Mission

Hiking

Steelhead Forest – Mona Lucas

The District of Mission is one of the few municipalities that manages its own forest resources. The Forestry Department maintains 13 recreation trails within the Municipal Forest for hiking, horseback riding or mountain biking. Our forestry trails are signed at the trail head and marked throughout the route with orange reflective markers.

For a list on municipally maintained recreation trails, visit mission.ca/municipal-hall/departments/forestry/forest-trails-recreation-areas/trails/.

Rolley Lake Provincial Park

Stroll around Rolley Lake and listen to wild birds as you take in forests and marshland boardwalks.  Swimming, fishing and canoeing are also great activities for this area. Allow approximately 1 hour for this predominately flat wilderness trail.

Hayward Lake

Linked to Stave Lake Reservoir this BC Hydro owned property makes the ideal location for a family day out.  Hiking, boating, fishing, swimming  or relaxing by the beach are all on offer.  Try the 18 km loop around Hayward Lake that includes floating bridges and a waterfall (check the BC Hydro site for partial closures and trail information)

Stave Dam Forest Interpretation Trail

After traveling through the naturally regenerated forest, the interpretive loop at Stave Dam Forest peaks with a lookout that on a clear day can see vistas as far away as Vancouver Island. Well worth the 45 minutes and uphill ascent.

Fraser River Heritage Park

Fraser River Heritage Park is located at one of the most breathtaking viewpoints in the area overlooking the Fraser River. The park is located at the former site of St. Mary’s Mission for which the City of Mission is named.

The park is the site of many community activities, including weekly Wednesday and Friday evening concerts during the summer season.

Some of the major events that happen throughout the year are:

• The Mission Folk Music Festival in July
• Old Car Sunday on Father’s Day
• Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday
• Our Lady of Lourdes Pilgrimage in August
• Children’s Festival in June

Cascade Falls Regional Park

Cascade Falls – Mona Lucas

Cascade Falls Regional Park is a 22-hectare park  renowned for its spectacular waterfall which drops an impressive 30 meters into a large emerald pool, continuing on as Cascade Creek. With an ideal viewing location from the suspension bridge, which is just a 15 minute walk (mainly up stairs) from the parking lot.

Cascade Falls Park is a 14 km drive down Sylvester Road then turn right onto Ridgeview Road.

Mountain Biking

Due to Mission’s mountainous terrain and expansive Municipal Forest, the community offers a number of mountain bike friendly trails. These trails are primarily located within three trail networks: Bear Mountain, Red Mountain, and Heritage Mountain. Each of these locations offers trails of varying difficulty, providing suitable terrain for both beginners looking to ride their first trail and the most seasoned veterans looking for a real challenge.

For detailed trail maps and information, visit fvmba.com.

Swimming & Boating

Whether it’s the sandy beaches of Hayward Lake, the crystal clear canyon pools of Norrish, Lost, or Cascade Creeks, or the boat access shorelines of Stave Lake, Mission has many scenic destinations to canoe, kayak, paddle board, or just cool off at on a hot summers day.

Popular swimming and boating locations in Mission (note not all allow motorized boats):

• Hayward Lake
• Norrish (Suicide) Creek
• Stave Lake
• Lost (Fire) Creek
• Hatzic Lake
• Cascade Falls/Creek
• Rolley Lake
• Devil’s Lake
• Sayres Lake
• Florence Lake

For more information, visit mission.ca/municipal-hall/departments/forestry/forest-trails-recreation-areas/swimming-areas.

Fishing

Sturgeon Fishing – Doug Elias

The Fraser River offers no other angling opportunity quite as thrilling as fishing for a prehistoric monster — the White Sturgeon.

Known as the Sturgeon Capital of the World, the Mission section of the Fraser has the largest population of sturgeon. The fish can be caught year-round, though spring and fall are the prime times.

Anglers from around the world consider the Fraser River one of the top angling destinations for salmon. Approximately 60 per cent of all salmon in BC pass by Mission en route to their home waters.

Mission Art Gallery & Centre

Mission Arts Council – Maurice Motut

The Mission Art Centre houses a gallery, gift shop, and tearoom and offers unique exhibits from local and regional artists in a variety of media.  The exhibits change every two to three weeks year round.  The Gallery’s gift shop offers local goods crafted by artists, which include fiber arts, ceramics, jewelry, and more.

Hours of operation are Wednesday-Sunday 1:00pm to 4:00 pm.

Mission Museum

The Mission Museum tells the story of human occupation in Stó:lō traditional territory dating back over 9,000 years ago and continuing to the present day.

Historical stories feature the arrival of Father Fouquet and the establishment of St. Mary’s Mission as well as the story of Canada’s first train robbery by Billy Miner. Rotating museum exhibits highlight specific aspects of Mission’s past.

The Powerhouse at Stave Falls

Stave Falls Power House – Dale Klippenstein

Experience an authentic 1912 power generating station at the Powerhouse at Stave Falls, a National Historic Site of Canada.

The Powerhouse features five generators and turbines, a hall of antique electrical appliances, interpretive exhibits about the importance of electricity in British Columbia and hands-on science activities that explain how electricity is made for young and old alike.

Westminster Abbey

The working Benedictine monastery bell tower of Westminster Abbey can be seen for miles from locations east of Mission.

The Abbey welcomes visitors to its grounds, with a dress code – no shorts or overly exposed skin when entering the Abbey Church. Please be mindful that this serene setting is also a working monastery and seminary.

Be sure to take the 5-minute walk to the viewpoint where you can enjoy one of the Fraser Valley’s most spectacular views.

Conveniently positioned midway along the Scenic 7, Mission provides the perfect place to make a pit stop as you travel  the route. Whether you are after a cozy small town diner, a vibrant ethnic restaurant, an eccentric neighbourhood pub, a patio with a great view, or something fast and familiar, Mission has a café, pub, or restaurant that will cater to your needs.

For more information on dining options in Mission, visit tourismmission.ca

Mission’s shopping options range from “Big Box” stores to many truly one-of-a-kind shops that you will only see in this community. There is something for everyone and if you can’t find it here, you most likely don’t need it.

Historic Downtown Mission

Located in the centre of the city, Downtown Mission features unique shops, entertainment venues, and establishments offering a wide range of goods and services. Visit downtownmission.ca for more information.

The Junction Shopping Centre

Where shopping meets entertainment in this lively shopping district that regularly sees events and added extras to keep its patrons entertained.  Stores include Starbucks, Staples, Save-On-Foods, London Drugs and Cineplex Odeon, alongside unique Mission based stores including Lanka Jewels and Corona’s Mexican Restaurant

To check out their website click here

Public Transit

West Coast Express

West Coast Express – Dale Klippenstein

As the home base of Translink’s commuter railway, Mission is the first stop in the morning and the last stop in the evening as the West Coast Express travels to and from Vancouver. The train closely follows the Scenic 7 route, making stops in Mission, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Port Moody, and Vancouver.

For more information, visit translink.ca/en/Schedules-and-Maps/West-Coast-Express.aspx.

Central Fraser Valley Transit System

BC Transit, through their Central Fraser Valley Transit System, provides regional bus and HandyDart services to the Abbotsford-Mission region. These transit services not only allow riders to get around Abbotsford and Mission, but it also allows them to travel between the two cities on its Valley Connector route. In addition, BC Transit’s Fraser Valley Express provides riders the opportunity to travel from Abbotsford to Chilliwack and Langley.

For more information, visit bctransit.com/central-fraser-valley.

Mission Raceway Park

Mission Raceway Park – Dale Klippenstein

Mission Raceway Park is one of the fastest drag strips in all of Western Canada and the United States Northwest. The low elevation (24′ above sea level) boosts horsepower, making it one of the fastest tracks around.

Mission Raceway features some of the quickest dragsters on the planet with speeds in excess of 270 mph.  The drag strip provides safe, controlled racing conditions for those who range from casual hobbyists to internationally ranked professionals.  Drag racing runs from March until mid-October.  A road racing club and motocross bike racers also use the track on non-drag weekends.