Richmond’s West Dyke Trail is one of Metro Vancouver’s best places for walking, cycling, jogging and bird watching. It’s flat, dog-friendly and beautiful.
The West Dyke Trail in Richmond
Richmond is a great place for walks and leisurely bike rides. That’s because the place is so flat. One of the best places to go for a cycle is along Richmond’s dykes, including the beautiful West Dyke Trail from Steveston Village. It’s about 6 km or so from Steveston heading north to Terra Nova Rural Park. It’s a flat gravel path the entire way. Dogs are permitted on leash.
The West Dyke Trail is nearly 12 km long and takes just over two hours to complete. If you can walk the entire Stanley Park Seawall which is roughly 2 km shorter than the West Dyke Trail, then you’ll have no problem walking this trail. The trail is quite scenic as there are numerous beaches bordering it. It’s worth stopping if you’re doing a cycle or a walk in the early or later part of the day to take photos of spectacular sunrises or sunsets against this watery backdrop.
The last time we cycled along the West Dyke Trail was in February and we came across a giant flock of migrating snow geese. When we say giant, we mean gi-normous! There were thousands of the birds! Don’t expect to see them when you visit, but do be on the lookout for other kinds of birds here and there along the way.
The West Dyke Trail is a great destination to combine with a trip to historic Steveston Village and the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, a visit to the International Buddhist Temple a few kilometres away on the Steveston Highway, or a tour around the London Heritage Farm, which is not too far south of Steveston Village.
Other Information
To learn more about the area, see our articles about Steveston Village and Richmond.
Click here for an amazing Video of the Snow Geese on the West Dyke Trail.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
TIP: If it’s a sunny day and you burn easily, wear a hat and apply sunscreen when exploring the trail. There’s not much shade on the route and it can get quite hot in the summer.
