Como Lake Park sits tucked into a residential pocket of central Coquitlam, a small lake surrounded by mature trees, a walking path, and a genuinely neighbourhood feel that sets it apart from the busier Lafarge Lake and Town Centre Park area a short drive away. Where Lafarge Lake draws crowds for its fountain and seasonal events, Como Lake is the park locals actually use on an ordinary Tuesday evening, a place to walk the dog, push a stroller, or sit on a bench and watch ducks work the shallows.
This guide covers the walking loop, the playground and picnic areas, what makes the lake such a reliable spot for feeding ducks and casual dog walks, and the practical details for finding parking and getting there. If you want a smaller, calmer lake experience in Coquitlam rather than a destination park, Como Lake is worth knowing about.
Walking the Como Lake Loop
The path circling Como Lake is short and unhurried, a loop that most visitors cover in about ten to fifteen minutes at an easy pace. The surface is mostly paved and flat, which makes it comfortable for strollers, young kids on bikes, and anyone looking for a gentle walk rather than a workout. Because the loop is compact, it is easy to do two or three laps without feeling like you are repeating a long route, which is part of why it works so well as a daily or weekly habit for people who live nearby.
The lake itself is small enough that you are never far from the water, and the surrounding trees give much of the path dappled shade in summer. Benches are placed at intervals around the loop, enough that you can usually find a quiet spot to sit even when the park has other visitors. The overall scale of the park is its main appeal, it reads as a neighbourhood amenity rather than a regional attraction, and that keeps it from ever feeling overwhelmed.
Dogs on leash are a constant presence on the Como Lake path, and the loop is a popular short walk for owners who want a scenic circuit without driving to a dedicated dog park. For a longer list of leash-friendly spots around the city, our guide to Coquitlam dog parks and pet services covers several other options worth knowing. Mornings and early evenings tend to be the busiest times with dog walkers, while midday on weekdays is usually the quietest window if you prefer a less social visit.
Feeding Ducks and Watching Wildlife
Como Lake has long been a favourite spot for feeding ducks, and the resident waterfowl population is used to visitors gathering along the shoreline, especially near the more open banks where the water is shallow. Ducks, and often geese, congregate close to shore where people typically stop to watch them, and it is a simple, low-cost outing that tends to appeal to young children in particular.
If you plan to bring food for the ducks, it is worth checking current signage in the park first, since many municipalities now discourage feeding bread to waterfowl for the birds’ health and instead suggest cracked corn, oats, or commercial waterfowl feed as better alternatives. The lake also attracts other birdlife beyond the ducks, including herons that occasionally work the shallows and a variety of songbirds in the surrounding trees, so it rewards a slower pace even if feeding the ducks is not the main goal.
Como Lake is also a known casual fishing spot for locals. The lake is stocked with catchable size rainbow trout, and shore access is easy from several points around the loop, which makes it a low key option for anglers who just want an evening cast without a boat or a long drive.
Because the lake is small and the shoreline is easy to reach at several points along the loop, Como Lake works well for a short, unstructured visit built entirely around watching the water. It is the kind of outing that does not require much planning, just a walk down to the lake edge with a bit of time to spare.
Playground, Picnic Areas, and Family Time
Como Lake Park includes a playground suited to younger children, along with grassy open areas and picnic spots that make it a practical destination for a family outing that does not need to be elaborate. The playground sits within view of the lake in most configurations of the park, so parents can keep an eye on the water while children play nearby.
Picnic tables and open lawn areas around the park make it easy to bring a simple meal or snack and turn a short lake walk into a longer stay. Because the park is smaller and more residential in feel than Town Centre Park, it tends to be less crowded on weekday afternoons, which suits families looking for unstructured play time rather than a packed destination park.
The combination of playground, picnic space, and the lake loop means Como Lake Park can fill an hour or an entire afternoon depending on what a visit calls for. It is well suited to spontaneous trips, since there is rarely a need to plan around crowds or events the way you might at a larger regional park.
How Como Lake Compares to Lafarge Lake
The most useful way to think about Como Lake Park is as the quieter counterpart to Lafarge Lake in Town Centre Park. Lafarge Lake is larger, more paved, more programmed with seasonal events and a fountain, and sits within walking distance of the SkyTrain and Coquitlam Centre mall. Como Lake is smaller, more residential, and generally used by people who live in the surrounding neighbourhood rather than visitors travelling in from elsewhere in the region.
Neither park is a replacement for the other, they serve different purposes. Lafarge Lake suits a half-day outing that might include shopping or a seasonal event, while Como Lake suits a shorter, simpler visit, the kind of park you might stop at on the way home rather than plan a special trip around. Coquitlam residents often end up with a preference for one or the other depending on which is closer to home, and both are worth knowing about if you spend any real time in the city.
Getting to Como Lake Park
Como Lake Park sits in a residential part of central Coquitlam, and most visitors arrive by car or on foot from the surrounding neighbourhood. The park has a dedicated main parking lot near the playground off Gatensbury Street, so drivers are not limited to street parking, though street parking is also generally available around the park and it is considerate to be mindful of nearby homes when using it. The park does not have the same transit profile as Lafarge Lake, so checking a trip planner such as TransLink ahead of time is a good idea if you are relying on bus service rather than driving or walking.
Because the park is compact, a visit does not require much lead time or planning. It works well as a stop before or after errands elsewhere in Coquitlam, or as a short evening walk close to home for people living nearby. The City of Coquitlam parks and recreation site is the best place to check for any current notices before you go.
Como Lake Park Tips
Visit in the early morning or early evening for the quietest walk around the lake and the best light for photos, particularly in the softer months of spring and fall when the surrounding trees change colour.
If you plan to feed the ducks, bring cracked corn, oats, or a commercial waterfowl feed rather than bread, and check for any posted signage in the park, since feeding guidance can change and bread is generally discouraged for the birds’ health.
Combine a Como Lake visit with the playground and picnic tables for an easy half-day with young kids, and keep dogs leashed throughout the loop since it is a shared path used heavily by families and other dog walkers.
Questions Often Asked
Is Como Lake Park the same as Lafarge Lake?
No, they are two different lakes. Lafarge Lake is the larger, more developed lake in Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park, with a paved fountain feature, seasonal events, and SkyTrain access. Como Lake Park is a smaller, quieter neighbourhood lake elsewhere in Coquitlam, known for its walking loop, playground, and duck feeding rather than events or programming.
How long does it take to walk around Como Lake?
Most visitors complete the loop around Como Lake in about ten to fifteen minutes at a relaxed pace. The path is mostly flat and paved, making it comfortable for strollers and young children, and many regulars do two or three laps in a single visit.
Can you feed the ducks at Como Lake?
Yes, feeding ducks is one of the most popular activities at Como Lake Park and the resident waterfowl are well used to visitors along the shoreline. It is best to bring cracked corn, oats, or commercial waterfowl feed rather than bread, since bread is generally discouraged for the health of the birds. Always check current park signage for the latest guidance.
Is Como Lake Park good for dogs?
Yes, the loop around Como Lake is a popular short walk for dog owners in the surrounding neighbourhood. Dogs should be kept on leash throughout, since the path is shared with families, young children, and other visitors.
Does Como Lake Park have a playground?
Yes, Como Lake Park includes a playground area suited to younger children, along with grassy open space and picnic tables nearby, making it a straightforward destination for a family outing that pairs play time with a walk around the lake.
