Deboville Slough

Deboville Slough and the Pitt River dyke are an escape close to the city for a short hike, bike, or birdwatching. Multiple access points and a wide, flat trail make this an adventure for everybody. Bring your binoculars and camera, because you're bound to see birds along the trail—geese, eagles, hummingbirds, herons, ducks, kingfishers, loons, and the list goes on. Visit in different seasons to see the waterway as it changes throughout the year.

The Deboville trailhead is in the middle of the Pitt River dyke. Hikers can take the north side trail, which leads to the best views of Golden Ears and more birdwatching opportunities at Addington Wildlife Management Area. The trail on the south side of the slough takes hikers toward the bridge crossing Pitt River to extend the day on the east dyke. The south end of the trail connects to the end of Dominion Avenue and also joins Highway 7 to cross Pitt River. The north end of the trail connects to Oliver Road. Cyclists may want to return to the parking lots via Oliver Road and Cedar Drive for a loop.

To get to the trailhead, head north for 3 kilometers on Coast Meridian from Lougheed Hwy (BC Hwy #7). Take a right on Victoria Drive and continue straight through the light until coming to the bottom of a hill. There is one parking lot on the left off Cedar Drive and two smaller lots on the right. The washrooms are south of the slough.

Deboville Slough can be made to fit anyone's timeline. Take a 30-minute walk along the slough as a quick stop. Make it an afternoon and hike the entire trail by Pitt River from north to south. It can also be combined with hikes in Minnekhada Regional Park.