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Paddling Bedford Channel in Fort Langley
Bedford Channel is a small side channel of the Fraser River, sheltered by McMillan Island. It’s scenic, usually calm, and surrounded by historic Fort Langley and all the intrigue it offers. It’s also home to Fort Langley Canoe Club (FLCC), which operate a few private docks. For non-members, there are three public launch options to…
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Harrison River Paddle
I’ve wanted to paddle on the Harrison River for about a year, ever since I read about the epic salmon run in the fall. The logistics made it a little tricky to plan though: the drive from Vancouver takes about 1hr and 45mins; the one-way downstream paddle necessitates at least two cars for shuttling; and…
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White Rock Paddle
White Rock Beach is a popular tourist destination. It has a chill vibe of a seaside town, and the promenade houses many restaurants and shops. Due to the popularity, only paid parking is available here, for a hefty $4.50 per hour from March to October in the city lots. The Semiahmoo parking lot is on…
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Paddle Camping at Moyer Creek Marine Campsite in Golden Ears Provincial Park
After a 2-year hiatus from paddle camping since our unforgettable trips to Granite Falls and Sechelt Inlet, the stars aligned for Johnny and I to team up once again for another quick but impactful overnight paddling trip at Moyer Creek Marine Campsite on Alouette Lake. We had 2 days to plan, and we quickly narrowed…
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Nicomekl River Paddle
Nicomekl is a calm, historic river in Surrey. The popular paddle section flows from the Elgin Road Dam to Blackie Spit, where the river drains into Boundary Bay. Due to the dam, which intentionally cuts off the river almost completely so that sea water doesn’t flow into the farmlands upstream, the river doesn’t actually flow…
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Porteau Cove Paddle
During our recent camping trip at Porteau Cove Provincial Park, I got up bright and early at 5am and treated myself to an incredible view. I launched at 5:30am and paddled north towards the best views I’ve seen in a while. The water was very calm but not glassy, as there’s a slight northerly wind…
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Best Frontcountry Campgrounds near Vancouver for Paddlers
Camping and paddling are two of our family’s main warm-weather hobbies. Some of the best paddling in our region can be had early in the morning before the crowds and winds pick up. The easiest way to get onto the water at daybreak is to sleep right next to it the night before, so here…
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Hicks Lake Paddle – Sasquatch Provincial Park
Hicks Lake in Sasquatch Provincial Park is a small but beautiful lake, about 6km to circumnavigate. It’s conveniently attached to Hicks Lake Campground but also has a sizable day use area and boat ramp. Campers in the other campgrounds in the provincial park are known to drive to Hicks Lake to enjoy the cleaner water…
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Chilliwack Lake Paddle
One of our primary targets of camping at Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park is paddling the beautiful Chilliwack Lake. I booked campsite P26 in the busy Paleface Loop precisely so that I can get to the lake as easily as possible. On the first morning of our trip, I got up bright and early at 5am.…
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Indian Arm Paddle to Thwaytes Landing Regional Park
Thwaytes Landing is a water-access-only, 130-acre property midway up Indian Arm, directly across from the famous Buntzen Powerhouses. The Land Conservancy (TLC), who purchased and transferred the property to GVRD to turn it into a regional park, has a fantastic write-up on its history and features. In summary, the lot was named after Captain Tom…