best places to visit in mission bc

Things To Do In Mission

There are many things to do in Mission BC and we have outlined some of them below. As time goes on, we will add to this list. If there is something you feel should definitely be on our list, let us know through our online form.

Cascades Falls Regional Park Located at: 36421 Ridgeview Road, Deroche, British Columbia

Cascades Falls is a beautiful hike up about 300m to a boardwalk and stairs that take you to this glorious water falling 30 metres into an emerald pool. The amazement doesn’t end just there, the park covers 22 hectares of lush greenery and peaceful trails to explore!

Westminster Abbey

Located at: 34224 Dewdney Trunk Road, Mission, British Columbia, Canada, V2V 4J5

The Westminster Abbey is a sight to be seen, this amazing structure was built in 1953 and is home to about 30 monks today. The Abbey’s official name is the Abbey of Saint Joseph of Westminster, their patron saint being Saint Joseph.

Website: http://www.westminsterabbey.ca

More Things To Do In Mission….

Mission Raceway Park – Things To Do In Mission

Located at: 32670 Dyke Road, Mission, British Columbia, Canada, V2V 4J5

Mission Raceway is one of British Columbia’s premier tracks, with a 1/4 mile NHRA-sanctioned dragstrip stretching 4200 feet long and 60 feet wide, a 2 km nine turn road course, and a 3 km motocross track. It is home to many events between April and October of each year.

Website: http://missionraceway.com

Mission Museum – Things To Do In Mission

Located at: 33201 2nd Avenue, Mission, British Columbia, Canada, V2V 1J9

Mission Museum goal is “Recording our History, Educating the Community, Preserving our Heritage”, it holds over 10,000 objects which have been donated over the years. It has no admission cost, and a mix of Aboriginal to English history plus more.

Website: http://missionmuseum.com

Ferncliff Gardens – Things To Do In Mission

Located at: 35344 McEwen Avenue, Mission, British Columbia, Canada, V2V 6R4

Ferncliff Gardens is a family owned retail nursery and is one of the most fertile and scenic locations within the Fraser Valley. They have a Dahlia Show Garden open mid August to the end of September of each year, showcasing over 150 varieties of dahlias. Visit their website for specific times and dates.

Website: http://www.ferncliffgardens.com

Powerhouse at Stave Falls

Located at: 31338 Dewdney Trunk Road, Mission, British Columbia, Canada, V4S 1C4

The Powerhouse at Stave Falls is a dual-dam power complex that was completed in 1912 for the primary purpose of producing hydroelectric power, although it was upgraded in the year 2000, it was once BC’s largest hydroelectric power source. It is open March to October.

Website: Click Here

Davis Lake Provincial Park – Things To Do In Mission

Located at: Sylvester Road, Mission, British Columbia, Canada, V0M 1L0

Davis Lake Provincial Park is 192 hectare park that was designated to a Provincial Park back in 1963, and is boosting with wildlife and history along with well aged trees including Douglas-Fir, Red Cedar, Vine Maple and the Western Hemlock to name a few. Amazing trails to explore or enjoy some water activities.

Website: https://bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/davis_lk/

Hayward Lake

Located at: 31279 Dewdney Trunk Road, Mission, British Columbia, Canada, V4S 1C4

Hayward Lake is not only a lake but also a reservoir on the Stave River which is formed by the Ruskin Dam. There are beaches, many trails some that take you to great look out spots, as well as a dog beach for your furry companion to explore and frolic.

Rolley Lake Provincial Park

Located at: the end of Bell Road, Mission, British Columbia, Canada.

Rolley Lake Provincial Park is a 115 hectare park with trails to explore, water activities to enjoy as well as about 64 campsites just minutes from the lakeshore. Originally named back in 1888, this Lake is now a popular place for both residents and visitors alike.

Website: http://www.env.gov.ba.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/rolley_lk/

Fraser River Heritage Park

Located at: 7494 Mary Street, Mission, British Columbia, Canada, V2V 6Y9

Fraser River Heritage Park is a fabulous large park full of lush greenery and trails, along with picnic tables and a playground for kids. This park offers many spectacular views of Mission as well as its surrounding cities. It also is the host of many community events as well.

Trout Creek Farm – Things To Do In Mission

Located at: 31474 Townshipline Avenue, Mission, British Columbia, Canada, V4S 1G4

Trout Creek Farm is a all natural fishing adventure. With picnic tables, barbecues, covered gazebo, swings and slides for the kids, and their pond full of Rainbow Trout for your family to enjoy catching. They even supply the equipment!

Website: http://www.ucatchbc.com

Bear Mountain Trail

Located at: 10969 Dewdney Trunk Road, Mission, British Columbia, Canada, V4S 1L1

Bear Mountain Trail also known as Mill Pond or Red Mountain Trails in Mission, this well maintained park is a not so busy lovely walk full of nature. Popular for hikers and mountain biking this trail offers a variety of flow and technical trails with a beautiful pond at the start to enjoy as well.

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Top 6 Awesome Hikes in Mission BC to Take Your Kids On This Season

• Outdoor Activities
• April 30, 2020

Sharing is caring!

Awesome Easy Hiking Trails In Mission BC your entire family will absolutely love. Discover ancient forest, giant trees, epic views, lakes, and waterfalls hikes – all kids-friendly!

Over the past few months of enforced “staycation”, we were adventuring outdoors in our neighborhood. Positively surprised! Who said Mission in British Columbia was boring?! We have discovered many absolutely amazing hiking trails that Mission locals would want to keep secret for sure! Epic views, beautiful lakes, ancient forest with giant trees, and waterfalls hikes – Mission has is all! Crowd-free and sometimes completely abandoned, these hiking trails are a good fit for socially distanced and physically distanced outdoor outings.

Without further due, we present to you our list of Top Six easy hikes in Mission BC for all fitness levels (all trails are kids-friendly) that you should definitely check-out this season! Most of these Mission hiking trails are still open even now amidst outdoor closures due to the pandemic situation.

This post may contain affiliate links and we may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. All product recommendations and feedback are ours and based on personal experience. Please refer to our Disclosure Policy .  

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Hunters Trail

✅ Epic View hike in Mission BC: Hunter Trail

Hunter Trail is one of the true hidden gems found in Mission, British Columbia, Canada. Not officially a Park, just a gravel road up the hill towering over Cannell Lake, we have found some of the most stunning views of Stave Lake and Mt. Baker when we reached the top! Medium-easy and kids-accessible, your Hunter Trail hike will be a Mission day-trip well-spent!

Length : 10 km

Time : 4 hrs

Difficulty : medium

Directions to trailhead and more details : Hunter Trail in Mission, BC – Stave Lake & Mt. Baker EPIC Views Guaranteed

Steelhead Falls

✅ Waterfall hike in Mission BC: Steelhead Falls

Steelhead Falls is one of the easiest Mission hikes. The waterfall is located a short walk along Hayward Reservoir Trail East of Stave Lake Dam (only about 1km) and is a magnificent view. If you have kids, this could be an absolute adventure of an experience!

Length : 3 km

Time : 1 hr

Difficulty : easy

Trailhead location: on google maps

By the way, you can continue on along the trail for as long as you want – the loop around the reservoir is about 27km in total if you feel like spending all day on your feet. 

Rolley Lake and Falls

✅ Easy hike in Mission BC: Rolley Lake and Falls

You are about to discover the best kept secret family spot we love to enjoy: Rolley Lake Provincial Park in Mission, British Columbia. This little Park offers one of the warmest swimming lakes near Vancouver to enjoy with your kids, cozy camping, some of the easiest hiking trails near Mission, and a cute little waterfall – Rolley Falls.

Length : 5.5 km

Time : 3 hrs

Difficulty : Rolley Lake trail is easy; Rolley Lake Falls is medium.

Directions and more details : Rolley Lake Park – Best Kept Secret Spot for Family Fun in Mission BC

To help our active parents who can't seem to figure out how to get their kids to enjoy hiking, we have prepared this post: Five Tried-And-True Outdoor Activities To Get Kids to Absolutely Love Hiking – find many creative ideas, kids outdoor activities , treasure hunts, and nature experiments within!

Devils Lake

✅ Mysterious hike in Mission BC: Devils Lake

Devils Lake hike has been a truly spectacular gem to our collection of amazing places near Mission BC. This hiking trail has that mystical feeling from thriller movies… Crystal clear water, the quiet serenity of the surrounding forest hills ..and NO people! Imagine THAT? Still, we found it to be a perfect little lake to swim, enjoy family weekend picnicking, and even fishing.

Is there a reason people are scared of Devils Lake? Or is it just the name?.. Whatever it is, as long as it keeps crowds away – it works for us! 

Length : 1.2 km

Time : 40 min

Directions, photos and more details : Devils Lake in Mission BC – Both Family Fun & Mystical Experience

Hoover Lake

✅ Best Spring hike in Mission BC: Hoover Lake

The absolute best time to hike Hoover Lake trail is in early spring! We have found the Land of Waterfalls on this trail, with thousands of big and little streams singing in a concert. Although somewhat long, this hiking trail goes along one of many Mission’s logging roads. So it is relatively easy even for younger kids.

Time : 4.5 hrs

Location of Trailhead on google map

Bear Mountain

✅ Ancient forest hike in Mission BC: Bear Mountain

Experience Mission ancient forest with gigantic trees by hiking Bear Mountain’s Bear Back and Bigguns trail. Eventually, when you get to the top, there is an opening with a pretty decent view of the valley below. But the highlight of this trail is access to pure wilderness. 

If you hike with kids, I am sure they’d appreciate being led on some “secret path to treasure” – or at least this Mission trail gives you this feeling! We found many wooden walkways and bridges, some are cut right through the trees. Super-cool!

Length : 7.5 km

Trailhead directions via google maps

BONUS: Iron Mountain trail

✅ Stunning 270 degree views hike in Mission BC: Iron Mountain

Simply stunning short and easy kids-friendly hike to the top of a mountain located right at the border between Maple Ridge and Mission. Epic 270 degree views from 3 lookouts.

Get the details and spectacular photos here: Iron Mountain, Mission: Easy Family Adventure with Stunning Views

Length : 3.5 km

Time : 1.5 hrs

As always, safety comes first.

When venturing out on a hiking trail in Mission, anywhere in British Columbia, Canada or the World, please follow hiking safety rules and the 7 principles of Leave No Trace :

• Hiking With Kids: 12 Simple Safety Rules Every Parent Should Follow
• Leave No Trace & Outdoor Ethics – Zero Impact Family Adventures

In addition, proper hiking footwear is an absolute must! WATCH our video on how to choose hiking shoes for kids.

One last tip to help you get your kids interested in exploring the Great Outdoors : before setting out on your next hike download our FREE Outdoor Treasure Hunt printable Sheets .

We hope you find this list of easy kids-friendly hiking trails near Mission BC useful for your family outdoor adventures. Please share your favourite hikes in British Columbia, Canada or the World with us!

Latest travel and outdoor experiences in British Columbia, Canada:

Stay safe, happy and be healthy!

Cheerfully yours,

Alexandra, Alex & Cosmos

Share your pictures on social media! tag #PerfectDayToPlay to be featured on our Instagram! 

PerfectDayToPlay

Alexandra is an award-winning Vancouver Mom-blogger & YouTuber, travel addict, children's author, and a serial entrepreneur. Her focus is on family travel, outdoor adventures, eco-lifestyle, and teaching kids independence, sustainability, and appreciation for the natural environment. Work w/me: [email protected]

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Blog Comments

Iron Mountain, Mission: Easy Family Adventure with Stunning Views

April 26, 2022 at 7:11 am

[…] Easy, with gentle elevation over a well-hiked wild trail, makes this one of the most spectacular kids-friendly hikes in Mission – easier even than Hunter Trail. Once you get to the top, there are at least 3 lookouts […]

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April 25, 2022 at 9:37 pm

[…] Will Absolutely Love! Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve: bird watching for kids in Chilliwack, BC Kids-Friendly Hiking in Mission, BC Hunter Trail in Mission, BC Othello Tunnels & Hope-Nicola Valley Loop: Rocks & Railway […]

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April 11, 2022 at 9:23 pm

[…] Top 6 Awesome Hikes in Mission BC to Take Your Kids On This Season […]

Hunter Trail Mission, BC: Stave Lake & Mt.Baker EPIC Views Guaranteed

April 11, 2022 at 7:56 pm

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April 11, 2022 at 7:52 pm

[…] one of the “undiscovered” and underestimated destinations in our opinion. We love going hiking in Mission, for example. And its Hunter Trail can very well compete with the views of Bowen Lookout or St. […]

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The best places to visit in Canada from cosmopolitan cities to the Rockies

Apr 11, 2024 • 10 min read

Experience the best of Canada with these top places to visit © Hero Images / Getty Images

Visitors to Canada are equally as wowed by the wildlife and wilderness as they are by the cultural and culinary offerings in the cities that speckle this sprawling nation.

Look for polar bears on the arctic tundra of Churchill or cruise Vancouver’s curvy coastline in a canoe while gawking at the city skyline. Feast on five-star fusion cuisine in Toronto, or take in a street-side jam session in Montréal. 

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or returning to experience something new, these are the best places to go in Canada. But you'll have to plan your trip ahead because this is the world’s second-largest country – you can’t see it all in just one go.

Best for diversity

A vibrant jumble of cultures and neighborhoods , Toronto strikes you with sheer urban awe. Will you have dinner in Chinatown or Greektown? Five-star fusion or a peameal bacon sandwich? In Ontario ’s coolest city, designer shoes from Bloor-Yorkville are accessorized with tattoos in Queen West, while modern art galleries, theater par excellence, rocking band rooms, and hockey mania round out the megalopolis.

This is far and away Canada’s most diverse city, as well as its largest – about half of Toronto’s residents were born in another country.

Local tip : Snap a photo of the CN Tower  (one of the top spots to visit in Toronto ). For an added thrill: check out Edgewalk, where you can shuffle around the tower’s perimeter while taking in unparalleled city views.

2. The Canadian Rockies 

Best for mountain views

The sawtooth, snow-topped mountains straddling the British Columbia — Alberta border inspire both awe and action. Five national parks – Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, Waterton Lakes and Jasper – offer countless opportunities to delve into the lush wilderness with ribbons of hiking trails , rushing whitewater and powdery ski slopes to satisfy travelers looking for mountain thrills. 

This is one of the best places to visit in Canada in winter , but there is outdoor adventure aplenty during the summer months, too.

Planning tip: For a different perspective, take the train and experience the grandeur from the comfort of your seat: luminous lakes, jumbles of wildflowers and glistening glaciers glide by as the steel cars chug up mountain passes and down river valleys en route to points east or west.

Wondering where locals go in Canada? Check out some of our writers' favorite spots .

3. Manitoulin Island

Best for Canada’s First Nations culture

The largest freshwater island in the world, floating right in Lake Huron’s midst, Manitoulin is a slowpoke place of beaches and summery cottages. Jagged expanses of white quartzite and granite outcroppings edge the shoreline and lead to shimmering vistas. First Nations culture pervades, and the island’s eight communities collaborate to offer local foods (wild rice, corn soup) and eco-adventures (canoeing, horseback riding, hiking). Powwows add drumming, dancing and storytelling to the mix for immersive experiences that connect you with the people and the land of the country that we now know as Canada.

4. Vancouver 

Best for urban life with access to nature

Sea-to-sky beauty surrounds the laid-back, cocktail-loving metropolis of Vancouver . There are skiable mountains on the outskirts, beaches fringing the coast and Stanley Park ’s thick rainforest just steps from downtown’s gleaming skyscrapers.

For the best of both worlds, pick up provisions and a cold beer and picnic at one of the amazing city parks (it’s legal to drink alcohol at most of them during the summer). 

Shop and stroll through the diverse and charming neighborhoods – you may even spot a celebrity along the way. Known as “Hollywood North,” Vancouver is the filming location for many TV and film productions shot throughout the year.

Planning tip: With its mild climate and beautiful beaches , Vancouver is definitely one of the best places in Canada to visit in summer.

5. Baffin Island

Best for Inuit art and incredible landscapes

The rugged landscape of Baffin Island is home to cloud-scraping mountains and a third of Nunavut’s human population. It’s Canada’s largest island (the fifth biggest in the world) and the ideal place for an arctic safari where you can spot narwhals, belugas and bears in their natural habitat. The island’s crown jewel is Auyuittuq National Park – its name means “the land that never melts,” and indeed glaciers, fjords and vertiginous cliffs fill the eastern expanse. The park is a siren call for hardcore hikers and climbers – and more than a few polar bears.

Local tip: Baffin Island is also a center for Inuit art; studios for high-quality carving, printmaking and weaving can be found in many of the small towns.

6. Vancouver Island 

Best for nature, surf beaches and boutique food ventures

Picture-postcard Victoria is the heart of Vancouver Island , beating with bohemian shops, wood-floored coffee bars and a past steeped in English tea culture since the 1840s.  British Columbia ’s capital city is full of charm, but it’s only the kick-off point to an island that has a bounty of natural wonders to explore.

Brooding Pacific Rim National Park Reserve includes the West Coast Trail, where the wind-bashed ocean meets a mist-shrouded wilderness, and surfers line up for Tofino’s waves. With so many outdoor adventures to try, this is one of the best places in Canada for nature lovers.

Detour: Wandering foodies will want to head to the Cowichan Valley, which is studded with welcoming small farms and boutique wineries.

Find out how to see Canada by train.

7. Whistler 

Best for skiing, mountain biking or summer paddle-boarding

This 2010 Winter Olympics venue is one of the world’s largest, best-equipped and most popular ski resorts, and it’s only a 90-minute drive from downtown Vancouver. Featuring over 200 marked runs winding down two towering mountains – Whistler and Blackcomb – this alpine village is paradise for skiers of all levels.

Skiing may be Whistler ’s raison d’être, but summer visitors with their downhill mountain bikes and stand-up paddle-boards outnumber their ski-season equivalents, making the resort a year-round hot spot for locals and visitors alike. Adding more diversity, Whistler has recently developed a thriving arts and culture scene, with highlights like the Audain Art Museum and Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre taking the stage as equally appealing attractions to the famed slopes.

8. Old Québec City

Best place to visit in Canada for romantics

Québec’s capital is more than 400 years old, and its stone walls, spired cathedrals and jazz-filled cafes suffuse it with atmosphere, romance, melancholy, eccentricity and intrigue on par with any European city. The best way to soak it all up is to walk the old town’s labyrinth of lanes and get lost amid the street performers and cozy inns, stopping every so often for a café au lait and flaky pastry.

The city is also home to Québec’s scenic highway, Rte 132. Circling the Gaspé Peninsula , this road winds past the sea and the mountains, as well as charming towns. More than 700,000 people drive it each summer. Of course, it has yet to approach the romantic popularity of Canada’s “honeymoon capital,” Niagara Falls, a region that draws more than 14 million annual visitors. But head for La Gaspésie instead, young lovers. Because if you’re on your honeymoon, you don’t need 14 million other people hanging around.

9. Montréal

Best for music lovers 

As Canada’s second-largest city and the country’s cultural heart,  Montréal  is a marvel for music lovers. From June to August, Montréalers get high on sunshine in parks, beaches, mountaintop forests and endless festivals. The steamy outdoors is more alive than ever with arts-loving visitors filling the streets (and the cool of performance spaces), while rooftop bars turn into parties. The best jazz-influenced musicians in the world play to equally jazzed spectators at the annual  Montréal International Jazz Festival , where there are over 500 performances and shows to enjoy (and countless are free). Nature is also never far away in Montréal where a network of cycling paths, waterways and islands crisscross the city. No wonder Montréalers grow up jogging, paddling canals and skating in the fresh air.

Planning tip:  Check out  Tourisme Montréal  for the latest live music events, big and small, throughout the city. 

10. Rideau Canal

Best for ice skating

Opened in 1832, this 200km-long (124 miles) waterway – consisting of canals, rivers and lakes – connects Ottawa and Kingston via 47 locks. The Rideau Canal is at its finest in wintry Ottawa, where a stretch of it becomes the Rideau Canal Skateway – the world's largest skating rink.

People swoosh by on the 7.8km (4.8 miles) of groomed ice, pausing for hot chocolate and scrumptious slabs of fried dough called beavertails (a quintessentially Canadian treat). February’s Winterlude festival kicks it up a notch when townsfolk build massive ice sculptures.

Local tip: Once the canal thaws, it becomes a boater’s paradise, meaning you can appreciate it whatever time of year you visit.

11. The Prairies

Best for big-sky road trips

Solitude reigns in Canada’s middle ground. Driving through the flatlands of Manitoba and Saskatchewan turns up uninterrupted fields of golden wheat that stretch to the horizon, eventually melting into the sunshine. When the wind blows, the wheat sways like waves on the ocean, punctuated by the occasional grain elevator rising up like a tall ship.

Big skies mean big storms that drop like an anvil, visible on the skyline for miles. Far-flung towns include arty Winnipeg , boozy Moose Jaw and Mountie-filled Regina, interspersed with Ukrainian and Scandinavian villages.

12. Niagara Falls

Best for an iconic travel experience

Niagara Falls may be relatively short (it doesn’t even crack the top 500 worldwide for height), but when those great muscular bands of water arc over the precipice like liquid glass, roaring into the void below – and you sail toward it in a mist-shrouded boat – the falls never fail to impress.

While you’re there, extend your stay and head beyond the falls on a two-wheel biking adventure along the Greater Niagara Circle Route, or take a go at the Wildplay Zipline to the Falls , a pulse-pounding rush of a ride that offers unparalleled views of the falls below as you zoom through the sky.

Read on for the best experiences to be had in Canada.

13. Bay of Fundy

Best place to spot whales

It has lighthouses, boats and trawlers, fishing villages and other maritime scenery, yet Fundy is not your average Canadian bay. That’s because its unique geography results in the world’s most extreme tides, capable of reaching 16m (56ft) – about the height of a five-story building.

The tides stir up serious whale food, with krill and other plankton attracting fin, humpback and blue whales to feast, as well as endangered North Atlantic right whales, making a whale watch here an extraordinary must-do.

14. Churchill

Best for polar bear encounters

The first polar bear you see up close will take your breath away, and there’s no better place for an encounter than Churchill , Manitoba, which happens to be right on the bears’ migration path. From late September to early November, tundra vehicles head out in search of the razor-clawed beasts, sometimes getting you close enough to lock eyes with the beautiful bears. Summer lets you kayak or stand-up paddleboard with beluga whales.

15. Drumheller

Best for dinosaur enthusiasts

Dinosaur lovers get weak-kneed in dust-blown Drumheller , where paleontological civic pride runs high thanks to the Royal Tyrrell Museum , home to one of the planet's pre-eminent fossil collections. The world’s largest “dinosaur” is here, too – a giant fiberglass T-rex that visitors can climb and peer out of (through its mouth). Beyond the dino-hoopla, the area offers classic Badlands scenery and eerie, mushroom-like rock columns called hoodoos.

Planning tip: Follow the scenic driving loops; these take you past all the good stuff.

This article was first published Jul 11, 2021 and updated Apr 11, 2024.

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