Delta is growing more and more in popularity as a destination for eco-tourism, attracting visitors from other parts of Canada, the United States, Europe and other areas of the world.
River Kayaking & Boat Tours
Join Kaymaran Adventure Tours to explore the lower reaches and estuaries of the Fraser River’s main arm. The Ladner Marsh, Woodward, Duck, Barber and Westham Islands all await us.
Bring your binoculars or your sunglasses and enjoy kayaking past the floating homes and among the flora and fauna of the local waterways. This is one of the most popular bird watching areas in the world. American Bald Eagles, Harlan’s Red Tailed Hawk, Peregrin Falcons and Snow Geese are just some of the birds found here. Mammals regularly seen in the estuary include Beavers, Harbour Seals, Muskrats, Otters and Sea Lions.
Join their guides for an excellent introduction and orientation to this exciting and intriguing area. Suitable for beginner or experienced paddlers. >>more information
Millenium Trail
Delta’s newest trail is being built with two of three phases now complete. The Spirit of Delta Millennium Trail begins near the Riverhouse Restaurant at the west end of 60th Avenue, off River Road (Hwy. 17). It follows the dyke trail west toward Highway 99.
A picturesque walk amongst the trees and birds leads to a waterfront walkway along to the Fraser River. Pass under the Deas Slough Bridge and the trail wraps around the river bank to the other side of the highway. Here the path offers the hiker a different scenic view to the west, overlooking Marina Garden Estates foreshore, their Marina and part of the South arm of the Fraser River.
The path currently returns one to the edge of River Road. Travel west, (facing the traffic) until you get to Admiral Blvd. From there you have two options: to the right, take the path along the waterfront of Deas Slough and connecting to the Ferry Road Trail; or to the left, and take a wooded trail paralleling Green Slough, ending at Admiral Boulevard.
North Delta Watershed Park
Watershed Park is Delta’s largest parcel of park reserve. The 153 hectare (375 acre) forested park reserve has numerous old service roads and trails that are used daily by walkers, mountain bike enthusiasts and horse riders.
The park was originally acquired by the municipality based on the artesian wells present in the park to facilitate the development and preservation of a dependable water supply for East Delta and Ladner. Recent improvements to the park include the development of gravel trails, footbridge crossings, park signage and a promontory lookout with a clear view of Mud Bay, making this a perfect spot for a picnic.
Burns’ Bog
Burns Bog is one of the largest raised peat bogs in the world, comprised of 3,000 hectares between the south arm of the Fraser River (to the north) and Boundary Bay (to the south). Compared to Stanley Park, in downtown Vancouver, Burns Bog is ten times larger, making it the largest undeveloped urban landmass in North America.
Bogs are peat-accumulating wetlands that support unique plant communities. Over thousands of years, sphagnum mosses, leaves and roots have accumulated faster than they can decompose, forming peat. Burns Bog is home to 126 species of flora, many of which can only be found in the arctic, but can thrive in the bog because of the acidic lack of nutrients. It is also home to 140 species of birds and 20 species of mammals.
The Delta Nature Reserve is where visitors can view and explore the bog. Covering 60 hectares in the northeastern part of the bog, the Nature Reserve has three loops of boardwalks and trails, and a 90 minute hike that takes you past a beaver dam, and through a spirea meadow and a cedar grove. Along the way, you will see stunted lodgepole pine, bracken fern, Labrador tea, bog laurel, skunk cabbage, and sphagnum moss.
The preservation of Burns Bog is the goal of the Burns Bog Conservation Society. As a registered charity, this group of dedicated individuals are determined to “conserve and preserve Burns Bog for all life in perpetuity.” >>more information
Reifel Bird Sanctuary
The Reifel Bird Sanctuary is located on Westham Island near Ladner. The sanctuary is open all year round, and every season has it’s own species of birds passing through. Although November has the largest number of birds, all year round there are many to be seen.
The sanctuary is one of Canada’s top bird-watching sites, with over 60,000 annual visitors. Some of the birds many bird-watchers come to see include: Great Blue Heron, Whistling Swan, Trumpeter Swan, Canada Goose, Brant, White Fronted Goose, Ross Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Pintail, Green Winged Teal, Blue Winged Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Cooper’s Hawk and Peregrine Falcon.
The biggest event of the year happens in November during the Snow Geese Festival, coinciding with the arrival of the “Fraser-Skagit” flock of Lesser Snow Geese. This particular sub-population of snow geese numbers between 30,000 and 60,000 depending upon nest success in arctic breeding grounds. It spends the winters at the Sanctuary, in other parts of the Fraser River Estuary and the nearby Skagit River Estuary in Washington, USA. The snow geese are easily viewed by visitors as they feed on the foreshore by the tower and in fields around the entrance to the Sanctuary. >>more information
Boundary Bay
Boundary Bay is Delta’s primary waterfront attraction. There are several attractions within the bay area. There is the Boundary Bay Airport, where many small aircraft come and go.
Along the beach line is the Boundary Bay Dyke, which stretches from the far end of Ladner to the beach area of Tsawwassen. The beach area, known as Centennial Beach, is a great place to lie down and relax, while a few steps away is the dyke, which provides a great environment for walking, running or cycling. There is also a small beach café, volleyball courts, tennis courts, a softball field and the historic Cammidge House.
The beach is part of the Boundary Bay Regional Park, so there is no development, which provides a wonderful nature resort. The bay is also one of the most important stops on the Pacific Flyway. Each spring and fall, more than 250,000 birds pass through the area—between 20,000 and 30,000 brant geese alone.
At low tide you can walk into the middle of the bay, where some of the most interesting wildlife features are revealed, either in the pools, beneath the sand, or on the shoreline. Thousands of birds—dunlin and sandpipers, herons and brants—follow the twice-daily rise and fall of the tide. >>more information
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