Tourism Chilliwack Blog

Water off a duck’s back, and yours

2011-08-24T11:17:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for something to do on a ‘cloudy with showers’ type of day in the Chilliwack area, why not consider hanging out with the ducks. The Cheam Lake Wetlands Regional Park is a great place to do just that. This park has a trail system with floating walkways that provides 2km’s of level walking. With 184 different bird species having been recorded in the park, it is a great location for bird watching, in addition to viewing many different insects and mammals.
If you fancy getting some fresh air but don’t want to be outside for too long in case a rain cloud opens up, I recommend going for a walk through the lake, marsh, and forest areas of this park. Even if you do get a little wet just think like a
duck and it will just be ‘water off your back’.

Please note, if you decide to visit the park, please leave your four-legged friends at home.

Last week I merged a walk in the Cheam Lake Wetlands Regional Park with a hike up to Bridal Veil Falls and highly recommend this combination, as both sites are located at Exit 135 on the Trans-Canada Highway.

For directions and more trail ideas, download Chilliwack’s Walking and Hiking Trail Guide here: http://www.tourismchilliwack.com/docs/chilliwackhikingguide.pdf

Circle Farm Tour

2011-08-24T11:13:00.000-07:00

Want to be surrounded by good ole’ country charm? Then hop into your car or onto your bicycle and try Chilliwack’s self-guided Circle Farm Tour, where you will dive into the world of ‘farming’. This mostly Greendale-based tour includes a pottery shop and soap shack, as well as cheese, flour, and honey locations to satisfy your many senses. Depending on the season, there are also flower gardens to visit, in addition to a pumpkin patch and corn maze. Some of the shopping items available include: handmade soaps, unique, one- of - a kind pottery pieces, farm fresh produce, goat cheese, organic beef, kosher honey, kosher grains and fresh stone-ground flours.

Whether you are interested in visiting Chilliwack’s ‘Great Outside’ for the first time, or are a local resident, the Circle Farm Tour will have something of interest to you. Chilliwack’s Circle Farm Tour is an incredible experience for the whole family and there are also many other tours available throughout the rest of the Fraser Valley. I have lived in Chilliwack my whole life and consistently visit some of the farms and shops a couple of times a month to grab my favourite products and chat with the farmers. All of the stops are related in some way to agriculture and the Chilliwack’s farming heritage and it is always fun to learn something new about an area, whether you are familiar with it or not.

For more information on Fraser Valley Circle Farm Tours check out: www.circlefarmtour.com

My perfect day trip from Chilliwack

2011-07-06T16:33:00.000-07:00

Here is my recipe for a perfect day trip from Chilliwack...in addition to the obvious ingredient of sunshine; my recipe includes walking through tunnels, traversing the mighty Fraser River via a tram, hopping over train tracks, and picnicking in the middle of an old bridge.

My day began with a drive from Chilliwack to Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park in Hope. Having lived in Chilliwack since I was three and never visiting the Othello Tunnels, I figured it was about time that I took a walk through history. The abandoned railway tunnels are all amazing engineering achievements dating back to 1911. The railway line, which opened in 1916, was only operational until 1959. The tunnels that remain, however, provide a spectacular setting for a leisurely walk or bike ride.

After my walk through the tunnels, I took the Trans-Canada Highway from Hope to Hell’s Gate, which is past the towns of Yale and Spuzzum. The drive up the Fraser Canyon took me through four more tunnels before I boarded the tram and rose 150m above the narrowest part of the Fraser River. The view was spectacular! Once I crossed over Hell’s Gate I found many things and activities to occupy me. The fisheries exhibit and video were very informative, the fudge I purchased was delicious and I was able to consume it while admiring the Fraser River, the history of Hell’s Gate provided was very interesting, and the locations to pose for photos were endless.

Following my return tram trip, I headed back south down the Trans-Canada Highway until I reached Alexandra Bridge. I grabbed my lunch, jumped out of the car, walked down the trail, hopped over some train tracks, continued down the trail, and sat down in the middle of the bridge for a picnic lunch. The bridge was originally built in 1863 but was replaced in 1926. It has not been in used by vehicles since 1964, which, was great for me, as I did not have to worry about having my lunch interrupted and the only ‘noise’ I had to endure was from the rushing water of the Fraser River.

An Evening at Tapins, Cultus Lake

2011-06-22T15:41:00.000-07:00

Looking for something to do on a warm summer’s evening in the Chilliwack area? Thinking of trying your hand at golf but not wanting to commit to a full course? In need of a new activity to tackle with your friends? If your answer to any of these questions is “yes”, then consider trying out Tap-Ins 70-par putting course at Cultus Lake.

I played my first round of the 18-holes worth of greens on a hot evening last summer and kept on coming back for more. My putting evening started after dinner when I called my friend, she grabbed two of her dad’s old putters, and we jumped in the car and headed to Cultus Lake. After paying the fee and receiving two balls, we removed our shoes, and took to the first green. Even though I apparently have no ‘golfing genes’, my evening was very enjoyable, and I even managed to make par at a few holes. The contoured natural greens, ponds, and surrounding trees made up a beautiful setting, and the mother duck with her baby ducklings that waddled across my putting path was a nice surprise.
Jessica H.

Hiking Elk Mountain

2011-06-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

Knowing that I had the next day off, I asked my dad to join me on a hike. He agreed, and I eventually decided that we would conquer the 800m elevation gain of Elk Mountain. Not having hiked Elk for years, all that I remembered was that the trail went up, up, up. So, up, up, up we went.

I know that some people call Elk Mountain ‘Chilliwack’s answer to the Grouse Grind’, and I would have to agree with them. Don’t let this nickname scare you however. The hike is perfect for a hot summer’s day as the majority of the trail is hidden from the sun by the trees. As the trail steepens do not be discouraged. The sweat you will pay to Elk Mountain will be rewarded. Once you begin to near the top, views of the Fraser Valley are offered to you as teasers of what is to come and also serve as motivation to continue your hike. The summit in the alpine meadows is 1,400m and rewards you with stunning views of the City of Chilliwack and surrounding farm lands, Slesse Mountain, Cultus Lake, and Harrison Lake.

The lack of a gondola for the descent is not a problem as you will be rejuvenated from the views you have absorbed atop the mountain. And, if you still crave more fresh mountain air, you can always carry on on to Thurston Mountain (1,630m).

Although our legs were stiff the next day, my dad and I both agreed that this hike is what the “Great Outside” is all about.

Jessica H. - Chilliwack

Rafting the Chilliwack River

2010-08-11T16:41:00.001-07:00

"Remember, this is a voluntary activity with inherent risk". As the guide tells me this I start wondering what I have signed myself up for. This is supposed to be an afternoon activity to celebrate a birthday - inject a little adventure into our lives. Well, it worked.

We joined Chilliwack River Rafting for an afternoon on the water. We donned our wet suits and our helmets and jumped aboard the school bus for a short drive to the riverside. After a safety talk we joined our amazing guide Andrea and began floating down the river. She taught us some commands which we took a while to perfect (some of us really struggling knowing our left from our right!). Once we hit our stride however, we were careening through the rapids celebrating each successful run with a round of high-fives. The smiles on the face of the 12-year old boy in the back of our boat made it all worth it!

It was another reminder about why I love living in BC: with just a short ride from my in-laws home in Chilliwack (about 90 minutes from Vancouver) I find myself on a beautiful river surrounded by mountains - holding on for dear life.

Who could ask for anything more?

Just wanted to share...

2010-08-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

By profession I am in design and printing. I recently received the Chilliwack Great Outside tourism brochure. I have to tell you, of all the tourism pieces I have seen from all around the U.S. it by far stood out at the top. Yes it was nicely designed, clean, and covered all the basics. But, the beauty in which it was written, coupled with the photography and layout. Oh. It was as if cupid shot me with an arrow. Felt it deep down inside I did. It was as if you took a piece of Chilliwack and planted it into my soul with just what was inside the brochure. Granted I am not the average reader. I am a very intuitive and visual person. I can read a book and place myself in the scene. But I shared the brochure with a few others and they agreed, it is terrific. From my other, business and marketing side - in short - it sells Chilliwack.

Mark B. PA, USA
Tourism Chilliwack Visitor Guide

Vedder Mountain Ridge Trail

2010-04-13T13:04:00.000-07:00

The first photo is the north-east side of the Vedder Mountain Ridge Trail I hiked on Easter Sunday 2010. The peak in the distance left of tree in the center is cheam. At this elevation the wind cuts through unobstructed so the temperature drops off quite a bit compaired to the rest of the trail.

My second photo shows me on the west side of the first summit - from this angle on a clearer day you can see the island and boundry bay.
Third photo is a skyward view of a part of the trail I like to call the Magic Forest. A very quiet section of the trail and that day there was a light dusting of snow and no wind, it was so quiet I could hear my heart beating!
Fourth shot is of a pond at the 3/4 stage of the trail about 20 mins past the Magic Forest. Closer to the end of the trail are 2 more ponds that are similar.

From a techinal point if your not driving a 4x4 you will have to trek a busy gravel road to get to the 1st trail head used by mountain bikes, ATV's and dirt bikes. The next step of the journey to the second trail head is not as busy but still shared with dirt bikes and mountain bikes, the 3rd trailhead is the jewel as once your on this stage your off on a wonderful journey which is well worth the effort!
Walter Hardinge.

Majestic Mount Cheam

2009-07-31T16:11:00.000-07:00

We arrived at the Foley Forest Service Road,28km down the Chilliwack Lake Road and started the 15km drive up to the Mount Cheam trailhead. We passed a number of ATV’s and dirt bikes on the lower section of the climb.

Not long into the drive it became apparent why a 4x4 is recommended on this road. The forest service road is decommissioned and the frequent and fairly deep ditches and uneven surface mean that having a vehicle with a decent height clearance is important if you want to make it all of the way up to the trailhead. The ascent gets fairly steep in places as well as narrow. There are definitely a few points you don’t want to meet a vehicle coming the other way! If you want to break the journey up, there are a number of good lookout points to grab some photos. Do this on the way up if the weather is good as by the time you are on your way down, conditions could change.

About 4km before the trailhead we passed a few SUV’s (probably not 4WD) parked just off the road and this is the point where your 4WD will become very useful. Ironically the last km of the drive is comparatively smooth and in fair condition, compared to what you have encountered before. There is a parking area at the trailhead and if it is full there are alternative options on the approach to it.

This is the first time I had climbed Mount Cheam and the first difference I immediately noticed was the absence of a forest canopy. The terrain was very open and from the outset we could see the climb which lay ahead. The first section of the hike from the trailhead lead us up a steadily climbing winding gravel path which crossed a few streams. It’s not long before you are rewarded with your first views of snow covered Mount Baker.

Not too long into the hike, we encounter our first large area of snow to traverse, the first of several which would add at least 20 minutes to our hike. On a few occasions it was necessary to take a detour, off the trail, to avoid patches of snow which made things hazardous. After the gravel path and snow fields, we reached the first meadow and saw the first signs of beautiful wild flowers you only tend to see at this altitude. Still at the this point there hadn’t been too many steep climbs, though this is the first point at which the trail narrows to the point at which it is one person at a time!

Gradually the meadow opens up and the climb becomes steadily steeper. Loose gravel and dirt become more frequent as we approach the top. Before the final push we are treated to views of both Jones Lake from the first of several cliff edges we encounter and Cultus Lake can also be seen in the distance. This is also the first point at which it is evident that our day of blue skies and hot weather is quickly changing. Thin cloud is starting to roll in below us and temperatures start to fall surprisingly quickly. The first change we encounter on the final push is wind, lots of it and whilst refreshing at first to counter the sweat we have worked up it soon becomes irritating as we all become very cold and realise that we have not come prepared for the changes in weather we are encountering. Having left 30 degrees and blue sky on the ground it is difficult to believe we are now struggling to keep our extremities from going numb!

As we reach the plateau at the top of the trail our first thoughts turn to taking cover from the cold wind and we are relieved to find a shelter of loose stones which have been built right at the edge of the mountain. The plateau provides superb views of the valley on a clear day, which unfortunately this day no longer is! Our shelter gives some of us enough time to recharge our batteries for the final few metres steep climb up to the summit of the mountain. The feeling of exhilaration on arriving at the top of this 2112m hike mean I momentarily forget the chilly July wind which has numbed my fingers and toes and given many of us earache!

Due to the deteriorating weather, our stay at the summit is short-lived as the skies to the West look increasingly menacing. To our surprise we pass a number of people on our way down still on their ascent and wearing clothing which looked as insufficient as ours was for the worsening conditions.

A memorable and exhilarating hike meaning I now look at Mount Cheam with a renewed respect. Some valuable lessons learned – next time we’ll take more clothing no matter how hot it is on the ground! I now appreciate how easy it is for hikers to get themselves into situations where they require rescue!

Hiking East of Chilliwack

2009-02-26T09:40:00.000-08:00

The Baby Munday Area is a spectacular hiking area just East of Chilliwack. To reach this incredible alpine wilderness, it is best to plan an overnight hike. The trail is very steep and requires about 720m of elevation gain. Access is from the Foley Lake Forestry Service Road (just off the Chilliwack Lake Road). A good route description can be found in a book called 'Scrambles in SW BC' by Matt Gunn. Once up in the alpine, several peaks can be climbed, including Knight Peak (an intermediate hike), Baby Munday North Peak (moderate scramble), and Stewart Peak (moderate scramble with some exposure).

Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park

2009-01-28T11:30:00.000-08:00

In May I went camping at Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park. The hiking trails were closed by snow, and water levels so high that the boat launch was inaccessible. My neighbour suggested we drive to the south end of the lake and hike in to the reserve. The 11.5 km. road is not suitable for cars, but a 2 wheel drive truck is no problem (use caution). As we neared the end of the road, Depot Creek was washing over the road, so we decided to add an extra kilometer to the hike and not drive through as the ability to drive out would be uncertain. The easy trail is normally 5.4 km. return. Along the way there is a visible line where 2nd growth forest meets old growth. There is a beautiful sandy beach here, but it was under 1 meter of water. The trail ends opposite the mouth of the south Chilliwack River. This part is a narrow peninsula with an old beaver pond to the south and lake to north. Near here my hiking partner walked right past a rare and endangered spotted owl. It was napping about 3 meters off the trail, and resembled a boulder. On the return trip it had moved to better cover about 10 meters off the trail. This place is so beautiful I wish I could post all the photos.

Memorable Hiking in Chilliwack, BC

2009-01-28T11:19:00.000-08:00

Had to share with you the best hiking experience I encountered during my stay in Western Canada. I spent the last 3 months touring BC and Alberta and some of the best hiking trails I experienced were in Chilliwack in the Fraser Valley.

Upon arriving in the city, we checked out the local Visitor Centre which was easy to find by following the yellow and blue 'I' signs posted all over BC. These became very familiar during my travels and were always a good source of information.

I picked up a Chilliwack Hiking Trail guide and was advised to check out the hike up Elk mountain and the Lindeman Lake trail. I decided to do the Lindeman trail first following a morning visit to Cultus Lake which was beautiful. The Lindeman trailhead was easy to find and parking was on the Chilliwack Lake Road which was right by the trailhead. The trail itself was well marked and involved a little scrambling over fallen trees and over rocks which added to the sense of adventure. After about an hour and a quarter I arrived at this glacial lake with a beautiful green glow similar to that of which I saw at Lake Louise but in natural surroundings which were truly unspoiled.

Blessed with 2 days good weather in a row I headed up Elk mountain which after about an hours steady hiking and another 20 minutes slightly more challenging climbing I arrived at an opening which provided me with a view of Mount Baker in the US which I will never forget! The climb to the summit is so close at this point and more rewards awaited me as I made the last few challenging steps to the summit. The view of the Fraser Valley was exceptional - I could see for miles! I spent a good hour taking in the view with the best picnic spot in town.

For anyone visiting Chilliwack, I highly recommend these 2 hikes and make sure you climb Elk on a good weather day for the best views.

Radium Lake

2009-01-28T10:58:00.000-08:00

Most of the way up Mount Webb in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park is Radium Lake . This is a moderate 15 km. hike from the footbridge by the campground. This area was opened by British Royal Engineers training between ww1 and ww2. They named the alpine lakes for the beautiful green colour of the water, Flora, Greendrop and Radium lakes. The trail was very scenic, with alpine meadows and dark old growth rainforest. The trail follows and crosses Radium Creek over a 900 meter climb. There are numerous log bridges and a wild suspension bridge on the way, along with historical ruins of Charles Lindeman's old satellite hunting cabins. Upon reaching the lake I was impressed by the rugged beauty of it all. It was definitely worth all the effort.