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Maple
Ridge
Maple Ridge is located in the Lower Mainland on the north side of
the Fraser River just east of Pitt Meadows
and the Pitt River approximately 40 km (25 miles) from Vancouver
on Hwy 7 or commonly called the Lougheed Hwy 7. To the east of Maple
Ridge on the Lougheed Hwy is the community of Mission.
Haney
The municipality of Maple Ridge includes the rural communities of
Whonnock and Ruskin and the industrial areas of Port Hammond and
Albion on the Fraser River. The commercial and business district
of Maple Ridge is referred to as Haney or Port Haney.
Haney's
Landing
Haney is named after Thomas Haney who came to Maple Ridge in 1876
and created a brickyard on the Fraser River called Haney's Landing.
Port
Haney Heritage Walk
One area you might want to explore is along the Port Haney Heritage
Walk. This year-round walk takes you along the Fraser River waterfront
starting at the Port Haney Wharf near the railway tracks. The Port
Haney Heritage Walk runs along residential streets to Haney House,
Brickyard Park and eventually to the Haney Museum.
Cycle
or Walk the Dykes
Located on the north side of Harris Road off the Lougheed Hwy 7
is where you can get access to some of the walkways that go along
the dykes. One trail that you can walk or cycle is called the Blue
Heron Loop that takes you along the North and South Alouette Rivers
through some wetlands. The route forms a loop that is 19 km (12
miles) long and has some excellent bird and wildlife watching opportunities.
'Horse
Capital of Canada'
For people who enjoy riding horses, Maple Ridge has a unique system
of equestrian trails and is sometimes referred to as the 'Horse
Capital of Canada.' The trail network includes over 60 km (38 miles)
of trails in the immediate area with Kanaka Creek Regional Park
with 10 km (6 miles) and Golden Ears Provincial Park having 20 km
(12.5 miles) of trails.
Golden
Ears Provincial Park
Maple Ridge is home to Golden Ears Provincial Park, an area of beautiful
rugged mountains of the coastal range that are located towards the
north of the community. Here you can find walking and mountain biking
trails, panoramic viewpoints and unspoiled wilderness. The park
also features the Spirea Universal Access Trail a trail built specifically
for people with physical challenges.
Mountain
Biking
For mountain biking, a real favourite among the locals is riding
up at Mike Lake located near Golden Ears Provincial Park. You can
find local trail information through - Fraser Valley Mountain Biking
Association (FVMBA). Maple Ridge has two bike stores located on
Lougheed Hwy, one called Maple Ridge Cycle and the other Experience
Cycling.
Alouette
Lake
If you are interested, Golden Ears Provincial Park has a campground
that happens to accept reservations and features great swimming
and a beautiful sandy beach on Alouette Lake. Canoeing and kayaking
are also very popular here with a number of rustic marine campsites
along the shores of Alouette Lake.
Laity
Pumpkin Patch
For an agri-tourism adventure and family fun, you can visit the
Laity Pumpkin Patch at 21145 - 128th Avenue. Laity Pumpkin Patch
includes a corn maze, petting zoo, hay ride, different varieties
of pumpkins, giant sunflowers and various children's displays. Your
kids will especially love the farm animals found on the Laity family
property.
Golf
Courses
There are a number of golf courses in neighbouring Pitt
Meadows including Golden Eagle Golf Club, Meadow Gardens Golf
Course, Swan-e-set Resort & Country Club and the Pitt Meadows
Golf Club plus there is also the public 9-hole Maple Ridge Golf
Club.
Kanaka
Creek Regional Park
Kanaka Creek Regional Park features beautiful nature rails along
the Fraser River, to a waterfall called Cliff Falls and through
a sandstone canyon featuring viewpoints along Kanaka Creek. The
trail system also takes you to the Bell-Irving Kanaka Creek Fish
Hatchery that is open to the public on the weekends from 1 3 p.m.
The hatchery specializes in raising Coho and Chum salmon and offers
free tours of the facility.
Fort
Langley National Historic Park
A must trip if you are visiting Maple Ridge is to take the Albion
Ferry across the Fraser River to Fort
Langley. Sometimes referred to as the 'Birthplace of British
Columbia,' Fort Langley features
a national historic site in its original fashion of the 19th century
complete with tours and authentic artifacts on the grounds of an
original Hudson Bay Company trading post.
Albion
Ferry
The Albion Ferry has a crossing time only 10 minutes with sailings
starting at 4:30 a.m., leaving Maple Ridge until to 1:15 a.m. leaving
Fort Langley to return. The trip
features beautiful views along the Fraser River and is free to use.
Eventually, Albion Ferry is to be phased out with the construction
of the new Golden Ears Bridge to Pitt
Meadows, scheduled to be opened in 2009.
Ruskin
Lake
Other areas worth visiting that are in the Maple Ridge area include
travelling to Ruskin Lake to view the old powerhouse that is the
property of BC Hydro. Built in 1930, the 105-megawatt Ruskin Generating
Station is part of the Alouette-Stave-Ruskin hydroelectric system.
Once you have crossed the Ruskin Dam, look for the directions to
the Ruskin and Hayward Lake Reservoir Recreation Areas.
Haney
to Harrison Ultra Marathon
For high endurance athletes, one event that you might want to enter
is the annual Haney to Harrison Ultra Marathon. The course is 100
km (63 miles) long and takes you through paved roadways that follow
a scenic tour called the Sasquatch Drive. The Haney to Harrison
Ultra Marathon also attracts various teams to compete in the race
for worthy causes and dedications.
West
Coast Express
If you visit Maple Ridge and happen to be staying here, there is
a good way to visit Vancouver by using the public transportation
called the West Coast Express. This leaves every morning and stops
at Port Haney, Maple Meadows, Pitt Meadows,
Port Coquitlam, Port
Moody and waterfront station in downtown
Vancouver and then returns to Mission
in the late afternoon.
Rolley
Lake Provincial Park
For another campground nearby, if Golden Ears is full, try going
to Rolley Lake Provincial Park located only 23 km (14 miles) northwest
of Mission. The park features canoeing, fishing and a perimeter
trail called the Lakeside Trail Loop that goes around Rolley Lake.
Other walks include a short ten-minute walk to Rolley Falls.
Maple
Ridge Pitt Meadows News
For the latest news regarding Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge, the
easiest way is either for you to download the latest version of
the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Neighbourhood Bugel community
newspaper online, distributed by Arcadia Publishing. There is also
the web site for the other community paper, the Maple Ridge News
which shows the latest headlines.
Information
on Maple Ridge
Entertainment
Campgrounds
Environment
- Keeps
- Kanaka Education and Environmental Partnership Society
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