George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sancutary, Ladner

I believe my grandfather was the first person to take me to Reifel. It's very much the kind of place a grandfather would take his grandkids. According to the folks at Reifel, "the sanctuary consists of 300 hectares of ponds, natural tidal marshes and trails in the heart of the Fraser River Estuary. For birds seeking feeding and resting areas during migration, the sanctuary's location is ideal. It is a place where wildlife and their habitats are protected from harm..." For us human-folk, it's a bit of a sanctuary as well: peaceful, relaxing, inspiring, and an easy place to get away from the rat race for a while and teach our kids about the beauty of nature.

GETTING THERE

The sanctuary is located west of Ladner on Westham Island. From Richmond, travel through the Deas Island Tunnel and follow the signs for Highway 17 (as if you were going to the ferries) and continue until it intersects with Ladner Trunk Road (Highway 10). If travelling from Delta or Surrey, simply take Ladner Trunk Road (Highway 10) and head west into Ladner. From Ladner Trunk Road travel west to 47A Avenue and on to River Road. Continue along River Road for approximately 3 km until you cross a single-lane bridge onto Westham Island. Follow the main road across the island and all the way to Reifel.

TERRAIN

The wide paths are mostly compact gravel, but there are several areas where the trail has been overtaken by grass. Be sure to wear a wide-brimmed hat because there is no shade cover for about half of the trails.

STROLLER RECOMMENDATION

Any kind of stroller can handle the trails at Reifel.

LENGTH

Reifel is not a place to be rushing about so plan to spend at least an hour exploring the many routes through the sanctuary.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES

Kids will love sneaking into the bird blinds to get an up-close look at some of the amazing birds that stop by the island. At certain times of year, you may have an opportunity to observe birds nesting on their eggs or see little ducklings soon after they've hatched.

From a practical standpoint, parents may appreciate the large indoor washrooms that are fully eat your lunch with the birds. There is also a gift shop filled with a variety of bird-related items.

The trails themselves are great for pushing a napping baby along since there are many looping options that will enable you to extend your walk as needed or you can pause for a bit of a rest at any of the benches that sit trail-side.

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS

A tall observation tower is located in the northwestern corner and provides an excellent view of the shallow ponds, the intertidal marshes of the Fraser River estuary beyond the dikes, the Strait of Georgia and even as far off as Vancouver itself. Other, lower, viewing points are stroller-accessible and overlook marshy islands and ponds. 

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

Westham Island is home to many farms and other agricultural industries including the Westham Island Herb Farm, Westham Island Apiary and Westham Island Estate Winery. Touring the bird sanctuary  followed by a few stops at the neighbouring farms to grab a few items for dinner is a lovely way to spend a day.

GOOD TO KNOW

There is a fee (cash or credit only) to enter the sanctuary for anyone age two and up and small bags of birdseed are available for purchase at the admission gate. The gates are locked at 5 pm, so you'll need to be in your car and heading home before then. Other than that, be sure to note that bikes, pets, sports equipment and collecting items to take with you are not permitted.


View George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Ladner in a larger map

IMPORTANT: Any adventure in the outdoors carries a certain level of risk. The route information and maps contained in this blog are provided as rough guidelines only and are based on just one person's experience. Baby Meets Trail and its authors are not responsible for any harm that may occur while attempting one of the posted walks. We will, however, take credit if you have an excellent time!