Deas Island Regional Park

Located south of Vancouver, the trails around Deas Island Regional Park offer scenic views of the Fraser River area. Named after the settler John Sullivan Deas, the island was once the primary operation of a cannery that produced the largest amounts of salmon along the Fraser River.

From any of the designated parking areas, start your walk on the north side of the island and go left on the Tinmaker's Walk Trail heading downriver. The first section offers the occasional view of the river between the bushes. Continue to the first junction and go right onto the Riverside Walk Trail as it approaches a clearing with better views of the river.

The trail continues and joins with the Island Top Trail, crossing over the busy highway that leads into the George Massey Tunnel under the Fraser River. Shortly, you will arrive at a junction. This is the start of the island loop so whichever direction you go, you will return from the opposite direction. Go right and a short distance later, you arrive at a beach area. During low tide, you can walk along the sand to the western tip of the island.

Walk back to the beach area and continue along the trail. Another short path leads out to the south side of the island to a muddy area with a view of the marina and the Ladner Marsh to the west. Return to the trail and walk back towards the Island Tip Loop junction and back over the entrance to the tunnel.

At the junction, go right and another right again onto the Sand Dune Trail. This short, sandy route joins with the Dyke Loop Trail. Go right and walk along the raised gravel path to a trail that leads to a viewpoint of Deas Slough on the right.

Back on the trail, continue as the path joins with the Slough View Trail. Eventually, the trail arrives at a junction with the Tidal Pond Trail. Go left, ignoring the Tidal Pond Trail and walk towards the parking area. Cross the road and walk towards the wooden viewing platform where, at the top, a scenic 180 degree view of the Fraser River can be seen.

If you parked in the nearby parking lot, you have completed the island loop. If you parked at the parking lot further in near the picnic area, walk along the Tinmaker's Walk Trail to the junction and go left back to where you began.