8 Ways to Get Outdoors in Surrey

September 19, 2022

5 min read

Aerial view of a forested park with a lake, walking paths, distant city buildings, and mountains at sunset.

With rivers, ocean, and pockets of forest, Surrey has lots of opportunities for outdoor adventures. Explore hiking trails, ride your bike beside the ocean, or watch salmon return to spawn. Here are 8 ways to get outdoors in Surrey.

Go for a Hike

Surrey has lots of easy hiking trails, perfect for hikers of all ages. Wander past exotic trees and an epic tree house at Redwood Park. Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest Park has a great network of nature trails. Learn about reforestation and watch for wildlife as you hike the trails at Green Timbers Urban Forest Park. Stop to watch for birds along the Serpentine Fen Nature Trail. Stroll along the banks of the Fraser River at Surrey Bend Regional Park. Or get a workout on the 1001 Steps Trail in South Surrey.

Wooden elevated cabin with stairs in a forest surrounded by tall trees and a sign about Redwood Park history.

Visit a Farm

Get in touch with Surrey agricultural roots with a visit to a farm. Hazelmere Pumpkin Patch makes a great fall destination with a corn maze and pumpkin patch. Head to the farmstand at Surrey Farms to pick up hand-picked berries and other local fruits and vegetables. Or visit one of Surrey’s other farms and farmer’s markets.

Close-up of a large orange pumpkin with water droplets in a pumpkin patch with many pumpkins in the background.

Hit the Beach

Surrey is home to one of Vancouver’s best stretches of sand: Crescent Beach. The designated swimming area is a great place to go for a dip on a hot summer day. You can also rent kayaks and paddleboards to explore the shoreline. Year-round, the gravel walking and long pier invite you to go for a stroll and soak up the views of Vancouver and the North Shore Mountains.

A wooden pier extending into a calm body of water with a shoreline featuring houses, trees, and a parking area under clear blue sky.

Go for a Bike Ride

The Boundary Bay Dyke Trail in Mud Bay Park and Boundary Bay Regional Park is a great spot for a scenic (and car-free) bike ride. It stretches for 20 kilometres along the shoreline between Delta and Surrey. If you want to hone your BMX and mountain bike skills on dirt jumps and obstacles, head to one of Surrey’s bike parks. The South Surrey Mountain Bike Park has a network of trails to challenge both beginner and advanced riders.

View from a mountain bike handlebar looking over a dirt trail with jumps and trees in the background.

Stop to Smell the Flowers

Wander down the paths at one of Surrey’s beautiful public gardens. Bear Creek Gardens is known for its rhododendrons and wisteria-draped entrance arch. In the fall, don’t miss the brilliant red leaves of the maples changing colours. Volunteer-run Darts Hill Garden Park includes trees and shrubs from around the world. Slow-down and quiet your mind at Fleetwood Gardens, which includes a labyrinth. Hawthorne Gardens features lots of flowering trees and shrubs that produce great autumn colours as well. And don’t miss the “blooming river” at Holland Gardens.

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Immerse Yourself in Nature at a Park

Explore Surrey’s wilderness parks and green spaces. Surrey Lake Park features a human-made lake and nature trails. Explore the meadows and shorelines of Blackie Spit Park. Home to the Serpentine River, Tynehead Regional Park has lots of nature trails. Surrey Bend Regional Park protects important habitats along the floodplain of the Fraser River. Or head to one of Surrey’s other nature parks and trails.

Person in red jacket and black pants pointing at green leaves on trees while standing on a wooden bridge in a forest.

See the Salmon Run

Each fall salmon return to British Columbia’s waters to spawn. It’s a spectacular sight as they fight the current and head upstream to the gravel creekbeds where they were born. Catch the action at Little Campbell River Hatchery or the Tynehead Hatchery in Tynehead Regional Park.

Sign on wooden post near stream reads Fish live here Stay out of stream with illustrations of young coastal cutthroat trout and young coho salmon.

Go Bird Watching

With its location between the Pacific Ocean and the Fraser River, Surrey’s wetlands and shoreline are an important part of the Pacific Flyway bird migration route. Pack your binoculars, then head to Blackie Spit, Mud Bay Park, Serpentine Fen, and other great birdwatching destinations in Surrey.