Vedder River Rotary Loop
Vedder River is one of those places which feels like escape from the city. The feeling takes over as soon as I mount my bike and begin cycling along the scenic river, inhaling the fresh, crisp air with the cool breeze against my face. It’s as if I’ve been transported to another world, and it is for this reason that the Vedder River Rotary loop is an absolute favourite of mine.
Vedder River is a stunning location that really does have something for everyone. The children’s play area near Peach Park is popular amongst families, and there are often food trucks serving up donairs, hot dogs and iced coffee. The wide trails are ideal for dog walkers and their entourage, so much so that in addition to enjoying the scenery, I always keep an eye out for doggos splashing in the river or racing each other along the trail. During warmer weather, families gather here to barbecue at the river, go fishing, kayaking or float lazily down the river.
The well-maintained loop is approx. 21km in length with minimal elevation and multiple side-trails, making it a great option if you’re looking for a mild-to-moderate workout in a beautiful setting. My husband and I have completed this trail several times now since we purchased our hybrid bicycles last spring, and although there are no shortage of cycling trails in the Fraser Valley, this is the only trail I come back to again and again. I am fairly new to cycling and not the most confident on my hybrid bike, especially over the parts of the trail covered in gravel. This is why I especially appreciate the rotary trail for its wide pathways, as it gets pretty busy over the weekend!
Although spring hasn’t officially begun, it was a warm sunny Saturday and a great opportunity to take out our bikes for the first time this season. We strapped our bike rack onto our car, mounted the bikes, and headed over to Vedder River in Chilliwack. There are several parking lots along the river, such as Lickman Road and Peach Park, the latter being the busier due to its proximity to the children’s play area. The trail has multiple entry points and washroom facilities – an added convenience. We parked our car, dismounted our bikes and off we went! It was a wonderful day, and many people (like us) were taking advantage of the good weather.
As we ride along the trail the scenery changes dramatically – from peaceful forestation, to farmland, meadows, rushing creeks and gorgeous riverbanks. There are also several sites to be explored along the way, such as the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve. We typically start near the Lickman Road parking lot, and with the river on our left, ride along the riverbank, underneath the bridge and through the forest until we reach farmland. An interesting part of the trail is the overhead pylons, which create a small electric shock upon gripping our bicycle handles after passing the farmland near the river. BC Hydro recently posted a sign warning trail-users of this effect, but before the sign was posted we learnt about this effect the hard way! Bike gloves came in handy at a time like this, and the electric shock only lasts the duration of riding underneath the power lines. From hereon out the scenery continues to change, as we pass under and over bridges, through more forest and farmland, all while feeling we’ve been transported to another world. Approximately 2 hours later, we’re back to the parking lot where we began, a little sore from the journey but nonetheless revitalized. A trail like no other, it is indeed one I will continue to revisit!
For more information about the Vedder River rotary trail, check out the link below.
https://www.chilliwackrotary.com/about-the-trail
