The best gravel rides around Maple Ridge

The Alouette River was formerly known as the Lillooet River, but the name was changed since there is a larger, more well known river that had the same name. The name Alouette was chosen for the simple reason that it sounds similar to Lillooet, but French speakers will recognize that it means lark.

The Hyde Creek Salmon Hatchery is a small powerhouse of local conservation, run entirely by volunteers who raise thousands of coho and chum salmon each year. Its story began in the 1980s with a homemade backyard hatchery, complete with an old bathtub! Drop by on a Saturday morning when volunteers are usually around, and you may get a glimpse behind the scenes before heading back out to watch for salmon in Hyde Creek itself.

This stretch of the PoCo Trail slips into the greenery of Hyde Creek, with dense forest and plenty of wildlife close to the path. Look for trilliums and huckleberries under the trees, listen for woodpeckers and kinglets, and in salmon season keep an eye on the creek itself. Plus, it isn't uncommon to run into black bears around here, so keep your eyes open.

The view opens onto a slow, meandering river cutting through wide-open farmland — a mix of grassy fields, wetland patches, and hedgerows rather than dense forest crowding the banks.

This brigde was built through community fundraising efforts led by the Colony Farm Park Association, working in partnership with Metro Vancouver, to give walkers and cyclists a direct river crossing within the park's trail network. It serves as a key junction point: crossing it lets visitors extend a walk into a longer loop, linking the western side of the park near the Community Gardens to the eastern Wilson Farm area, rather than backtracking the way they came.

Pitt Meadows Regional Airport sits right along the Pitt River Regional Greenway and the Fraser River, serving general aviation, flight training, and small aircraft operations in the Lower Mainland. The low-lying airfield is surrounded by farmland and dike trails, making aircraft activity a constant backdrop for nearby walks and rides. As you pass by, you'll likely see planes taking off and landing at close range against the open valley setting.

The Pitt River Regional Greenway follows the Fraser and Pitt Rivers and is a flat, easy route that is part of a wider network of cycling and walking paths through Pitt Meadows. The trail runs through open farmland, with long, uninterrupted views of the river and the surrounding mountains. With minimal tree cover and expansive scenery, it feels exposed and spacious, shaped more by the river and sky than by forest. There are plenty of access points and parking at both ends, making it perfect for a short or extended hike along the riverfront.

This beautiful river is a major tributary of the Fraser River that flows south from the Garibaldi Ranges, through Pitt Lake, before joining the Fraser River near Port Coquitlam. The lower stretches of the river are tidal, and the surrounding wetlands are home to a rich diversity of wildlife. The river also holds cultural significance for the Kwantlen First Nation, serving as a natural corridor that connects the coastal region with the interior of the province.