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Katzie Marsh - Late winter colors from Nature Dyke Trail

Grant Narrows Park - Peace and quiet reflected in Pitt Meadows in the Pitt Lake at Wigeon Creek Mouth area - winter, 2007.

When it doesn't rain or snow, Grant Narrows Park at the northern end of Pitt Meadows can be the most breath taking nature spot around. Peace and quiet occasionally broken by the sound of fish boat motors or air planes overhead make visiting enjoyable. Visual bonuses are tall, snow covered Golden Ears Provincial Park mountains to the east and snowcapped Burke Provincial Park mountains to the west and the narrow, mirror surface of Pitt Lake stretches north.

There are three routes to take from the boat launch area that will take you into three noticeable different nature scenarios:

1) Follow the dyke trail along Pitt River heading west.

2) Walking the Pitt Lake Dyke Trail (which is an access road to the fishing docks on the eastern side of Pitt Lake), to join with Swan Dyke Trail which follows the eastern edge of Katzie marsh.

3) Following Nature Dyke trail which starts beside the caretakers house and heads southeast in a loop toward Swan Dyke Trail (Around the edge of Katzie Marsh).

I chose 3: Nature Dyke Trail heading south east around Katzie Marsh. The sounds of boats and boat launching traffic was quickly lost as I walked along the muddy trail, I saw three eagles and a marsh hawk within fifteen minutes of my walk, and could hear Canada Geese and Trumpeter Swans in hanging out in the middle of Katzie Marsh. The bare trees and lack of spring vegetation allowed me to catch glimpses of wildlife that would otherwise be obscured by greenery.

All-in-all, Pitt Lake/Grant Narrows Park is bound to relax even the most wound-up, stressed-out city folks.

Take the Dewdney Trunk Road turn off to the east of Pitt River Bridge to Neaves Road, (which turns into Rannie Road) north about 18 Kms to Pitt Lake/Grant Narrows parking lot. Except for the boat ramp, canoe rentals and docks at Pitt River head, the only services are back at Lougheed Highway entrance (If you want to have a snack, be sure to bring something along, as food services are limited during the slow seasons - I also like to have a bottle of fresh water along to sip on as I hike). The Canoe rental shop is open from March 1st to November 1st - curious visitors can rent a canoe or kayak for the day and paddle over to Widgeon Creek mouth for fishing or off-the-beaten-track nature sight-seeing.