buntzen lake
This park, located at the northern end of Sunnyside Rd open throughout the year, gates close at 9PM in summer, dusk at other times, (http://www.bchydro.com/community/recreation_areas/buntzen_lake.html), is an great spot to hang out for a day. You can just relax and hang out on the beach, BBQ and admire the scenery or do something and take advantage of the lake and trails. The park is very popular with locals and if you plan to drive in on a sunny weekend, it's best to arrive by 11AM/noon as the parking lot fills up fast.
One of the most popular activities are the excellent day hikes, ranging from 45 mins to the Dilly Dally loop, which is a 10-12 hour hike. The most popular trail is the Buntzen Lake Trail, a rolling loop around the lake about 8 km. The Dias Vistas trail is much more demanding but offers some outstanding views from the ridge top on a clear day. There are often map brochures in the park by the large map signs.
The lake has a couple of swimming beaches and is also popular for boating and fishing. You need a freshwater licence to fish; these are available from Anmore Store in the village. Only boats with small electric engines check the specs before bringing a powered boat are permitted on the lake otherwise you can canoe or kayak. Canoe can be rented from Anmore Store. Be aware of the large strip of logs signaling where you cannot swim/boat past on the north side of the lake.
There are a few buildings around the lake, a couple of abandoned houses towards the north end, one which was built for a movie. Otherwise, buildings are property of BC Hydro, who use the lake for power generation, and should not be entered.
Please note parking at Buntzen Lake is limited and there is no street parking on nearby streets or at the nearby trailer park. Illegally parked cars are likely to be towed. Some residents close to the lake allow people to pay to park on their lawns or driveway.
