Panda Trail

Panda Trail in Abbotsford is a long, flat cruise more than a rugged hike, stretching 11.6 km out and back along the Sumas River dyke. With only 26 m of gain and a max altitude around 16 m, it’s an easy two-hour walk where your legs won’t complain but your step count will skyrocket. Locals use it as a casual walk, run, or dog loop with big open sky and farmland around you.

The route follows a wide levee with open views of Mount Baker on clear days, surrounding fields, and lots of birdlife and bunnies if you slow down and look. You’re close to Highway 1 and N Parallel Road for much of it, so expect steady traffic noise and, on the road section, dump trucks roaring by. It’s not a deep-forest escape, more of a straightforward dyke walk with mountain backdrops when the clouds cooperate.

Current reports on Panda Trail say the path itself is well maintained and easy underfoot, but there are a few tradeoffs. Dogs are commonly off leash, there’s been a lot of uncollected dog and horse waste, and a rotting smell on some days, plus thistles and thorny growth creeping in where it needs cleanup. You’ll also hear shooting from nearby ranges and constant highway noise, so bring a flexible mindset, maybe headphones, and aim for a cooler or cloudy day when it’s quieter; the trail is open year-round, but views and birding are best on clear, dry days.