British Columbia Birding Site Directions

 

SITE DIRECTIONS

There are a number of websites with directions to the well known birding sites in British Columbia including:-

Nature Vancouver

BC Adventure wildlife viewing in British Columbia including Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Okanagan and all other regions.

However, on occasions we found some of the directions difficult to follow and here are some slightly adjusted variations.

VANCOUVER AREA

Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary – From Hwy 99, follow signs to Ladner. From the junction of Hwys 10 and 17, follow Hwy 10 (Ladner Trunk Road) west then, from the center of Ladner, take 47A Street which becomes River Road. Follow River Road west for 6 km and at the Sanctuary sign at Westham Island Road turn right, crossing the Canoe Pass Bridge to Westham Island. Follow this road for 4.8 km to the Sanctuary entrance. The driveway to the left leads to the Sanctuary's parking lot.

Tsawwassen Jetty – From Hwy 99 take Hwy 17 and follow the signs for “Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal”. When you enter the manmade spit keep to the right hand of two lanes; on the right, just before the terminal there is a small parking-lot with space for a few cars. Alternatively, continue towards the terminal where there is a large pay-parking lot.

Boundary Bay - 64th Street to 112th Street – From Vancouver, take Hwy 99 and follow signs to Hwy 17 and Tsawwassen. Exit from Hwy 17 on to Ladner Trunk Road, or Hwy 10, by turning left at the first lights. From the south take Hwy 99 and exit on to Hwy 10 heading west. Access Boundary Bay by driving south on 64th, 72nd or 80th Streets from Ladner Trunk Road or by taking 96th, 104th or 112th Streets from Hornby Drive which runs east at the junction of Hwy 10 and 99.

Blackie Spit and White Rock Waterfront – From Vancouver, take Hwy 99 and follow signs to White Rock. For Blackie Spit, after crossing the Serpentine River take the White Rock exit (King George Highway), turn right at Crescent Road, continue for 5 km, bear right on Sullivan Street and then turn right again onto McBride Avenue. For the White Rock waterfront, stay on Highway 99 as far as the 8th Avenue exit. Head west on 8th Avenue; this becomes Marine Drive and closely parallels the waterfront.

Maplewood Conservation Area – 3 km east of the north end of the Second Narrows bridge where Hwy1 crosses the Burrard Inlet. Immediately over the bridge take the first right turn on to the Dollarton Hwy. The entrance is on the south side of the road after 3 kms.

OKANAGAN REGION

Manning Provincial Park – Situated east of Vancouver and easily reached by driving east on Hwy 1 until Hope where you turn onto Hwy 3 and drive a further 67 km until you reach the Park Headquarters right by Hwy 3. The trail around Lightning Lake has good potential.

Vernon Commonage – From Kelowna take Hwy 97 north. About 10kms past Oyama turn left on to Bailey Road by the large sign for Predator Ridge Golf Course. After 2kms turn right on to Commonage Road towards Vernon. Stop wherever the habitat looks good along the way.

SALMON ARM

Christmas Island Trail – Head east along the main Hwy 95 through Salmon Arm and before the end of town turn left following the sign for “Water Front” towards the Pier. After crossing the railway and immediately before the car park turn right on to Harbour Front Drive. Follow the road for less than 1km to its end where there is a small car park.

Peter Jannink Nature Park – Head west along the main Hwy 95 through Salmon Arm and just before the end of town turn right on to 3rd Street NW by the Supersave Garage. Drive on across Lakeshore Drive, where road name changes to Narcisse Street, and the railway tracks to the end of the road…about 0.3kms.

VANCOUVER ISLAND

Clover Point - Located on the Victoria waterfront along Dallas Road just east of Beacon Hill Park.

Esquimalt Lagoon – From Victoria take Hwy 1 to Junction 8 then take Hwy 1A left to Ocean Boulevard and follow the Fort Rodd Hill signs. When you reach the left turn down to the Fort, carry straight on to the causeway that separates the lagoon from Esquimalt Harbour.

Witty’s Lagoon – Coming from Victoria follow Hwy 1 westwards and turn off the Hwy towards Colwood (exit 10). Follow Island Hwy through Colwood. It becomes Sooke Road and you pass Royal Roads University. A short distance after the University turn left onto Metchosin Road, which you follow until you see the second sign for Witty’s Lagoon. Turn left into the car park next to the nature house. From here it’s possible to follow a trail down towards the lagoon and further on to the beach.

 

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