Best Hikes in Abbotsford

Abbotsford; what a great place to live…and hike.

We asked a bunch of active and outdoorsy individuals where they like to hike round Abbotsford and here are the top recommendations.

  • Abby Grind – This is not a hike for the faint of heart.  It may only be 4 km return but it is a very steep (over 400 meter gain).  While it is a challenge up and down it is a beautiful hike through evergreens and trees and offers a  spectacular view at the top.
  • Clayburn Creek Trail & Auguston Steps – this trail is gorgeous with a nice clear wide path lined with trees, bridges spanning over creeks and a 357 step option to make it more challenging.  The main trail heads up to Auguston but there are other trails off Straiton Road that meander along and over Clayburn Creek.
  • McKee Peak or Ledgeview Peak – there are various ways to get at these trails including across from Ledgeview golf course, up through the Highlands residences and off the Whatcom Connecter.  The trails are beautiful and diverse and attractive to hikers and bikers.
  • Sumas Mountain Regional Park – A terrific regional park on the top of Sumas Mountain is a mecca for the Fraser Valley Mountain Bikers Association (FVMBA) who have done a great job to develop and maintain the trails.  Clearly marked trails can take you for a long hike or a short hike depending where you park and which trail you take; Chadsey Lake Trail, Holiday Sauce, Devils Throat, Emma Peel to name a few.  Recently Run For Water hosted their first annual Trail Run here and I can tell you first hand it was incredible and beautiful.
hikes -abby grind hikes-auguston   hikes- pic

Here are a few other recommendations for if you don’t want to take a hike but enjoy a walk in the great outdoors.

  • Mill Lake – flat and simple surrounding a lake (a large pond really) this is a quaint park in the heart of the city.  A popular place to walk, run, cycle, fish, enjoy various playgrounds, see the ducks, geese and other water fowl, find the eagles nest and even spot a few turtles and frogs.
  • FishTrap Creek – Part of the Discovery Trail in West Abbotsford this trail is a nice hike within town.  While walking the path you hardly realize there is residential neighborhoods beyond the trees.
  • Matsqui Trail Regional Park – A very nice flat walking trail along the Fraser River, farmland on one side and river bank on the other.

So that’s what our outdoor enthusiasts are talking about around town but there are some fabulous places beyond the city limits just waiting to be explored.

Where do you like to hike?