Discover Chilliwack: Nature, Trails and History

Chilliwack offers several ways to spend time outdoors: Island 22 Regional Park features hiking trails, a boat launch, an equestrian area and a bike skills park. There is also the Vedder Rotary Trail along the Vedder River and opportunities to learn about the city’s history. If you’re looking for a destination with nature experiences, a variety of activities and history, you can choose different ways to make the most of your time in Chilliwack.

Activities at Island 22 Regional Park

Several types of activities come together at Island 22 Regional Park. The boat launch appeals to people interested in boating, while the hiking trails offer a different focus. There is also an equestrian area and a bike skills park. When planning your trip, you can first consider which of these interests matter most for your stay. The options range from boating and hiking to the equestrian area and bike skills park.

The park also connects to a section of the Experience the Fraser Canyon to Coast Trail. This trail connection adds a route section that extends beyond the park. For clarity, it’s worth considering the park’s amenities and the trail section separately: the boat launch, hiking trails, equestrian area and bike skills park describe activities in the park; the connection refers to the named section of the trail.

Trails and Events

The Vedder Rotary Trail is a 21-kilometre loop that follows the Vedder River through Chilliwack. Its length and riverside route give the trail a clearly defined character. It offers a different focus from the various individual amenities at Island 22 Regional Park.

Events and workshops take place at Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve throughout the year. Free community events are held there at least once a month. This adds organized activities and community events to the range of trails and things to do. If you’re interested in this, you can plan your trip around a specific event or workshop; however, the information provided does not describe a particular event date.

Discover Chilliwack’s History

The Heritage Chilliwack Downtown Walking Tour is a self-guided walk through downtown, accompanied by a brochure about Chilliwack’s history. It differs from a guided tour: the brochure is intended for visitors to follow on their own. This experience is for anyone who would like to add a historical perspective on downtown to their stay.

Atchelitz Threshermen’s Association – Pioneer Village offers another historical perspective, with guided tours, historical exhibits and antique machinery. Exhibits and machinery, along with the guided-tour format, are the main focus here. Together with the self-guided downtown walk, this gives visitors a choice between two different ways to explore: learning about local history with the brochure, or visiting with guided tours and exhibits. These experiences should not be combined into a single route.

When choosing a vacation rental in Chilliwack, the kind of stay you want can be a helpful starting point: would you like to focus on nature and outdoor activities, include a trail such as the 21-kilometre Vedder Rotary Trail, or explore the city’s history? Each experience offers something different. You can first decide which of them you’d most like to shape your stay, and then consider Chilliwack as a destination.

Discover More Destinations

If you’d like to expand your search to other places, you can also find Abbotsford, Harrison Hot Springs, Agassiz, Mission, Yale, Fraser Valley A, Kent and Hope.

For the overview of the wider region: Fraser Valley.