Are you a fan of the Grouse Grind? Check out the Coquitlam Crunch. This urban hike takes about 1.5 hours, and has an elevation gain of 244 metres. If you want to race, the annual Coquitlam Crunch Challenge determines who can run up the 437 stairs the fastest. For a more gentle exploration of Coquitlam, take a nature walk around Mundy Park or try your hand at geocaching in Maillardville.

Salmon and giant white sturgeon are abundant in the Fraser River, making it nirvana for fishers. (The largest sturgeon caught to date weighed an estimated 1,100 pounds.) For an introduction to fishing, try Trout Creek Farm’s U-catch facility, or borrow a rod, reel, and tackle box from the Mission Visitor Centre (free of charge, courtesy of the Fresh Water Fisheries Society of BC).

One of the most beautiful courses in the Lower Mainland, Sandpiper Golf Course is set in the forest on the edge of the Harrison River, and offers towering mountain vistas. For a longer pit-stop, stay the night in the luxury cabins. Settle in with a private patio and view of the river, wood-burning fireplace, heated floors, and deep-soaker Jacuzzi tub for two.

A must-visit just up the road from Highway 7 is Harrison Hot Springs. Here, the healing mineral waters have been a draw since settlers discovered them in 1858, but the 60-km long and 9-km wide, glacier-fed Harrison Lake lets you add a little cold-water adventure to your outing. Bring your canoe or kayak, or take a guided tour with Harrison Eco Tours. If you bring a motorboat, you’ll find a beautiful waterfall up the lake on the east side of Cascade Bay. Boat rentals are available at Harrison Water Sports.

Worked up an appetite with all that adventure? Take a break in Agassiz to shop at one of several roadside farm stands or stops along the Circle Farm Tour (tour maps available at local farms and visitor centres). Don’t miss the annual Agassiz Fall Fair and Corn Festival in September, going strong for more than 100 years. Enjoy delicious farm-fresh products, a midway, and events you don’t see every day (including a corn-husking competition, goat-milking contest, and antique-tractor pull).

Highway 7 ends at Hope, where Highways 1, 5, and 3 intersect. The town is a short road-trip destination from Vancouver, or a stop on a longer trip that continues into the BC Interior. At the confluence of the Fraser and Coquihalla rivers, where the Fraser Canyon broadens into the Fraser Valley, you’ll find lots of camping, hiking, fishing, river-rafting, and mountain-biking options. The Hope Bike Park (a.k.a. Coquihalla River Community Park) next to Coquihalla Campground includes 2.5 acres of woodland with sections for all skill levels, including three pump tracks and seven jump lines.

Last updated: September 9, 2024