The best gravel rides in Pacific Spirit Regional Park

The landmark sits near SW Marine Drive, along the western edge of the park, and it honors the historic 1808 journey of explorer Simon Fraser and John Stuart, who traveled the great Fraser River all the way to the Pacific Ocean. From the monument area, you can look out toward the North Arm of the Fraser River and take in views of the natural landscape.

The Seymour River Suspension Bridge was completed and opened in December 2018. This made it possible to walk the Fisherman's Trail (North) all the way through again. After the former Twin Bridges had to be demolished in 2014 following a rockslide and damming of the Seymour River, there was no longer a crossing at this point in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve. The Twin Bridges were originally built in 1908 to carry pipelines and were later supplemented by a parallel pedestrian bridge. Years later, the two bridges were combined to form one bridge. https://www.vancouvertrails.com/blog/seymour-river-suspension-bridge/

The Granville Island Public Market is located in the northern part of the peninsula. The market is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. – until 7:00 p.m. during the summer months. The buildings of the Public Market once housed companies in the timber, mining, and shipping industries. https://granvilleisland.com/public-market https://granvilleisland.com/history/the-public-market

The trail that runs through the Seymour Demonstration Forest, or the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve (https://metrovancouver.org/services/regional-parks/park/lower-seymour-conservation-reserve), is probably the most pleasant car-free paved trail in the Vancouver area. From the gazebo at the Rice Lake entrance to the gate at Seymour Dam, the path is 11 km long, with gentle rolling hills and curves. There are washrooms and a drinking fountain near the Rice Lake entrance. It is sometimes a few degrees chillier on this trail, even on a hot summer day, due to the trees, the elevation, and the valley that can trap a pocket of cool air. Cautions: - The road to the park is gated, and therefore inaccessible to cars, at night. - Throttle-actuated bikes are prohibited on the trail. - The trail has multiple speed gates with flexible bollards. - Since much of the trail is off-limits to cars and also out of range of cell phone service, be sure that your bike is in good working order, and that you are able to handle any likely mechanical issues. - Bears roam the area. (https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/glad-to-be-alive-man-t-bones-bear-while-cycling-in-north-vancouver-7015380)

This pedestrian and bicycle bridge crosses the Seymour River and is part of the region's network of trails and roads. Opened in 2018, the bridge is a modern structure designed to improve access and connectivity to surrounding natural areas, such as Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve Regional Park and Inter River Park. As well as being an attractive spot for walkers and cyclists, the bridge offers panoramic views of the river and its natural surroundings.

Granville Island is now a shopping and cultural district; the peninsula was previously an industrial area. The island takes its name from Granville George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville, the British Colonial Secretary at the time of its first mapping.

Although Spanish seamen had noted the Fraser estuary in 1791, when Alexander Mackenzie reached the upper Fraser in 1793 on his way to the Pacific, he thought he was on the Columbia. Simon Fraser and John Stuart of the North West Company explored the river under the same misapprehension in 1808, realizing only when they reached the sea that two great river systems drained the north Pacific slope. Although the Fraser was not throughout its course a practical canoe route, the Hudson's Bay company integrated it into a new supply system when forced in 1848 to abandon the Columbia.

A good opportunity to buy fresh fruit, vegetables and fish.