Are you looking for the best places to go biking in the GVRD with kids?
There are so many wonderful places to go biking with your kids in the GVRD (Greater Vancouver Regional District) and over the past 30+ years of living here I’ve explored so many of the trails, bringing you my top 10 favourites.
We are blessed to have dozens of parks, trails and greenspaces scattered throughout the Lower Mainland that are great for biking. Networks of trails suitable to a variety of skill levels are available.
First, as always, a few safety notes. Be sure to check maps, follow signs, and be respectful of other users, as many locations have multi-use paths or bike/pedestrian/horse-only trails. Always wear a helmet and, if you are riding more advanced trails, other appropriate safety gear. If you are looking for a new family-friendly location for a biking adventure, saddle up as we crank out a few of our favourite spots! And yes, I will be including biking lingo throughout the article, just for fun – see if you can spot at least one bit of cycling jargon in every listing below!
Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links from which I may earn a small commission if you choose to book your stay. Money goes to help fund Adventure Awaits and keep more informational and educational articles coming your way!
Best Places to Go Biking in Langley
1. Aldergrove Regional Park
Aldergrove Regional Park boasts over 6.7 kilometers of biking trails for you and your kids to enjoy. This park, a portion of which was once a gravel pit, is now a restored haven for wildlife and offers a variety of multi-use trails for biking, walking, and horseback riding. It is located southeast of 272nd St and 8th Ave in Langley and has two entrances with parking: the Northern main entrance off of 8th Ave and the Eastern Aldergrove Bowl entrance off Lefeuvre Rd, which marks the border between Langley and Abbotsford. Keep an eye out for birds and deer as you pedal your way through views of open fields, marshy brooks, and deep forests, making this a great place to go biking in the GVRD with kids.
2. Fort to Fort Trail
If you are tired of spinning your wheels in the same spot, head over to Langley’s Fort to Fort Trail. This is a 4 km (one way) firm gravel trail with a few short ups and downs that is suitable for families and connects the current Fort Langley with its original Derby Reach site. Parking in Fort Langley townsite means you can finish there, with all the amenities it has to offer, and perhaps pair it with a visit to Fort Langley National Historic Site.
Best Places to Go Biking in Surrey
3. Tynehead Park
Shifting gears to Surrey, our next location is a little more chill. Tynehead Park offers the Tynehead Perimeter Trail, a rolling 4.8 km gravel loop trail with a few short uphill sections that aren’t too challenging, making this a great place to go biking in the GVRD with kids. Interpretive signs along the route can add some learning opportunities to your outing. Park at the Serpentine Hills entrance off 96th Ave at about 169th St to access.
Fun fact: Did you know that Tynehead means, “Head of the serpent” (after the Serpentine River)?
4. Surrey Bend Regional Park
Backpedaling to Surrey again, Surrey Bend Regional Park’s 5.3 km of bike trails are a good place for beginners. Smaller children can learn to transition from paved surfaces to gravel on flat, hard-crushed gravel paths. This park can be prone to flooding, so check the website if the Fraser River is high.
Biking in the GVRD with Kids – Delta
5. Watershed Park
Our next stop on the Tour de GVRD is Watershed Park in Delta. This forested park will make you feel miles from the city. Boasting over 20 km of amazing bike trails, it has something for everyone – flat and easy trails for beginners, log and ladder sections for advanced mountain bikers, and everything in between. There are several access points to this park, but the Pinewood entrance off Kittson Parkway is a good place to start.
Best Place to Go Biking In Pitt Meadows
6. Pitt River Regional Greenway
Running along the dyke system that tames the floodwaters of the Pitt River, the Pitt River Regional Greenway holds an 11.3 km multi-use trail that forms part of the Great Trail (Trans-Canada Trail). Bird watchers will particularly love this trail for its many bird sighting opportunities, though seals, muskrats, and other wildlife are often seen. Parking is available at the southeast end of the trail at Harris Landing and the northwest end off Kennedy Rd near Katzie Slough.
Best Place to Go Biking In Coquitlam
7. Mundy Park
For a quick release of energy, Coquitlam’s Mundy Park has trails for beginner to intermediate riders, with a 5.5 km paved community path encircling the entire park, a 4 km perimeter trail, and various shorter trails including a 1 km loop trail around Mundy Lake, making this a great place to go biking in the GVRD with kids. Two bike skills trails, one for beginners and one for intermediate riders, are located on the east side of the park and include obstacles such as boulder drop-offs, log stacks, bridges, and timber teeter-totters. Remember to gear up your kids properly if they are hitting obstacles. The trails are best accessed from the east park entrance off Mariner Way.
Best Place to Go Biking In Richmond
8. Steveston South Dyke Trail
The Steveston South Dyke Trail is composed of two routes, both with the added advantage of unique attractions along the way to keep the kids motivated. The Steveston to Finn Slough route runs 6.9 km (13.8 km return) from Fisherman’s Wharf to the float home community of Finn Slough, passing through Imperial Landing Park, with optional stops at Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site, London Heritage Farm, and the No. 3 Road Pier. If the kids look tired and deflated, cut your trip short and return to Steveston to pump them up with some ice cream! The second route is Steveston to Terra Nova. This slightly shorter route is 6.3 km (12.6 km return) and passes the Gulf of Georgia Cannery and Garry Point Park, before ending at Terra Nova Rural Park, an incredible outdoor adventure playground! Both of these routes are full of sights and potential extra activities, making this a great place to go biking in the GVRD with kids.
Are you like me and like to stop to take photos while out biking? Visit Richmond has compiled the most Instagram-worthy photo spots in their social media biking itinerary!
Best Place to Go Biking In Vancouver
9. World Famous Stanley Park Seawall
Stanley Park may seem like an all too common choice, but when you have a world-class park in your backyard, it’s pretty hard not to include it! Beyond the stunning 8.8 km seawall, Stanley Park has kilometers of additional biking trails crisscrossing the park. Paired with a beach stop, or a visit to the Vancouver Aquarium, this can easily turn into a full-day family outing, making this a great place to go biking in the GVRD with kids. Stanley Park can get very busy, so avoid a peloton (a large group of riders) by visiting earlier in the day and on weekdays.
Best Place to Go Biking In North Vancouver
10. Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve
On the North Shore, the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve encompasses a large portion of the Seymour River. With 50 km of biking trails rated from easiest to extremely difficult, this park offers all the challenges you can handle – bar none. Cycling is permitted on all the park trails except the Homestead Trail and the Rice Lake Loop Trail. Access is via Lillooet Rd, which branches off Mt. Seymour Pkwy immediately after leaving Hwy 1. With so many trails, you may never have to bike the same one twice!
GVRD Bike Tours
Want to take biking in the GVRD with kids to another level? Why not take the family on a guided bike tour? A guided bike tour offers several advantages:
- The guides know the route well and can best navigate and plan based on your family’s skill level.
- Guides often provide educational insights about the area, teaching your kids about the local culture, history and nature in a fun way.
- Bike tours offer equipment, meaning you don’t have to invest in your own gear if you are just getting started.
- Guided tours often involve other families, giving your kids (and you!) a chance to make new friends.
- Stress-free! Everything is taken care of for you, allowing parents to focus on enjoying the experience with your kids.
Here are a few GVRD bike tours we recommend:
Stanley Park Bike Tour
Choose a morning or afternoon fully guided bike tour of Stanley Park, the “Green Heart” of Vancouver. Cruise past beaches, learn more about the Indigenous totem poles, and take in the spectacular views of the city skyline, the North Shore mountains, and the various wildlife that call the park and ocean harbour home. This small group tour is limited to 12 guests and is for kids ages 10 and up.
Book your Stanley Park Bike Tour Here!
Vancouver Grand City Tour
Hop on your bike for a leisurely ride along dedicated bike routes throughout the city. Visit historic neighbourhoods like Gastown and Chinatown, meander down the seawalls for views of False Creek and the North Shore Mountains. This tour is limited to 9 guests and is for kids ages 10 and up.
Book your Vancouver Grand City Tour Here!
Hiking and Biking Tour
Why not combine two fun activities into one tour? This 6.5-hour tour will take you on a 5 km hike through Lynn Canyon Park in North Vancouver where you will cross the suspension and hike through the forest learning about the local flora and fauna and Indigenous history of the area. Then you will head to Pitt Meadows where you will cycle approx. 17-25 km along the Trans Canada Trail. Lunch is included on this tour and children must be accompanied by an adult.
Book your Hiking and Biking Tour Here!
There you have it, my top 10 favourite places to go biking with kids in the GVRD… but I’m always on the hunt for more! If you know of a trail we should add, please reach out so we can help other readers get outside and on their bikes.
