Hillkeep Regional Park - What To Do in Chilliwack

There is no better way to spend an afternoon (especially a clear sunny one) than hiking up a local mountain that has a lookout over our beautiful city and a view of our mountainous horizon.

Hillkeep Regional Park is located at 43357 Hillkeep Place (map below), situated on the top of Chilliwack Mountain. This 36-acre nature reserve is land that was donated by local residents and is the perfect habitat for nature walks and bird watching. Into photography? Have your camera ready for when the light comes through the trees just right to capture the perfect shot.

There are 2 trails available; both are fairly easy walking for all members of the family. Though well groomed, they may not all be suitable for wheelchairs or strollers due to the steepness and width of trail in some sections.

The first trail we took is a 2 km loop trail that meanders it’s way across the northern side of Chilliwack Mountain and was about a 45 minute walk. In the winter, with the trees barren of leaves, you get glimpses of the Fraser River rolling through the valley.

The second trail is a short 20 minute walk round-trip and leads to the lookout point on the south side. Thought it is a bit steep and in short sections, keep a look out for a small and unique stone staircase, which we fell in love with. At the top, there is viewing platform offering a panoramic view and a visual guide pointing out the various mountain tops across the valley. On a sunny and clear day, time seems to stand still as you soak in all this valley has to offer, with Mt. Cheam looking majestic off to the east.

If you’re an avid geocacher there are a number of geocache locations available, including one from the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD is the organization that has taken over the maintenance of this location). Geocaching is a great way to engage kids, and those young at heart. Geocaching involves geo positioning (there is an app available for download on your smart phone) to look for hidden “treasures” and log books - an activity that invites the user to explore new trails, parks or even their own neighbourhood in search of these little caches.

As the park is also a nature reserve, please don’t wander far off the trails to preserve the land for local wildlife and the douglas firs and plant life that have taken residence atop the mountain.

The park and trails are maintained by Fraser Valley Regional District, you can find more info from them here:
www.fvrd.ca/EN/main/parks-recreation/parks-trails/hillkeep-regional-park.html