Trans Canada Trail in Pitt Meadows & Langley
Distance

DISTANCE

37km - 46km
GPS

GPS DOWNLOADS

Distance

MAP

About the Journey

37 km from Pitt River Bridge to Abbotsford (and 46 km of optional spurs in Maple Ridge)

In this more rural part of the Trans Canada Trail there is a main and an alternate or spur route. 

At the Pitt River Bridge, take the time to notice the activity of the Pitt River and be reminded that this river is tidal and it flows out the largest tidal lake in the world, Pitt Lake.

The main route from the Pitt River Bridgehead for the Golden Ears Bridge is via the Pitt River Regional Greenway.  The Greenway follows the Pitt and Fraser River to Harris Landing.  On the way, there are great vistas of the mountains to the north, in particular, the Golden Ears in the Alouette Provincial Park, of cranberry and blueberry fields, of log booms in the two rivers, and a local airport.  Harris Landing at the end of the Greenway provides a terrific refuge from the open dikes to a typical coastal forest along with its huge black cottonwoods and wonderful glimpses of the Fraser River.

Past Harris Landing the pathway continues past a settlement that used to be a mill site called Sawyer’s Mill where views of the Golden Ears Bridge come into prominence and on a clear day the Mount Baker snow cap towers over it.

The Golden Ears Bridge offers great pathways on both sides and allows for a leisurely ride or stroll across the bridge getting yet another perspective of the mighty Fraser splitting around Barnston Island on the west side of the bridge.

After crossing the Bridge into Langley down a spiral ramp the route soon goes past a very large cranberry farm that used to be a peat farm.  Further along is  Derby Reach Regional Park and the Historic Fort-to-Fort Trail, a very pleasant journey mostly on a single-track trail.  A stop at the Old Fort site to take in the interpretive panels is a must.  As well, it is highly recommended to take the 1 km heritage tour of Fort Langley with its shops, restaurants, and museums.

From here the present route is on River Road overlooking the Fraser River to the Nathan Creek dike and, a short distance later, again on roadway off the dike to the Abbotsford Boundary in a very rural setting.

Alternate or Spur and Equestrian route to Kanaka Creek (23-km)-(route will continue to Mission in the future)

All the way along this trail there are interpretive panels detailing the activities and heritage of this area. They are well worth the time to read and contemplate. Do not be alarmed by the cannon blasts during blueberry season. These are to keep the birds from devouring the blueberries.  The trail along the dikes is rural and is on the south side of the Pitt Polder.  From this point, it is very much quite urban as it passes through Old Haney and past heritage buildings all the way to Kanaka Creek Regional Park.  The equestrian trail splits with the cycling and walking trail at Harris Road — see map.




Staging Areas:

In Pitt Meadows, there are staging areas on the north side of the Pitt River Bridge and at Harris Landing.  For the Alternate Route see directions.  In Langley the main staging areas are at Derby Reach Regional Park, Brae Island Regional Park, and the Fort site in Fort Langley and at the start of the trail at Nathan Creek.

GPS INFORMATION:

  • KML/KMZ files can be opened in Google Earth, and many smartphone apps.
  • GPX files can be opened by most GPS software apps when KMZ cannot. Note, GPX files do not contain custom colours and icons that we use on our maps; all tracks and icons will appear the same colour and styles. We recommend using KMZ instead of GPX if possible.

The files below include data for only this specific area. For all of our Trans Canada Trail data for the entire province (including features, campsites and alternate routes), download our BC.kmz master file (1.2 MB)

Visit our GPS & Navigation page for instructions of how to use your smartphone as a GPS device (even when outside of data coverage) or how to import data to your Garmin unit.


GPS DOWNLOAD (KMZ FILE)
GPS DOWNLOAD (GPX FILE)
DOWNLOAD INFORMATION SHEET

Staging Areas:

In Pitt Meadows, there are staging areas on the north side of the Pitt River Bridge and at Harris Landing.  For the Alternate Route see directions.  In Langley the main staging areas are at Derby Reach Regional Park, Brae Island Regional Park, and the Fort site in Fort Langley and at the start of the trail at Nathan Creek.

Washrooms:

The are public washrooms in Pitt Meadow are at Harris Landing.  On the Langley side of the bridge there are several opportunities once you reach the Fraser River.

Route Highlights:

  • Fort Langley National Historic Site
  • Quiet farmland scenery
  • Non-motorized dike trails
  • Options for equestrians

DOWNLOAD INFORMATION SHEET

Shopping:

Fort Langley Village is a treasure trove of boutiques and restaurants.
Curt Alberts (Mayor) and his wife operate an Art Gallery in Fort Langley.

Accomodations:

 

There are two campsites:
Fort Langley Campground & RV Park , 9451 Glover Road, (604)888-3678 — Fax: (604)514-0195st  (has showers)
Derby Reach Regional Park Campground

There are also several hotels on 88th Ave. in Langley.
Eagle’s Reach Bed & Breakfast, 24658 87th Ave., (604) 888-4470
Salmon River Guest House, 8812 Glover Road, (604) 888-7937

Transportation:

TransLink (bus)
Westcoast Express (train) in Maple Ridge

Directions:

DOWNLOAD INFORMATION SHEET (PDF)

MAIN ROUTE VIA THE PITT RIVER GREENWAY TO GOLDEN EARS BRIDGE (14 km)

Pitt River Regional Park Greenway

Access the Greenway by taking a trail under the Pitt River Bridge and head south soon dipping under the CN tracks.  (The trail heading north is the TCT alouette River Spur to Maple Ridge.  Follow the Regional Pitt River Greenway, first passing blueberry and cranberry fields, later a cedar mill, then the airport all the way to Harris Landing.  Most of it is on a dike but as it passes the airport watch to go off the dike into Harris Landing.  At the Junction of the Pitt and Fraser Rivers and where Douglas Island splits the Fraser River, the dike makes a sharp turn to the left.  Very Soon after the Sea plane underpass/tunnel, a unique method of getting around this trail obstacle, get off the dike at the Regional Park Sign and head towards the river into the forest on a single track trail through a majestic cedar grove and giant black cottonwoods to Harris Landing.

Connection from the Pitt River Regional Greenway to the Golden Ears Bridge

Continue on the trail to Sawyer’s Landing Shoreline Path providing photo opportunities at the first quay.  At the end of this path turn left on Bonson Rd, on the road or on the sidewalk, to a roundabout at Airport Road.

Take the path east parallel to Airport Road to Southgate Drive but do not continue on the path past this street.  Head for Airport Road on the left and immediately turn right on the Golden Ears Bridge ramp to the west pathway on the bridge that ends with a spiral ramp to a point below the bridge.

Golden Ears Bridge to Fort Langley  (12.5 km)

Follow 201 St. north under the bridge using the left path to 102B Ave., turn right and follow 102B to a ‘T’ junction at 208 St.  Turn left to the trailhead just past Allard Crescent while first going over a bridge and then passing a very large cranberry farm on the right that was once a peat bog.  Do not take Allard Crescent.

From the trailhead take the trail, built as a demonstration for the Experience the Fraser Project through a forested area, past a viewpoint and beach off the trail on the Fraser R. (toilet), farms along Allard Crescent, and a dog park to Edgewater Bar in Derby Reach Regional Park.

From here:

  • Cyclists follow the road along the waterfront passing a campground with views over the Fraser River to Haney Port.
  • Walkers take Edge Trail (yellow dot) into the forest at the entrance to the campground to view very large black cottonwoods in this pleasant 0.88-km meandering walking trail.

At the end of the campground and the walking trail continue on the Edge Farm Trail to the old Fort Langley Heritage Site.

Continue on the Fort to Fort Trail following an escarpment with farms overlooking the Fraser River followed by a stint along Allard Crescent by-passing private properties.  Re-enter the forest past these properties on a path following Bedford Channel and overlooking Brae Island Regional Park while passing a golf course followed by the Salmon River Pump Station.  Continue past Bedford Landing, a new neighbourhood and, finally, between Riverside Center and the Channel to an observation tower next to the bridge over Bedford Channel at Glover Rd.

Cross Glover Rd and continue on a path between Bedford Restaurant and the Channel to reach Marina Park.  From here head south on Church St. over railroad tracks to Mavis Street.  Turn left on Mavis and proceed to the Trans Canada Trail Pavilion at the Fort Langley National Historic Site.

If you have time  be sure to take the 1-km heritage loop on the TCT of the town centre.  It offers coffee shops, ice cream parlours, restaurants, boutiques and museums where there is a definite feel of stepping back in time.  First, head back along Mavis St to Glover Rd.

Heading south on Glover Road to Francis Avenue across from the cemetery, there are historic buildings and points of interest on both sides of the street.  Of particular interest are: the Fort Langley Visitor Centre in the CNR Station by the railroad tracks; Gasoline Alley; the Fort Community Hall (1932), a yellow building on the west side of the street past Mary Avenue; and the historic cemetery.  In between, there are many interesting little shops including the great Birth of BC Gallery at the corner of Francis and Glover.

Turn eastward on Francis Ave. to Church St.  Proceed north to Mary Ave. Note the historic church and proceed east on Mary Avenue to King St. Turn north on King St. passing two museums, the Langley Centennial Museum & National Exhibition Centre and the B.C. Farm Machinery Museum, magnificent and worthwhile stops, perhaps in a future visit.  From here the Historic Fort and the TCT Pavilion is  just ahead.

From the TCT Pavilion to the Abbotsoford Boundary

The Interim Trans Canada Trail route follows River Road (88th Avenue) to Nathan Creek east dike. (We are hopeful that someday the Trail to Nathan Creek will be off-road.

Also in the interim, we are using the Nathan Creek Dike heading south for 1.6 km. Turn eastward on Marsh-McCormick Road (80th Avenue) for another 0.9 km to 272nd Street and another 2.3 km to Lefeuvre Road. The Abbotsford boundary is 0.8 km towards Lefeuvre Road from 272nd Street. Proceed south from here.

 

THE EQUESTRIAN AND ALTERNATE OR SPUR ROUTE FROM THE PITT RIVER BRIDGE TO KANAKA CREEK IN MAPLE RIDGE – 23 KM

Pitt Meadows Dike Trail

Starting from the Pitt River Bridge proceed north on the Pitt River Dike. Continue passing a marina entering the South Alouette River Dike. Follow this dike across Harris Road at the Silver Bridge to eventually reach Neaves Road. At Harris Road and at Jerry Sulina Park after crossing Neaves Road, there are staging areas to park cars with toilet facilities at these sites. Neaves Road is the boundary between Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge.

After Neaves Road continue on the South Alouette dike curving southward to 128th Avenue. Go east approximately 30 metres to Laity Street. Follow Laity Street south to 124th Avenue. Turn left (east) on 124th Avenue. Enjoy this alley of large fir and cedar trees to 216th Street. Cross 216th Street and continue on 124th watching for an entrance to Merkley Park on the south side of the street. Follow the trail through Merkley Park past Maple Ridge Secondary School to 122nd Avenue. Follow 122nd Avenue east to 224th Street and turn south (right) to the City Centre.

Follow 224th Street crossing Dewdney Trunk Road to old Haney shopping area and the Civic Centre. Continue south on 224th, cross the Lougheed Highway to the Haney Heritage House and turn east on the Heritage Walk Trail. Before proceeding east, take a short side trip to the Fraser River waterfront by going under the Haney Bypass. In this picturesque setting people are fishing off the wharf near a live log sorting operation up river. Across the street there is a quaint pub lodged in a historic bank building. West from the pub is the Westcoast Express Commuter Train Station.

The Heritage Walk passes by a park near a railroad museum. Continue on 116th Avenue going uphill through a new housing development to and across Burnett Street. Continue northeast on 116th Avenue and cross the Lougheed Highway to the Thomas Haney Campus. For now, follow 116th Ave to 232nd Street and turn south towards the Fraser River.

Turn south and follow 232nd Street all the way to Kanaka Creek Road. Cross Kanaka Creek Road and follow the paved path going northeast following the salmon-bearing Kanaka Creek. Veer east at the first occasion to continue along Kanaka Creek. Soon after, turn south and cross Rainbow Bridge. After crossing the bridge follow the path as it veers to the right. Cross a neighborhood street taking a trail that goes downhill between houses in this subdivision. At the bottom turn left and continue on the north side of the Fairgrounds to the TCT Trail Marker at Belle Morse Park. This is the end of the trail at this time.

Equestrians – Pitt River Bridge to Maple Ridge Fairgrounds
Follow the same dike to Harris Road and cross over to the north side of the South Alouette River to follow the North Alouette River dike which temporarily ends at McNeil Road. Follow this road northward to Neaves Road then proceed South to the South side of the North Alouette River and follow the dike eastward to 216th Street. Follow 216th Street to 128th Avenue. The 128th Avenue alignment eastward is known as the Trans Ridge Trail. It crosses the South Alouette River 4 times (no bridges) and follows it to 248th Street. Follow 248th Street south to 113th Avenue close to Kanaka Creek. Make a jog westward and at the first opportunity take a trail into Kanaka Creek Park. After crossing Kanaka Creek, proceed on a trail out of the park back on to 248th Street. Follow this street (changes to Industrial Avenue) to 104th Avenue. Follow 104th Avenue west to the Fairgrounds crossing 240th Street.