of the Park
Burnaby set the mountain aside as parkland with a formal dedication bylaw in 1942, though its boundaries were adjusted a decade later when the Trans Mountain Pipeline terminal was built nearby. In 1957, the city chose the summit as the site for its British Columbia centennial project, the Centennial Pavilion, and the lawns around it quickly became a favourite picnic spot, offering Burnaby residents their first formal viewpoint and public trail access on the mountain.
That pavilion was substantially renovated in the 1980s and reopened in 1986 as the Horizons restaurant, a fixture at the summit for more than three decades before it closed in 2020. The City of Burnaby has since rebuilt the space and reopened it as Mintara, named after the Kamui Mintara sculptures nearby. The totem poles themselves arrived later, in 1989, carved as a gift from Kushiro, Japan, and the surrounding lawn was named Kushiro Park in the relationship’s honour.
Kamui Mintara, the Playground of the Gods
More than a dozen wooden sculptures rise out of the grass at the mountain’s edge, silhouetted against the sky and the distant city. Carved in 1989 by Ainu artists Nuburi Toko and his son Shusei from Burnaby’s sister city of Kushiro, Japan, the poles were named Kamui Mintara, or Playground of the Gods, drawing on Ainu animist traditions where animal figures represent gods descending to shape the world.
The carvings feature bears, owls, and orcas alongside abstract totemic forms, and they’re often mistaken for First Nations work because of their scale and setting, though the artistic tradition behind them is distinct: the Ainu are an Indigenous people of northern Japan with their own language, spiritual beliefs, and carving traditions separate from those of Canada’s First Nations.
Because the sculptures are aging, sections may be fenced off periodically for preservation while the city assesses and repairs them. It’s still one of the most photographed spots on the mountain, especially with the inlet and city skyline as a backdrop, so plan to view and photograph the poles from just outside the perimeter when a fence is up.
Kushiro Park and the Centennial Rose Garden
The lawn surrounding the totem poles is officially named Kushiro Park after the sister-city relationship that produced them, and it’s anchored by the Centennial Rose Garden, a formal planting of more than 900 rose bushes that bursts into colour through late spring and summer. It’s easily reached from the main parking lot, with paved paths running between the beds, and it’s one of the more photographed corners of the park.
In warmer months, the city also adds eco-sculptures nearby, living displays shaped from thousands of small plants into animal and decorative forms. The garden also doubles as an event and wedding backdrop, so don’t be surprised to see a ceremony in progress on a summer weekend; there’s still plenty of open lawn nearby for a picnic or a quiet walk.
Trails, Summit Views, and Wildlife
At roughly 366 to 370 metres above sea level, the summit gives an open panorama across Burrard Inlet toward downtown Vancouver, with Deep Cove and the North Shore mountains visible to the north and, on the clearest days, Mount Baker on the horizon to the southeast. The park itself is part of the much larger Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, a 576-hectare (1,423-acre) forested landscape that wraps around the developed park and playground areas.
A network of trails threads through the surrounding forest, including a stretch of the Trans Canada Trail and the steeper Velodrome “Grind” route favoured by mountain bikers, along with a dedicated bike skills area for practising technical riding. Gentler paths near the parking lot work well for strollers and wheelchairs, and the forest changes noticeably with the seasons, from spring blossoms and summer light to fall colour and the occasional snowfall in winter.
The slopes are home to black-tailed deer, coyotes, and bald eagles, with occasional black bear or cougar sightings reported near the creeks and forest trails further from the main park area. Keep dogs leashed and food packed away once you’re off the main lawns.
The Water Tower Murals
Tucked among the trees near the park’s upper trails, a decommissioned water tower has been turned into a canvas, wrapped in murals that add a splash of colour to an otherwise quiet stretch of forest. It’s an easy stop to fold into a longer walk and a favourite with visitors looking for a less obvious photo spot than the totem poles, with far fewer people passing through than the main lawns near Kushiro Park.
Picnic Areas, Playground, and Family Amenities
The park’s playground and main picnic areas sit on the upper slope, near the Mintara restaurant parking lot and the Kamui Mintara sculptures, with picnic tables, open grass, and barbecue stations scattered across the site. Washroom facilities are located below the restaurant, close to the main viewpoints.
Because so much of the park sits on a hillside, accessibility varies by area: the paths and attractions closest to the main parking lots, including sections of the rose garden and the totem pole viewing area, are wheelchair accessible, while the forest trails further out are steeper and less developed. If mobility is a concern, sticking to the upper parking lot and Kushiro Park area will cover most of the park’s highlights without a long walk.
Late afternoon into sunset is the sweet spot: the totem poles catch warm light against the water, and the summit tends to clear of daytime crowds. Bring a layer even in summer, since the exposed hilltop is noticeably cooler and windier than downtown.
Some totem poles may be fenced for preservation work, so view them from outside the barrier rather than climbing over for photos. Trail sections can also close periodically for erosion control, particularly after heavy rain, so check posted signage if you’re planning to bike or hike beyond the main lawns.
Stand at the rail near the totem poles as the sun drops toward the inlet, and Burnaby Mountain feels less like a city park and more like a lookout built for exactly that moment.
No. The park, Kushiro Park, the rose garden, and the trails are all free to visit, and on-site parking is free as well.
Take the Millennium Line to Production Way-University or Lake City Way Station, then transfer to bus route 144, 145, or R5 toward Simon Fraser University. Several stops sit within a 10 to 15 minute walk of Kushiro Park and the totem poles.
The developed park sits within the much larger Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, which covers about 576 hectares (1,423 acres) of forest, trails, and viewpoints.
Yes, dogs on a leash are welcome throughout the park and its trails.
You can walk right up to the open lawn where the poles stand, though some sections may be fenced off at times for preservation. Viewing from just outside the fence still gives an excellent vantage point for photos.
Yes, the playground and main picnic areas are on the upper slope near the Mintara restaurant parking lot, with picnic tables, open lawn, and barbecue stations.
Mintara, on the site of the former Horizons restaurant, sits at the summit with sweeping inlet views. Hours and availability can shift with renovations and events, so it’s worth checking ahead before making the trip up for a meal.
The Centennial Rose Garden is at its best from late spring through summer, though the surrounding lawns and trails are worth visiting any time of year.
Exploring more of Burnaby
Burnaby Mountain Park is just one stop in a city full of parks, trails, and lakes.