Chilliwack is an incredible adventure town located just an hour outside of Vancouver. Although you can visit as a quick day trip, we recommend taking a few days out of your B.C. Itinerary to explore Chilliwack and the surrounding area! There are endless amounts of hiking trails, some beautiful waterfalls and some quaint shops to explore. In this blog post we are going to go through everything you need to know for an epic Chilliwack adventure!
Know Before You Go:
How To Get There:
Chilliwack and the surrounding area is fairly spread out, so we recommend a car rental to get the most out of this adventure. You can rent a car right in downtown Vancouver, or at Vancouver International Airport if you are flying into British Columbia.
Where To Stay:
The Birdhouse Retreat AKA The B.C. Treehouse
This epic treehouse is located just a short drive away from downtown Chilliwack! This place is one of the most unique Airbnb’s we have ever seen. From the suspension bridge entrance, to the outdoor shower and loft bed, the owners truly put so much love into this property. The front porch hangs within the surrounding trees and is the perfect place to drink your morning coffee. In the evening, make some s’mores over the fire at the properties fire pit and watch the sun go down over the surrounding mountains.
This place is so incredible. Check out their Airbnb listing here to book!
Camping
If you are looking for the ultimate adventure in Chilliwack, spend a few nights camping under the stars surrounded by mountains. There are many provincial, regional and privately owned campgrounds around Chilliwack to choose from. We heard from locals that many people camp along Chilliwack Lake Rd for free as well.
We spent 3 nights living the vanlife with Karma Campervans in Chilliwack. Many campsites were fully booked during our stay (make sure to book well in advance) so we spent a few nights boon-docking in the Chilliwack Walmart Parking lot and at a Rest Area! One thing we love about vanlife is that you can park pretty much anywhere and still have a great time!
What To Do:
Visit Golden Ears Provincial Park
Although this isn’t *technically* in Chilliwack, we stopped at Golden Ears on our drive from Vancouver. This park has so many amazing hiking trails and day use areas! The Spirea Nature Trail was one of our favorites. This trail is more of a nature walk than a hike, but it takes you through this incredible re-growth forest that is breathtaking. We highly recommend checking this trail out. Also, Golden Creek Lower Falls trail takes you to a gorgeous waterfall.
*Note: B.C. Parks has implemented a Day Use Pass System for some parks, Golden Ears Provincial Park being one of them! You need to reserve a day pass a 7:00am the day prior to using the park. You can read more about the pass and make a reservation here!
Explore Montrose Street in Abbotsford
Located a short 20 minute drive away from Chilliwack, Abbotsford is home to Montrose Street! This spot is filled with locally owned boutiques, breweries, coffee houses and restaurants. They have a farmer’s market on Saturdays and during the summer months they will have live bands on weekends! Montrose Street is so much fun to explore.
Hangout at Chilliwack Lake
Chilliwack Lake is located a short drive away from downtown Chilliwack. This lake is a bit harder to get to as it turns into a dirt road, but that does not mean it gets less busy! Make sure to get here early in order to get a parking spot at the lake.
Soak Up the Sun at Cultus Lake
Cultus Lake is a popular destination and for very good reason, this lake is gorgeous! There a few docks over the lake it is the perfect spot to hangout for the day. Swim, have a picnic, rent a canoe or kayak and enjoy the day. Click this link to check out your boat rental options!
Take a Drive to Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls is a gorgeous waterfall located just a 15 minute drive North East of Chilliwack! This waterfall is easy to get to as it is just a 5 minute loop trail from the parking lot. It is also a day use park, so if you wanted to spend some more time here, pack a picnic and enjoy an afternoon at this incredible spot!
Hike to Lindeman Lake
This hike brings you to one of the most incredible Emerald Colour Alpine lakes. It is a quick 3.4 km out and back and the trailhead is located on Chilliwack Lake Road. You can spend your entire day hanging out here or couple this hike with an afternoon at Chilliwack Lake for a perfect day of adventure. This place can get really busy, so we definitely recommend starting this hike earlier in the day to get an uninterrupted view of the lake. Also before swimming, make sure you test out the water for your personal tolerance. This water is straight from the mountains and it is very cold. For more information this hike, click here!
Hike Mount Cheam
This hike delivers some absolutely epic views of the mountains surrounding the valley below. This is a 9.5km round trip hike that has plenty of switchbacks, but they view is worth it! One thing to note about this hike in particular, is that the trailhead requires a 4×4 vehicle with high clearance to get to. Read more about the hike here!
Where To Eat:
Fieldhouse Brewing Company
This local brewery has two incredible locations, one in Abbostford and one in Chilliwack. They serve up some incredible wood fire pizzas and snacks along side their endless On Tap Craft beer options. We tried both locations as each one serves different beer. The Abbotsford location is their original location and they have a huge patio with string lights and lawn games. The Chilliwack location recently opened and has a street side patio! Definitely order yourself a flight so you can try a few different brews!
Brown’s Social House
Located in the northern part of Chilliwack, this restaurant has a huge patio with fire tables and a large indoor dining space. They have an afternoon and late night happy hour which includes a variety of drinks and food items. They have such a wide range of dishes, so there is really something to suit anyone’s taste. Highly recommend stopping here for happy hour!
Old Yale Brewing Co.
This brewing company opened in 1999 and has been serving up incredible craft beer since. They have a tasting room located in Chilliwack that offers a variety of bar snacks and craft beer as well as a massive 5000 square foot patio!
Final Thoughts
Chilliwack is the perfect weekend getaway from Vancouver. Just over an hour away from the big city you will find endless adventure! Stay in the most unique treehouse or camp your way through the area, hike to the tops of some of the most scenic mountains and swim in clear blue alpine lakes!
We hope that you enjoyed this complete guide to a weekend in Chilliwack. Let us know in the comments below if you visited Chilliwack!
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