- Difficulty Easy
- Time 1.5 hours
- Round-Trip 3km
- Elevation Gain minimal
- Season year-round
- Camping No
- From Vancouver 35 minutes
- Public Transit Yes
- Dog Friendly On-Leash
Burns Bog is the largest domed peat bog in the world encompassing over 40 square kilometres of land. Only a small portion of the area on this sensitive eco-system is accessible to the public in an area on the eastern side called the Delta Nature Reserve. Raised boardwalks weave through the forested areas, passing over unique plants life created by the bog.
From the Planet Ice parking lot, start the trail at the far end of the lot, near the Nordel Way overpass on the Surrey side. Go left and follow the brick pathway underneath the overpass and loop around to where you will see a wooden sign marking the start of the Nature Reserve. Follow the trail along the wide gravel path next to the slow moving stream.
There are two main half-loops, a wide one and a smaller one. At the junction with the Peat Moss Meander on the right, go right onto the wooden boardwalks for the start of the wider half-loop. The trail immediately enters the thick wooded area surrounded by a wide range of plants and trees that make up the bog. Continue along these route, passing a junction by staying to the right.
Eventually the trail reaches the wide gravel path again. Go left back towards Planet Ice. There are a number of trails with small bridges that cross the small stream that lead to the nearby houses on the other side of the train tracks. We will ignore these routes and walk along the wide gravel trail until we reach a trail on the left marking the start of the Tractor Trail. This is a much shorter half-loop but interesting for the half-visible tractor that is mostly submerged in the bog.
There is one other boardwalk trail that connects the Peat Moss Meander with the Tractor Trail called the Skunk Cabbage Crawl. This route is short but there are lots of skunk cabbage alongside this trail in the spring. Be careful if the boardwalks are wet as this section does not have material on the wooden to help prevent your feet from slipping.
Back on the wide gravel trail, go left and follow this path back towards Planet Ice, passing under the Nordel Way overpass before returning to the parking lot.
How to get to Burns Bog Delta Nature Reserve
Estimated Driving Time from Vancouver
35 minutes
The trails by Burns Bog are located on the borders of Surrey and Delta, near the Planet Ice facility. From Vancouver, drive south along Knight Street and cross the Knight Street Bridge. Shortly after the bridge, take the exit with the sign BC-91 East to Delta, Surrey. This exit will merge with a highway heading eastbound known as the East West Connector.
Continue diving along the highway and keep left towards Delta and Surrey as the road forks. Cross the Alex Fraser Bridge and take the River Road exit immediately after the bridge. Merge to the right onto Nordel Way and drive a short distance before turning right at the traffic lights for Nordel Court. Drive straight to the end of the street, driving underneath the highway overpass and into the Planet Ice parking lot. The trail begins at the far end of the parking lot.
View a map of Driving directions to Burns Bog Delta Nature Reserve.
Transit Access to Burns Bog Delta Nature Reserve
Take the #640 Ladner Exchange bus from Scott Road Skytrain Station and get off the bus at Nordel Way and River Road. Walk south on Nordel Way 2 blocks to Nordel Court and go left. Walk along Nordel Court for 2 blocks, walking under the highway until you reach Planet Ice.
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