Kanaka Creek Regional Park

I love local parks almost as much as I love local history, so I thought since the sun is (currently) shining, I’ll start up my Metro Vancouver Park Series again to give you some inspiration for your adventures this season. Today’s feature is Kanaka Creek Regional Park in Maple Ridge.

Kanaka Creek Regional Park

Location: Kanaka Creek Regional Park (400 hectares) envelopes the twisting Kanaka Creek as it flows into the Fraser River in Maple Ridge, across from Langley’s Derby Reach Regional Park. You can get there right from Lougheed Highway 7, exiting onto River Road near the eastern side of the Haney ByPass.

Features: There are 10km of walking trails, 7km of cycling trails, and 5km of horseback riding trails in the park that features a coastal rainforest, waterfalls and sandstone cliffs. Watching salmon is a popular activity, either at the Bell-Irving Hatchery or the fish fence, which support enhancement activities for chum and coho salmon as well as cutthroat trout populations in Kanaka Creek.

Dogs (on-leash) are welcome in the park, and fishing is permitted subject to regulations set out by the Provincial Government for fresh water and by the Federal Government for tidal waters. There are picnic tables, and washrooms (some pit).

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The popular Canyon Trail is 1.2 km, about a 30 minute walk one way from the Hatchery, with some challenging hills. The Canyon Trail follows unique sandstone canyons with spectacular falls on the north and south arms of Kanaka Creek.

Follow the 3km Riverfront Trail for a 1 hour stroll on a relatively flat surface. Here you will find outstanding views of Kanaka’s oxbow and the Fraser River and all the wildlife in and around these productive waters.

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For more information about this local park, and more, download the iParks App, and follow Metro Vancouver Regional Parks on Facebook. You can also check out hiking trails on the Vancouver Trails website which says: “The park is a great location for families to spend a day in the outdoors during the summer.”

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Do you have a favourite local park that you would like to see featured? Leave a note in the comments below. Read about more parks around the Lower Mainland here »