Pitt Meadows is the "best kept secret in the Fraser Valley." It is a mostly rural community with both farmlands, great golf courses, and over 29 kilometres of bike paths along scenic dykes. Pitt Lake is the North America’s largest freshwater tidal lake.
Maple Ridge is a beautiful community, where you can experience both natural beauty in Golden Ears Provincial Park, and history with the Heritage River Walk, with the Maple Ridge Museum and Haney House.
Local festivals & events
Mountain Festival Parade (early May), Pitt Meadows Day (June),
Ridge-Meadows Fair (late July), Pitt Meadows Blueberry Festival (Aug), Whonnock Festival (3rd Sunday in Sept).
Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows History
The first European settlers, ex-employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company, arrived in 1858 from the Fort Langley trading post across the Fraser River. The Scottish-born John Maclivor and Samuel Robertson were the first pioneers to successfully turn rainforest into farmland. Maple Ridge was named after the ridge of Maple trees on Maclvor’s dairy farm. More settlers came under the Federal Free Homestead Act of 1874, which provided land at a $1 per acre if you promised to clear, fence and build a home in three years. The settlements along the Pitt River became Pitt Meadows. Pitt Lake, Pitt River and Pitt Meadows were named after William Pitt the Younger, British Prime Minister during much of the Napoleonic Wars Maple Ridge was incorporated in the fall of 1874 with 40 people who settled along the Fraser River.
Thomas Haney arrived in 1876, and started a brick factory at the site of the town now bearing his name. Construction of the CPR right of way in 1881, brought more settlers to the community, who expanded inland ito the communities of Whonnock, Ruskin, Pitt Meadows, Webster’s Comer and Albion. When the Lougheed Highway was built in 1931, a further burst of development in Maple Ridge ensued.
Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Attractions
Golden Ears Provincial Park
West on Hwy 7 for approx 29 km, and follow signs
Alouette Lake forested area mountains and waterfalls, picnic area, bark mulched
hiking trails, ideal for horseback riding.
Haney House
11612-224th Street, Maple Ridge
(604) 463-1377
An historic site built in 1878 for Thomas and Anne Haney, this home remained
the residence of Haney descendants until 1979 when it was willed to the
Municipality and was restored for the display of the many furnishings and artifacts
of three generations of the Haney family. Guided group and school tours can be
arranged. Admission by donation. Open: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Parks
Here are the more popular parks in Maple Ridge, from north to south (see other area parks):
Maple Ridge Park
Corner of 232nd Street and Fern Crescent
This park is adjacent to the South Alouette River and offers a campground, picnic areas, washrooms, a horseshoe pitch area, a playing field, and a wooded trail. A mature forest hosts a wide range of native plants and wildlife, and each fall has large populations of spawning Pink and Chum salmon.
Kanaka Creek Regional Park
Follow the Dewdney Trunk to 252 Street, turn south, follow 252 then 251 into the Park.
The park follows Kanaka Creek, one of the most undisturbed streams in the Lower Mainland, with a network of trails running its for 12 kilometer length. The point features Kanaka or Cliff Falls, a spectacular water canyon popular as a picnic spot. The trail crosses the creek at several points allowing various views of the falls. The park features Cycling, Hiking, Walking, Campfire pits, Washrooms, and the Bell-Irving Fish Hatchery.
Allco Park
248th Street and 132nd Avenue, Maple Ridge
Its features include covered picnic facilities, children’s playground, equestrian and walking trails, and scenic natural areas.
Grant Narrows
Pitt Meadows, take the Dewdney Trunk Road to Neaves Road (208th) and follow it north, soon it becomes Rennie Road, continue north. GVRD Parks Information: (604) 530-4983, Open: Year round, 6 am
to 10 pm.
Located a the point where the Pitt River flows out of Pitt Lake. The Park features include a boat launch, viewing platforms and tower, food concession, canoe rentals, walking and hiking trails, bird watching and nature study. Widgeon Creek joins the Pitt River near the narrows. Meandering northward through the Widgeon valley, it is a favorite for canoeists. Nearby, a very large area of marsh has been preserved in the Widgeon and Addington Marshes. The dykes are the basis of several walking trails. More about Grant Narrows and Widgeon Creek on the Ayla Canoes Pages.
Golden Ears Provincial Park
Follow 232nd Street north, entrance via Fern Crescent
A 55,625 hectare recreation area along Alouette Lake and numerous creeks and lakes, with boat launches, and extensive hiking and horseback trail system, and 350 camp sites. Popular with nature enthusiasts, hikers, mountain climbers, and horseback riders.
Stave Lake Recreation Area
On the Dewdney Trunk Road between Mission and Maple Ridge.
From Maple Ridge take the Lougheed Highway to the Dewdney Trunk.
The Stave River is named for the lumber ideally suited for barrel staves, used for the transport and storage of salmon by the Hudson’s Bay Company. The Stave Falls dam and generating facilities were completed in 1921, creating the Lake. Activities include hiking, swimming, canoeing, boating (boat launch ramp & seasonal public wharf), picnicking, and fishing. Watch for unstable weather conditions and fluctuating water levels. Open year-round during daylight hours.
Whonnock Lake Park
South on 272nd Street from Dewdney Trunk Road, East on 112th Avenue.
Whonnock Lake is a typical bog lake of the coastal forest region. It is home to native plants and colonies of beavers and muskrats, and breeding populations of loons, mallard ducks, numerous small birds, and a substantial recreational fishery. This year-round park offers canoeing, swimming, hiking and nature study, with facilities including a barbecue pit, sandy beach, picnic tables, a playground, concession stand, and canoe rentals.