7 Things to Do at Derby Reach Regional Park

Enjoy mountain views, picnicking beside the Fraser River, hiking trails, history, and lots more at Derby Reach Provincial Park. Use our guide to plan a trip to this Fort Langley nature park.

How to Get to Derby Reach Regional Park

From Vancouver, take Highway 1 east. Use exit 58 to take 200 Street north. Follow 200 as it turns right and becomes 201 Street. Turn right onto 96 Avenue, then left on 208 Street. Go right on Allard Crescent. Watch for signs for the Edgewater Bar day-use area on your left, then the Heritage day-use area on your right 2 km later. Both have large parking lots.

Tips for Visiting

• Use the park map to find your way around.

• The park is closed at night. Check the sign at the park entrance for current gate closure hours so you don’t get locked in. The park is open between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. in winter with extended hours the rest of the year.

• Dogs must be on leash in most of the park. There is an off-leash area on the west side of the Edgewater Bar day-use area.

• Smoking, vaping, cannabis, drones, alcohol, and collecting plants are not allowed.

• There are washrooms at the Edgewater Bar and Heritage day-use areas.

• Be safe in the park. AdventureSmart recommends bringing a backpack with essential safety and first aid gear on every hike. Check the forecast and pack extra clothing for the weather. Leave a trip plan so someone knows where you are going and when you will be back.

Learn about BC’s History

Wander around the Historic Area to soak up information about British Columbia’s history. The first contact between Europeans working for the Hudson’s Bay Company and the Stó:lõ First Nation took place here. This was also the location of the original Fort Langley, built in 1827. (The fort was relocated to its present site in 1839).

Go Fishing

Many people love to visit Edgewater Bar to fish in the Fraser River. A submerged sandbar just offshore forces fish into a channel closer to shore. Make sure you buy a tidal waters fishing licence from Fisheries and Oceans Canada before putting your line in the water.

Let Your Dog Explore Off-Leash

Leashes are required in most of Derby Reach Regional Park, but there is a huge off-leash zone on the west side of the Edgewater Bar Day-Use Area. It includes a kilometre of walking trails and lots of grass for playing fetch.

Bike or Walk the Fort to Fort Trail

The Fort to Fort Trail connects Fort Langley with the site of the original fort in the Heritage Area 4km away. The flat gravel path parallels the river and is fully separated from traffic, which makes it a great place to go for a walk or a bike ride. There are great views of the mountains in Golden Ears Provincial Park across the river.

Have a Picnic

Derby Reach Regional Park has lots of picnic areas. There is a covered picnic shelter at Edgewater Bar along with lots of picnic tables. The Heritage Area has picnic tables too. You can also hike or bike along the West End Trail to the picnic area at Muench Bar.

Hike the Houston Trail

Explore the wooded interior of the park on the Houston Trail. The 4-km-long loop travels up and down rolling hills through the forest. You’ll also get glimpses of the Langley Bog from a viewing platform on the north side of the circuit. The bog is home to sphagnum moss, native berries, and over 77 species of birds.

Have a Campfire

Derby Reach Regional Park has four day-use fire rings at the Edgewater Bar picnic area where you can enjoy a campfire. Bring your own bundled firewood, then enjoy roasted marshmallows or hot dogs cooked over the fire. Fire rings are first-come, first-served. Between November and February, you can also use the fire rings at the Edgewater Bar campground, since it is closed for winter.