Pitt-Addington Marsh Wildlife Management Area, Pitt Meadows

The extensive network of trails at the Pitt-Addington Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, forests, marshlands and waterways. The region is also an important stop for migrating birds along the Pacific Flyaway. CREDIT: Venture Vancouver, SOURCE: www.venturevancouver.com

The Pitt-Addington Marsh Wildlife Management Area has several kilometres of trails which offer spectacular views of the surrounding waterways, snow-capped mountains, forests and marshlands.

STATS

Type:

Park

Season:

All Seasons

Weather:

All Weather

Time:

4 hours

Cost:

Free

What to bring:

Camera, Binoculars, Drink, Warm Clothes, Hiking Boots, Bird Book, Sun Glasses, Sunblock

In the most northerly corner of Pitt Meadows lies Pitt Lake, the largest tidal lake in the World. Connected to Pitt River, the mouth of this important waterway is part of the Pitt-Addington Marsh Wildlife Management Area, a 2,882 hectare park offering several kilometres of hiking, cycling and horseback trails along a network of dykes which offer stunning views of the surrounding lake, marshlands, forests and mountains.

Explore the dramatic landscape of Pitt Lake, the World's largest tidal lake, Pitt River and its surrounding marshlands at the Pitt-Addington Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Pitt Meadows. Spanning 2,882 hectares, Pitt-Addington Marsh has evolved from a historic tidal floodplain to unsuccessful farmland in 1897 to private hunting grounds in the 1950s and finally to a Park after its acquisition by The Nature Trust of British Columbia in 1977 to preserve the areas wildlife and habitats. The area was known as Grant Narrows Regional Park until it was turned over to the Province on January 1, 2011 to become the Pitt-Addington Marsh Wildlife Management Area.

Hiking and cycling are the two most popular ways to enjoy the Pitt-Addington Marsh Wildlife Management Area as the region offers several kilometres of trails along the dyke system. The area is home to many birds and it is not uncommon to spot many different species such as wading birds, geese, swans, songbirds, ducks and birds of prey such as Hawks, Osprey and Bald Eagles. The Pitt-Addington Marsh Wildlife Management Area is located along the Pacific Flyaway and is an important stop for thousands of migrating birds. As of March 1994, 229 bird species have been spotted in the Park. Mammals are also frequent visitors to the Marsh including seals, deer, bears, coyotes and even cougars.

Pitt-Addington Marsh Wildlife Management Area is a popular access point for the Widgeon Falls trail in the Widgeon Marsh Regional Marsh Reserve. Boaters can paddle through the Widgeon Slough (swamp) to reach the trail (five hours round trip) as well as to a small campsite for visitors interested in staying overnight. The Widgeon Falls trail passes through old growth forests and stops at viewpoints for both the lower falls and the upper falls.

With several trails, viewpoints and spectacular views, Pitt-Addington Marsh Wildlife Management Area is a great place to explore the most northerly boundaries of the Lower Mainland. Be sure to visit in Fall and especially in Spring as there are many different bird species to spot and the marsh and forests are ideal nesting locations for hundreds of birds - don't forget your bird book and binoculars! Be sure to dress warmly as the exposed dyke trails are prone to windy conditions.