Central Park.

Central Park is proof that a forest can survive at the edge of a busy intersection. Step off the SkyTrain at Patterson, cross the plaza and you are among Douglas firs that were already tall when Burnaby was farmland. The canopy is high and open, the ground soft with needles, and in October the understory of bigleaf maple throws down a thick carpet of yellow that seems to light the trails from below.

The best introduction is the perimeter loop, about four kilometres on wide gravel paths. Walk it counter-clockwise from the station and you pass the pitch-and-putt, the swimming pool and the outdoor stadium before reaching the quieter south end, where the two ponds sit. Upper Pond is the prettier one for colour, ringed by alders and maples that reflect in the water on still days; Lower Pond is where children usually end up, watching mallards and the occasional painted turtle from the wooden railing.

For a shorter visit, head straight for the ponds from the Boundary Road parking lot, then follow one of the inner trails back through the biggest trees. Keep an eye out for the giant stumps still bearing the springboard notches of early loggers, now wearing green coats of moss and ferns.

Families appreciate the flat terrain, the playgrounds and the sense of enclosure that makes the park feel safe for wandering. The honest caveat is that the inner trails are dim even at midday and can feel gloomy in heavy rain, so time your visit for brighter weather if you are going for the colour. Check the City of Burnaby page for pool hours and any trail closures.