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Outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, and no wonder: the district boasts over 160 km (100 mi) of walking, cycling, hiking and equestrian trails. Outdoor recreation is centered around magnificent Golden Ears Provincial Park, with its many camping, hiking, horseback riding, boating, fishing and windsurfing opportunities. Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows also offer a variety of historical and agricultural attractions, as well as several outstanding golf courses.
A trip to Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows often means a trip to Golden Ears Provincial Park. One of BC's most popular, the park is named for its famous twin peaks, which stand majestically on guard over the Fraser Valley. The southern end of the park is home to an extensive network of hiking trails as well as three vehicle-accessible campgrounds along the shore of 16.5-km (10 mi) long Alouette Lake. Try the popular 5.4 km (3.4 mi) round-trip route to the cascading Lower Falls. Experienced hikers can head up the challenging, 20-km (12.4 mi) round-trip Alouette Mountain Trail, which peaks with panoramic views of the Fraser Valley. Adjacent to Golden Ears Park is the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, which contains almost every type of terrain found in the lower coastal region of BC. Its wonderful network of hiking trails passes through a mossy, forested environment of Douglas-fir, western red cedar and western hemlock. Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows were dyked extensively after World War II to protect from flooding by the Pitt and Alouette rivers; today walkers, cyclists, birders and equestrians use the embankments year round. Start exploring these trails from Grant Narrows Regional Park, on the south shore of Pitt Lake (the largest freshwater tidal lake in North America). Maple Ridge boasts Kanaka Creek Regional Park, a protected green corridor that follows 12 km (7.5 mi) of Kanaka Creek. Take the two-hour walk along a sandstone canyon that passes scenic Cliff Falls. Those who prefer manicured greens will be delighted by several exceptional golf courses found in the area. These include: Meadow Gardens, a 7,041-yd, par 72 designed by Les Furber and one of Canada’s most challenging courses; Swan-e-set Bay Resort & Country Club, a 7,000-yd, par 72 designed by Lee Trevino that boasts spectacular views of jagged mountain peaks and pristine lakes; and Golden Eagle Golf Club, which offers two 18-hole courses and is memorably situated at the foot of the Coast Mountains. Those adventurers who want to soar can do so at Pitt Meadows Airport, where tandem skydiving with freefalls of 30-50 seconds from altitudes as high as 3,810 m (12,500 ft) is available.
Take time to explore Maple’s Ridge historical side. Start at the Maple Ridge Museum, where displays include the stone tools and cedar baskets of local First Nations. On the museum’s lower level is a world-class model train diorama depicting the community during the railway logging era. The Maple Ridge Art Gallery hosts a range of exhibition programs of regional and local artists. Visit historic sites on the self-guided Port Haney Heritage River Walk. Stops include the Port Haney Wharf, the old Bank of Montreal, the old Post Office and Haney House. Pitt Meadows is also home to many heritage buildings. Take a quick jaunt to nearby Mission to visit the fascinating Power House at Stave Falls, an authentic 1912 generating station, to learn how power helped build British Columbia.
This is horse country and Maple Ridge has “The Beast” to ensure that you don’t forget it. This metal horse sits atop the clock tower outside Maple Ridge Municipal Hall and rears up every hour on the hour. This is also a centre for agritourism, exemplified by HoneyLand Canada, an educational bee farm with over 1,000 bee colonies. Don’t miss the Meadows Maze – one of the largest corn mazes in the Pacific Northwest.
ACT –the Maple Ridge Arts Centre & Theatre– is the cultural heart of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. The ACT is home to live music and theatre as well as special events and workshops.
Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are close by Golden Ears Provincial Park. One of BC’s most popular parks, it offers terrific hiking trails that pass by rushing waterfalls and lush forests to rugged peaks and awesome viewpoints. Golden Ears is also home to Alouette Lake, the park’s camping- and water-recreation centre. Adjacent to the park is the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, which contains almost every type of terrain found in the lower coastal region of BC. Its wonderful network of hiking trails passes through a mossy, forested environment of Douglas-fir, western redcedar and western hemlock. Maple Ridge boasts Kanaka Creek Regional Park, a protected green corridor that follows 12 km (7.5 mi) of Kanaka Creek. Take the two-hour walk along a sandstone canyon that passes scenic Cliff Falls. Grant Narrows is another marvelous regional park, located on the south shore of Pitt Lake, the largest freshwater tidal lake in North America. This park is an excellent starting point for exploring the network of embankment trails in the Pitt-Addington Wildlife Management Area, particularly for birders. Common sightings include Canada geese, osprey, trumpeter swans, bald eagles and sandhill cranes.
Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are home to three popular lakes. Alouette Lake in Golden Ears Provincial Park is one of the Lower Mainland's premier watersports destinations, offering myriad opportunities for swimming, windsurfing, water-skiing, canoeing, boating and fishing. Boaters and birders make good use of Pitt Lake in Grant Narrows Regional Park. Canoe rentals are also available. Whonnock Lake, a local favourite, is a great place for canoeing, kayaking and wildlife viewing.
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