Maplewood Conservation Area, North Vancouver

The Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver, British Columbia is home to many different animals and birds ranging from seals and otter off its shores to the deer which wander its forests in search of food to graze on. Quiet visitors can literally stumble upon small groups of deer which like the grass which grows on the trails edges throughout the Park. CREDIT: Venture Vancouver, SOURCE: www.venturevancouver.com

Several animals call the Conservation Area and mudflats home such as black tailed deer which can be spotted in the forest.

STATS

HOURS

RATES

Type:

Park

Season:

All Seasons

Weather:

All Weather

Time:

2 hours

Cost:

Free

What to bring:

Camera, Binoculars, Sense of Curiosity, Hiking Boots, Bird Book, Wildlife Book

Once an industrial site, Maplewood Conservation Area now resides over 311 acres of land including marsh, forest, shoreline, mudflat and meadow habitats. The Park encompasses over three kilometres of trails through these habitats and besides ponds, trees and grasslands. The Conservation Area is best known for its abundant wildlife sightings - especially birds. Over 200 species have been spotted in the Park ranging from ravens, crows, seagulls and chickadees to rarer species such as eagles and osprey. In tandem with the Wild Bird Trust of B.C., Maplewood Conservation Area has become one of the premier waterfront wetlands in the Vancouver Region.

The Maplewood Conservation Area encompasses 311 acres of land - only a fraction of the 6,425 region the mudflats and forests once spread over. However, the Wild Bird Trust has worked hard to create an atmosphere promoting both birding and a beautiful setting for hikers of all abilities with over three kilometres of trails, all of which are accessible with bridges and wide gravel walkways.

Established in 1999, the Maplewood Conservation Area (also known as Maplewood Flats Conservation Area) preserves the last waterfront wetland ecosystem on the North Shore. One of the area's newest established Parks, the Flats offer unparallelled wildlife viewing throughout the year ranging from mammals such as deer, black bear, river otters and seals but its best known as one of the premiere bird watching areas in Vancouver with a wide range of migratory, nesting and permanent year round species. Over two hundred different species have been identified in the Park - and that number continues to grow.

Keep a lookout for nesting Osprey on the wooden piles not far from the shorelines (which also have inspired the 'Return of the Osprey' Festival). Sandpipers pick through the rocks along the shores and Herons gracefully scoop up fish for their young. It is not uncommon to see Eagles, woodpeckers and other birds throughout the Park bringing people of all ages. Naturalists from a range of organizations can be seen along the trails with binoculars and cameras - many whom are happy to talk to interested visitors about the birds and animals to be seen in the season.

The Wild Bird Trust of British Columbia operates an information centre at the entrance to the park, and offers tours throughout the year on the second Saturday of every month to teach visitors about the Flats.

The Maplewood Conservation Area is an amazing park. Its designation as a wildlife habitat is well deserved with hundreds of bird species which have been spotted throughout the area as well as both the land and water mammals which visit the Park. Bring binoculars and enjoy some of the most amazing creatures to be seen in British Columbia.