 Mountains, forests, lakes, and beyond
The Fraser Valley’s incredible hiking trails almost make up for its constant smell of manure. I spent the summer searching for the Valley’s hiking gems and am pleased to share with you my findings. I would definitely suggest hitting up these spots on a weekday if you want to avoid people and find decent parking. So, get away from that blue-light screen and into the forest!
Abbotsford
Chadsey Lake: A pretty easy hike through a beautiful forest with views overlooking Abbotsford, ending with a small, crystal clear lake to cool off in. If you don’t want to do the 10.6 km round-trip hike that starts on Sumas Mountain Road, you can park at Sumas Mountain Upper Lot on Taggart Road. (Four-wheel drive here would really help.) From there, Chadsey Lake is about a 45-minute hike away.
Maclure Park: I like to rag on Abbotsford a lot, but this place really does have a lot of easily accessible, beautiful hikes, just like this park. This is probably my favourite forest for a casual hike in Abbotsford, as it offers Instagram-worthy wooden bridges crossing over streams, hills thickly covered in ferns, and some sweet peace and quiet.
Abby Grind: Yes, there will be quite a few people on this trail, but you’ll get in some delicious cardio. You’ll be walking uphill for a little more than an hour, depending on your pace, and be rewarded with one of the best views of Abbotsford you can get.
Chilliwack
Elk Mountain: Get ready for a pleasant hike up a smooth, steady incline on a well-maintained trail. Elk Mountain takes only around two hours to walk up, but be sure to go on a weekday if you can, because it can get quite crowded on weekends. The views from the top are absolutely breathtaking, but be sure to keep going after the main viewpoint, as you will soon reach a meadow with an even more spectacular view with far less people in your way. From there you can decide whether or not you want to continue another hour to Thurston Mountain or head back down.
Mount Cheam: It’s a knee-cracker of a hike up, and you’ll need four-wheel drive to get to the trail head, but the views from the top are well worth the effort. If you have a friend who owns a Jeep, go together and enjoy an unparalleled view of the Valley from a mountain top.
Lindeman, Flora, and Greendrop Lake Trail: The beauty of Lindeman Lake is easily ruined by the zoo of people who are there, but if you walk a little further, you will reach Greendrop Lake, and if you walk even further, you’ll hit Flora Lake. Then, walk a little further still and you’re back at the parking lot! It’s a perfect loop to enjoy three different lakes, a lush forest, and a challenging boulder field. Just be sure to bring snacks, lots of water, and a packed lunch because it will be a long (but rewarding) day.
Hope
Hope Lookout: If the Abby Grind had a hot best friend, this would be it. Hope Lookout is about an hour’s grind uphill, and you’ll probably pass only a few people on your way up to a stunning lookout over Hope. There is even a cute logbook in a wooden hutch at the top to record that you’ve been there, and I even found a CD left by local artist Alien Sasquatch inside.
Mission
Hayward Lake: With a hiking trail looping around the entire lake it’s no wonder why this is such a popular outdoor spot for Mission locals. It will take most of the day to walk around the entire lake, but you can choose to do just a section of the trail if you only have an hour or two to spare. You get beautiful lake-side views along the entire trail, with various launching points for kayaks or floaties if you want to take your adventure into the water.
Bear Mountain Loop: Mission Municipal Forest is beautiful and has plenty of trails to choose from; whether you want a leisurely stroll through the woods or a grind up a mountain, this forest has it all. This loop trail rewards you with Bear Mountain Outlook and a view over all of Mission — just watch out for mountain bikers.
Davis Lake: This one is a little more a trek to get to; you’ll be driving up a bumpy forest service road past Cascade Falls for about 20 minutes until you reach the trailhead. It’s a fairly short but super-steep hike following alongside a waterfall and creek to get to the serene Davis Lake.
These are just a few of the trails I found enjoyable on my days off, but this article didn’t even scratch the surface on the abundance of trails we are blessed with here in the Valley. If you want to learn about more hikes, I would recommend the AllTrails app, Vancouver Trails directory, or that you just scan through Google Maps to see if you find any dotted green lines.
Andrea Sadowski is working towards her BA in Global Development Studies, with a minor in anthropology and Mennonite studies. When she's not sitting in front of her computer, Andrea enjoys climbing mountains, sleeping outside, cooking delicious plant-based food, talking to animals, and dismantling the patriarchy.