All trail routes described here are not necessarily ready for usage.

Existence of TCT signage usually indicates the official declaration of useable trail:

• Some of the signed trail may not be the final route. 

• Please do not rely on the signs to find the route. 

• To avoid disappointment, plan ahead by using this website and the book, 'Trans Canada Trail - the British Columbia Route'.

Caution is required using these trails as they are being upgraded. Expect detours where there is trail construction in progress..

The Pedestrian/Cycling/Equestrian Trail (West to East)
(Also wheelchairs capable of using unpaved paths and unafraid to use sides of roads)

Glen Valley Trail (Future Trail)

Starting at Two Bit-Bar the Trail will proceed through Glen Valley Park (Greater Vancouver Regional Park System). Routing is being worked out to meet with the finished Matsqui Trail in Douglas Taylor Park. In the meantime, the Trail will proceed as follows:

Interim Connector Route to Douglas Taylor Park (Formerly Olund Park)

From 80th Avenue (Marsh McCormick Road), at the site of cranberry farming, proceed south going uphill on Lefeuvre Road (Lefeuvre Road becomes Graham Crescent) to McTavish Road (2.3 km). Go east on McTavish Road to Satchell Street after crossing Bradner Road (1.6 km). Follow Satchell South and as it turns sharply eastward it becomes Taylor Road (1.5 km). Follow Taylor Road passing a cemetery and further along Mount Lehman Elementary School at Mount Lehman Road (2.5 km). The Mount Lehman Community Hall is on the northeast corner. Proceed south on Mount Lehman Road to Burgess Avenue (0.75 km). Turn east on Burgess, cross a set of railroad tracks to Olund Road --it looks like a private driveway or lane-- (0.8 km). Follow this Road south until it becomes a trail (0.5 km). Take the first trail going eastward along Douglas Taylor Park on the Matsqui Trail. This rural route is very pleasant and peppered with hobby and professional farms. Mansion-like residences can be seen from time to time.

Matsqui Trail (From Olund Road) (Greater Vancouver Regional Park System)

Slide presentation

Follow this new section of the Matsqui Trail all the way to the south Fraser River dike (3 km) going over the Southern Railway tracks, then, further along under the CNR tracks, past the Matsqui First Nations Reserve, a member of the Stó:lö, to the west bank of Mclennan Creek to Glenmore Road Trailhead. Proceed eastward along the Matsqui Trail on the dike to Page Road at the base of Sumas Mountain (10.5 km).

At the Mission Bridge is the Matsqui Trail Regional Park where there is an excellent campsite and is the location of a red-roof TCT Trail Marker overlooking the Fraser River. Supplies can be found a few blocks south on Riverside Street in historic Matsqui Village.  A trip over the Mission Bridge will take the trekker to a new large shopping centre or in historic Mission City. A little further along is the Hatzic Rock Site where there is a Longhouse Interpretive Centre run by the Xá:ytem First Nations, Stó:lö member -- 35087 Lougheed Highway. Mission is also the location for the end of the line of the West Coast Express Commuter Train that can take one all the way back to Vancouver in the morning and back again in the evening.

Clayburn Trail

From the end of the Matsqui Trail, follow Page Road south for a very short distance (0.5) and cross over the CNR tracks on Little Street to Gallagher Road (0.7). Follow Gallagher Road west to Beharrell Road (1.4). Follow Beharrell Road (0.8) making a short jog westward on Fore Road (0.2) and continue on Beharrell Road crossing Harris Road to Hallert Road (1.6). Follow Hallert West to Bell Road (1.6 km). Follow Bell Road south to Clayburn Road (1.6). Take Clayburn Road through Clayburn Village to Straiton Road (1.4) and follow it to the Clayburn Creek Trail going east (1.3).

Clayburn Village is a quaint historical village with one store/restaurant and a park where the Clayburn Brick Factory used to be. Note that many of the buildings and homes were built out of Clayburn bricks.

Clayburn Creek Trail

From Straiton Road go eastward on the Clayburn Creek Trail to the Auguston subdivision at Blauson Blvd and turn right to Mckee Road (2.3 km). This used to be a railroad that serviced the clay factory in Clayburn and now serves as an excellent forest trail above the east bank of Clayburn Creek .

Trans Sumas Mountain Trail

While we negotiate our way onto the Trans Mountain Pipeline Right of Way on private properties, it will be necessary, in the interim, to follow Mckee Road to Upper Sumas Mountain Road (0.5). Follow Upper Sumas mountain Road south to Atkinson Road (2.6) and proceed directly east on Atkinson road to the end of the road at the Thunder Rock landmark (1.3). Keep going on the trail ahead of you, cross Eldridge Road aiming for the South Sumas River dike (0.4).

Sumas River Trail

Follow the South Sumas River Dike east to Barrowtown (8.3 km). Just before Barrowtown, it will be necessary to follow  North Parallel Road.  (Note that Barrowtown is a pump station controlling the levels of water in the Sumas River. This reminds us that much of the reclaimed farmland south of here was once the huge Sumas Lake.)

Sumas Vedder Trail

First, follow the Sumas River Dike eastward to the Vedder Canal Dike. Follow the Vedder Canal Dike by dipping under the Trans Canada Highway to the Keith Wilson Bridge and cross over to Chilliwack. Should the section under the Highway be flooded, it will be necessary to go back to Number 3 Road along the North Parallel Road and work your way to the Keith Wilson Bridge by following the signs to Chilliwack.  If you are heading west and you can see at Keith Wilson Bridge that the track along the river below the dike is flooded head to Number 3 Road at the first opportunity and go over the Highway overpass to the North Parallel Road.  Then backtrack going east until you see a Trans Canada Trail sign on your left (north side of the road).  This puts you back on the Sumas River dike system.

Distances:

Elevation Changes
The terrain is quite hilly from 80th Avenue on Lefeuvre Road to the Glenmore Trailhead on the Matsqui Trail. It is completely flat on the Matsqui, Sumas river and Vedder dikes. It is also very flat for the cycling route from Glenmore Trailhead to Straiton Road past Clayton Village. The change in elevation over the Sumas Mountain is 650 metres (2150 ft.) and for the cycling route over Sumas Upper Sumas Mountain Road is 300 metres (1000 ft.).

Public Washroom Facilities and Staging areas (Parking)
There are public washrooms at the three staging areas along the Matsqui Trail -- Glenmore Rd. Trailhead, Mission Bridge Picnic and camping site, and the Page Road Trailhead. Washrooms are expected to be installed in Douglas Taylor Park another staging area. And, there are washrooms and a picnic area at MacDonald Park on the Sumas River Dike Trail at the end of Number 3 Road.

Other parking areas along the Trail include: Clayburn Village, west end of the Sumas River Dike Trail, Barrowtown Pump Station, and Keith Wilson Bridge.

Accommodation
Camping
Camping is available under the Mission Bridge. For those on the cycling route, there is a campground at Heritage Valley Resort 1.8 km further up Straiton Road past the Clayburn Trail trailhead. For other camping opportunities click on the link below.
Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, other

In abundance in the Abbotsford area.

Shops and Restaurants
Shops and restaurants close to the Trail are at Matsqui Village from under the Mission Bridge and Clayburn Village if on the cycling route. The large shopping centre across the Mission Bridge is easily accessed.

For More Information
City of Abbotsford
Community Profile
Mission
WestCoast Express
More on Abbtotsford and its accommodation

Bear Safety

Edited by Léon Lebrun, Southwest Region Council Chair, Trails BC.
Copyright © 2000 The Trails Society of British Columbia.

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