7 Ways to Get Outdoors in Maple Ridge

Lower Falls in Golden Ears Provincial Park

Lower Falls in Golden Ears Provincial Park. Photo: Larry Nalzaro/Unsplash

Maple Ridge is sandwiched between soaring peaks and the banks of the mighty Fraser River. There are lots of ways to enjoy outdoor adventures in this Fraser Valley city including hiking, biking, parks, and more.

 

Visit Golden Ears Provincial Park

This huge park has plenty to offer: Have a picnic at the day-use area. Explore the hiking trails which range from beginner to expert. (The hike to Lower Falls is a great beginner option.) Ride your bike on the cross-country mountain bike trails. Or spend time at the beaches on Alouette Lake. Our guide to Golden Ears Provincial Park can help you plan your trip. Heads up: BC Parks day passes are required to visit the park between late May and mid-October.

A woman walk along a gravel beach at Alouette Lake in Golden Ears Provincial Park

Exploring the shoreline of Alouette Lake in Golden Ears Provincial Park. Photo: Matt Hanns Schroeter/Unsplash

 

Hike the Gold Creek Canyon Loop

One of the best hikes in Maple Ridge is the Gold Creek Canyon Loop in Golden Ears Provincial Park. The low-elevation hike is rated moderate and is snow-free most of the year. It takes you through beautiful rainforest as you walk alongside a rushing creek. Use our Gold Creek Canyon Loop hiking guide to find your way.

View of Gold Creek from the bridge in Golden Ears Provincial Park

Gold Creek from the bridge. Photo: Taryn Eyton, HappiestOutdoors.ca

 

Walk or Bike to Craft Breweries

Maple Ridge has a growing craft beer community. Most of the breweries are clustered together, making them easy to visit on a self-guided walking or biking trip. Use our Maple Ridge craft brewery guide for step-by-step directions.

A server pours a beer at Maple Meadows Brewing

Photo: Maple Meadows Brewing/Everyday Epic Marketing

 

Embrace Your Inner Adrenaline Junkie

Head to WildPlay Maple Ridge to brave their ropes courses which include obstacles, tightropes, and ziplines. Choose from three ropes courses: classic, extreme, and a kids course. You can also challenge yourself on the What’s To Fear Jump, a plunge from 40 feet in the air!

 

Go for a Bike Ride

Maple Ridge is fairly flat and has lots of designated bike routes, which makes it a great place to go for a bike ride. A highlight is the bike lane that crosses the Golden Ears Bridge, which has amazing views of the Fraser River and Golden Ears Mountains. Another good place to ride is the dykes along the Alouette River. Use the Metro Vancouver Cycling Map to find your way around.

View from the dykes along the North Alouette River

View from the dykes along the North Alouette River. Photo: Andrei Antica/Unplash

 

Visit Kanaka Creek Regional Park

Kanaka Creek Regional Park protects coastal rainforest in a slim corridor along the banks of Kanaka Creek. The nature trail in the Fraser Riverfront section of the park is a great place to watch for wildlife from observation towers. Or head to the Canyon section of the park to hike to the beautiful cascades of Kanaka Cliff Falls.

Kanaka Cliff Falls in Kanaka Creek Regional Park

Kanaka Cliff Falls. Photo: Taryn Eyton/HappiestOutdoors.ca

 

Play Disc Golf

The hilly and forested 14-hole disc golf course in Thornhill Park suits disc golfers of all abilities from beginner to experienced, since there are three different tees per hole.

A woman throwing a disc at a disc golf basket

Photo: jatocreate/Pixabay

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