Richmond Nature Park, Richmond

The trails within the Richmond Nature Park are decidedly more family-friendly than they are stroller-friendly, but with so much to see and do in the park, it’s well worth a visit (or two). You’re sure to have a little extra bounce in your step as you venture along the springy trails looping through the peat bog which makes up most of the park’s terrain. Spring is a time when the park puts on one of its most impressive displays as a carpet of colours appear across the bog and hummingbirds buzz in for a visit.

GETTING THERE

The park is located west of No. 5 Road on Westminster Highway. It’s easily accessible from Highway 99 or Knight Street.

TERRAIN

Wide, flat trails make their way across the spongy bog of the park. The paths are made up of either wood chips or wooden boardwalk. Shade cover is minimal outside of the small forested area within the park.

STROLLER RECOMMENDATION

In dry weather, almost any type of stroller could handle the inner trails and boardwalk. However, after any rainy weather, even all-terrain strollers will get bogged down...literally (it is a bog after all). Be sure to check the trail conditions sign posted on the washroom building next to the playground before you head out. It will indicate whether the trails are dry, wet or downright flooded. Stick to the boardwalk loop if you don’t feel like getting a little extra workout pushing a stroller through the muck. 

LENGTH

Depending on which of looping trails you choose and the trail conditions, plan to spend anywhere from 10-60 minutes walking the park’s seven kilometres of trails – longer if your toddler likes to get out of the stroller and get up close with Mother Nature. With so much to see and do in the nature house as well, allow additional time for some indoor exploration as well.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES

Stroller-accessible washrooms (with change tables), benches, playground, viewing platform, and picnic tables are all available in the park. The nature house, located at the park entrance, features plenty of interactive displays, nature-themed puzzles and games, and crafts that will appeal to young and old alike.

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS

To better enjoy all of the natural beauty this park provides, pick up the Self-Guided Nature Walk brochure from the nature house before you set out. The tour introduces visitors to 15 of the area’s most beautiful features and inhabitants.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

From the nature park, it’s a short drive west along Westminster Highway to the hustle and bustle of Richmond’s No. 3 Road or the oasis of Minoru Park.

GOOD TO KNOW

The park is open daily from dawn to dusk. The nature house is open daily from 9 am - 5 pm. Admission is free. In order to protect its fragile ecosystem, dogs and other pets are not permitted in the park. 

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!

Trans Canada Trail, Burnaby

Also known as The Heights Trail, this route takes walkers from North Burnaby to the eastern edge of Vancouver. Because the trail is so well covered by trees, it’s not until the temperature drops and leaves have all fallen that you can truly appreciate the expansive views that this trail offers of the North Shore, Burrard Inlet and Capitol Hill. It’s one trail where the views may actually be better in winter than in other seasons.

GETTING THERE
Start at Confederation Park, located in North Burnaby near the north end of Willingdon Avenue. To access the trail, the parking lot nearest the lawn bowling green is most convenient, so head north on Willingdon until you reach Penzance Dr. and make a right turn. You’ll see the parking lot almost immediately on your right. The trail starts just across the street at the corner of Penzance and Willingdon. If driving is not your thing, the route is also easy to access on transit.

TERRAIN

Wide, compact gravel paths with short paved sections. Expect a mix of sun and shade since the first half is exposed while the second half is almost completely shaded by trees. The trail gently slopes downward as it travels west gradually getting steeper as it enters Vancouver.

STROLLER RECOMMENDATION

Umbrella, all-terrain or anything in between.

LENGTH

Departing from the lawn bowling green parking lot, the trail runs less than 2.5 km to take you all the way to the eastern edge of Vancouver just underneath the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge. To complete the entire trail at a leisurely pace in and out with play stops, plan for about 1.5 hours.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES

Confederation Park has just about any family-friendly amenity imaginable, including washrooms (with change tables), playgrounds, sports fields, a library, and more. Along the trail you’ll find benches, a playground (including toddler equipment), and picnic tables – because who doesn’t love a picnic?

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS

Take in a few of the interpretive signs along the way highlighting area history and ecology.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

The Heights neighbourhood offers great shopping along Hastings St. In the warmer months, the miniature train at the Burnaby Central Railway is a hit with kids (and parents too). Confederation Park itself is worth a visit even in the winter months since it’s home to so many kid-friendly indoor activities at the pool and library.

GOOD TO KNOW

Just as the trail approaches the Ironworkers’ Memorial Bridge, you’ll come to a spot where trains enter and exit a tunnel that takes them under the northern part of Burnaby. Who knew!

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!

Shoreline Park Pathway, Port Moody

The Shoreline Park Pathway is fantastic any time of year, but particularly in the fall when it offers some of the most spectacular views of Burrard Inlet and the seasonal colours of fall. Connecting Rocky Point Park on the south side of the inlet to Old Orchard Park on the north side, the route is a smooth, paved pathway, perfect for either a leisurely stroll or a heart-pumping power walk with baby. More adventurous stroller walkers may want to tackle the lower, unpaved trail which runs directly along the shoreline. This rugged route is not recommended without an all-terrain stroller.















GETTING THERE
From St. John’s Street (the main drag in Port Moody), turn left onto Moody Street. Proceed over an overpass and down to the left before making another left onto Murray Street. You’ll see the entrance and parking lot on the left.

TERRAIN
Wide, paved path from start to finish. Aside from a short section which runs directly alongside Murray Street, the path takes you through forested parkland. The trail is so smooth and even, it's a good one to let new walkers out of the stroller to test their legs.

STROLLER RECOMMENDATION
Umbrella, all-terrain or anything in between.

LENGTH
The path is 6 km (return) so it could be managed in less than two hours, but with playgrounds at both ends (yes, that's right...there's more than one playground!), you’ll likely need to plan for a bit more time. If an epic walk is not what you’re after, there are plenty of options to loop back through streets or along adjoining trails.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
Washrooms (with change tables), playgrounds, spray park (summer months only), beach, benches, covered tables, picnic tables, sports fields, and interpretive signage referencing the local history and plant life.

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS
Piers for gazing out at the inlet, plenty of benches to rest and take in the calm of the forest, and a few historic remnants of the region’s past as a mill town make for a very interesting walk.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
The Inlet Community Garden along Murray Street is worth a visit in the warmer months. The Port Moody Station Museum and Noons Creek Hatchery are two more family-friendly destinations in the neighbourhood.

GOOD TO KNOW
The path is very popular with cyclists, joggers and inline skaters, meaning it can get a bit crowded.


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!

Burnaby Lake: Cottonwood Trail, Burnaby

Before we had a child, Burnaby Lake was one of the walks we did quite often. In fact, back when I used to be able to call myself a "runner" and keep a straight face, I used to hit this trail at least once a week. What's great about this trail is that simply by parking at a different lot, your experience can be different each and every visit. Overall the trail is 11 km long, so for our purposes, I'm chopping it into three distinct sections.

The first section is Cottonwood Trail stretching from the Burnaby Sports Complex to the Nature House at Piper Ave. The trail is quite popular with joggers, walkers and dogwalkers so expect to share a few friendly greetings along the way.

GETTING THERE

From Vancouver, take Highway 1 eastbound to Exit 32, Sprott Street. Travel along Sprott and at the first lights, turn left to cross over the highway overpass. At Kensington Avenue go straight and turn left at the stop sign. Immediately turn right into the parking lot by the sports fields. The trail starts along the edge of the sports fields beyond the Rugby Club.

This portion of the trail can also be accessed fairly easily on transit, either by bus or Skytrain (Sperling-Burnaby Lake station).

TERRAIN

Running along the north side of the lake itself, the wide, flat trails take you under the shady cover of trees. The trail surface is mostly bark mulch and compact gravel with short sections of wooden bridges. Unfortunately, there aren't really any good looping options so it's just an in-and-out route. In spots the trail takes you straight out to water's edge or over bridges for beautiful views of the lake and plenty of opportunities to see what's in the water.

STROLLER RECOMMENDATION

Any type of stroller can manage, however, the trail can get quite soft after a rainfall (it is on a bog after all). Strollers with smaller wheels may have a tougher time getting through the muck.

LENGTH

This stretch of trail is 2.6 km long so plan for about an hour for a return trip - longer if you take advantage of the viewing tower or the Nature House.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES

This section of the Burnaby Lake trail includes a couple of viewing points and the Nature House. There is a playground near the Burnaby Sports Complex as well as washrooms at both ends of the trail. Unfortunately, only the washrooms at the Nature House have a change table. There are a few picnic tables located behind the Nature House which would be an idyllic spot for a lunch break before heading back to the car. The Nature House itself is a great family-friendly feature in that it has some lots of interpretive displays for kids and parents to interact with as well as knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions. Even small babies would enjoy a leisurely wheel around the gardens out front.

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS

If you make it up the viewing tower, expect to see expansive views of the entire lake. If you're lucky, you may see some wildlife during your visit.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

There is a swimming pool, ice rink, soccer fields and rugby fields at the west end of the lake.

GOOD TO KNOW

There are no benches along the trail so don't plan on resting along the way. Bird feeding is permitted only at Piper Spit (near the Nature House). Dogs must be leashed. Take only photographs, leave only footprints (or stroller wheel impressions as the case may be).


View Burnaby Lake: Cottonwood Trail, Burnaby 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!

Blackie Spit and Crescent Beach, Surrey

If bird watching is your thing, you’re probably already aware of Blackie Spit Park. If it’s not, you’ll still want to make your way to the South Surrey area to take in this amazing natural beauty. The stunning views and sprawling beachside trails make for one of the most enjoyable walks in the area. Keep the walk short and stay within the park boundary or venture out into the neighbourhood for a longer roadside adventure. Home to over 200 species of birds, the park is popular year-round with joggers, walkers, kite flyers, birdwatchers, beachcombers, and dog owners.

GETTING THERE
From King George Highway, turn west onto Crescent Road as it winds past stately seaside homes and heads down the hill toward Crescent Beach. Once across a set of railroad tracks, turn right onto Sullivan Street, then right onto McBride Avenue and out to the free parking lot at Blackie Spit Park.

TERRAIN
Wide, flat paths of mostly compact gravel with short stretches of sand. Expect little to no shade as most of the trail proceeds along exposed shoreline and through grassy meadows.

STROLLER RECOMMENDATION
Umbrella, all-terrain or anything in between.

LENGTH
The trail through the park can easily be done in an hour with the option to extend your walk by either taking the looping trails or by heading into the nearby neighbourhood (highly recommended if you enjoy gawking at beautiful character homes).

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
Beaches, washrooms (with change tables), benches, and picnic tables. Kids will appreciate the nearby ice cream shops or ice cream truck in the summer.

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS
Plenty of stunning views out over Boundary Bay or north toward the North Shore mountains.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Historic Stewart Farm is a short drive up Crescent Road.

GOOD TO KNOW
The park is managed as a wildlife conservation area so dogs and bikes are not allowed in sensitive areas (well signed). There is a fenced dogs-off-leash area.


View Blackie Spit Park and Cresent Beach, Surrey 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. The walks written about on Baby Meets Trail are based on just one person's experience. Baby Meets Trail and its authors are not responsible for any harm that may occur while trying one of the posted walks. We will, however, take credit if you have an awesome time!

Steveston Village, Richmond

The dyke surrounding Richmond is an ideal spot for a stroller walk: wide, flat trails as far as the eye can see. A good place to start an outing is at Steveston’s Garry Point Park. The path heading east out of the park takes you directly through the village with its quaint shops and bustling boardwalks before continuing along the waterfront past Britannia Shipyard and beyond as far as your legs will take you. This is a very popular walk on weekends, fortunately the wide paths mean there’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy.

GETTING THERE
From the Arthur Laing Bridge, follow the signs into Richmond via No. 2 Road. Follow No. 2 Road and turn right onto Steveston Hwy. Continue along Steveston Hwy to 7th Ave and turn left. Garry Point Park is located at the south end of 7th Ave.

TERRAIN
Flat (it is Richmond after all), mostly paved path with short sections of wooden boardwalk or compact gravel. There is little to no shade cover.

STROLLER RECOMMENDATIONS
Umbrella, all-terrain or anything in between.

LENGTH
An hour should be plenty of time to cover the path from Garry Point Park to No. 2 Road and back.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
Picnic tables, benches, concession stands, washrooms (with change tables), and several nearby parks with playground equipment.

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS
Expansive views of the south arm of the Fraser River, plenty of bird and boat watching opportunities, plus many historic sites to stop at and investigate.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
The Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, Steveston Museum, Britannia Shipyard and London’s Landing.

GOOD TO KNOW
You can stop by the docks to pick up fresh fish for dinner!


View Steveston Village, Richmond 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. The walks written about on Baby Meets Trail are based on just one person's experience. Baby Meets Trail and its authors are not responsible for any harm that may occur while trying one of the posted walks. We will, however, take credit if you have an awesome time!