Belcarra city guide

Belcarra at a glance

Belcarra is a tiny seaside village on a forested peninsula where Burrard Inlet turns north into Indian Arm. A single winding road leads in from Port Moody, past Sasamat Lake and Bedwell Bay, and ends at the water. Across the arm lies Deep Cove in North Vancouver, and small islands dot the shoreline nearby.

With 687 residents at the 2021 Census, Belcarra is one of the smallest municipalities in Metro Vancouver. Homes range from old summer cabins to modern waterfront houses, scattered along the shore and through the trees. There are no shops or hotels; for visitors, Belcarra means one thing above all: təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park, a large coastal park of beaches, picnic grounds and forest trails that surrounds much of the village.

A short history

Belcarra is a place of deep significance to the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (səlilwətaɬ), the People of the Inlet. The site of their main village here, known today as təmtəmíxʷtən, was for thousands of years their largest settlement, with abundant shellfish, salmon and game. Around 1840 a raid by Namgis warriors from Alert Bay devastated the village, and the community later moved west to the reserve near Dollarton in North Vancouver, where the Nation lives today.

The first European settler was John Hall. When he faced a court case, lawyer William Norman Bole successfully defended him and received the land as payment. Bole named it Belcarra after a village in County Mayo, Ireland, and his heritage house still stands in the park. Over the 20th century the area became a getaway of summer cabins, with a ferry company pier, a picnic ground and a campsite drawing day-trippers by boat from Vancouver.

The Village of Belcarra was incorporated on 22 August 1979. Much of the surrounding land became a Metro Vancouver regional park, and Admiralty Point, a former naval reserve, was saved from development and added to it. In 2020 the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Metro Vancouver signed a cultural planning and co-operation agreement recognizing the Nation’s ancestral and ongoing connection to the park, and in October 2021 it was renamed təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park, a name meaning “biggest place for all the people.”

Top things to do in Belcarra

təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park

Covering about 1,100 hectares from Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm to Sasamat Lake, the park draws hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. Highlights include:

• Belcarra picnic area: grassy picnic grounds and a wharf on the water, popular for crabbing, sunset views and watching boats on the inlet.
• Jug Island Beach trail: a forest hike over the ridge to a quiet pebble beach facing Jug Island and Indian Arm.
• Bole House: the heritage home of the man who named Belcarra, in the southern part of the park.
• Sasamat Lake and White Pine Beach: a forest-ringed lake that warms up nicely in summer, with a sandy beach for swimming and a trail around the shore.
• Admiralty Point: coastal forest, rocky bluffs and tidal shoreline facing back towards Port Moody.

Kayaking and canoeing are excellent here, with sheltered water in Bedwell Bay and routes north up Indian Arm for experienced paddlers. Wildlife is part of the experience: deer, black bears, seals, ospreys and purple martins all make appearances. The park also holds an important Tsleil-Waututh archaeological site, so stay on trails and treat the land with respect.

A good first visit combines the two halves of the park: a morning hike to Jug Island Beach from the picnic area, lunch on the grass by the wharf, and an afternoon swim at Sasamat Lake on the way out. Wear proper shoes for the rooty forest trails, bring sun protection and layers, and check Metro Vancouver regional parks notices before you go.

Food and drink

Belcarra has no restaurants or grocery stores. Bring a picnic, plenty of water and anything you need for the day. The nearest places to eat are in Port Moody, around Moody Centre, Newport Village and Suter Brook, about 15 to 20 minutes’ drive away. Pack out everything you bring in, as bears are active in the area.

Where to stay

There are no hotels or other public accommodation in Belcarra. Visitors usually base themselves in Port Moody or Coquitlam, where SkyTrain stations and hotels are close by, and visit Belcarra as a day trip.

Getting around

From downtown Vancouver, take SkyTrain to Moody Centre Station (Expo Line to Lougheed Town Centre, then the Millennium Line). From Moody Centre, the 182 Belcarra bus runs to the village and the regional park, with the 181 Belcarra adding trips on weekends and holidays. For Sasamat Lake, the seasonal 150 White Pine Beach bus runs from Coquitlam Central Station. Check TransLink’s trip planner for current times, as service is limited.

By car, follow Ioco Road from Port Moody and then Bedwell Bay Road onto the peninsula. The road is narrow and winding, and on hot summer weekends the park lots fill early and roadside parking is restricted, so arrive early or use transit. Kayakers and boaters can also reach Belcarra by water from Port Moody, Deep Cove and Indian Arm.

Seasons and events

Belcarra shares the mild, rainy climate of the Tri-Cities. July and August are the busiest months, when Sasamat Lake is warm enough for a comfortable swim and the picnic area is lively into the evening. Spring and fall are quieter, ideal for hiking to Jug Island or paddling Bedwell Bay. In winter, trails can be muddy and the picnic area is peaceful. Village events are small and community-run; check the Village of Belcarra for anything coming up.

Living in Belcarra

Living in Belcarra means trading convenience for setting. Housing is almost entirely detached homes and cabins, many on waterfront or forested lots along a handful of quiet roads. Children attend School District 43 (Coquitlam) schools in the Tri-Cities, and residents do their shopping in Port Moody. The volunteer-run Sasamat Volunteer Fire Department provides fire protection.

It suits people who love the ocean, boating and quiet, and who are comfortable relying on a car or a limited bus service. Expect summer crowds on the one road in, bears as neighbours, and a tight-knit community where neighbours know each other by name.