Canterbury, Upper Muzz, The Pit, and Sandman

Canterbury, Upper Muzz, The Pit, and Sandman is a solid 16.9 km loop in the Maple Ridge backcountry that feels a bit more wild than your average local hike. With about 611 m of gain and a high point around 515 m, it’s rated moderate, but the terrain makes it feel tougher than the stats suggest, usually taking just over 5 hours to complete.

The route weaves through classic Maple Ridge forest, linking old logging roads, dirt-bike tracks, and rough doubletrack. Views are mostly filtered through trees, with the appeal coming more from the long, rolling grind and sense of quiet than from big summit panoramas, and you’ll likely see more tire tracks than hikers.

Recent hikers point out that Canterbury, Upper Muzz, The Pit, and Sandman is heavily used by dirt bikes, so the trail is chewed up in many sections, with loose cobbles and ball-bearing gravel that are awkward to walk on. Good ankle support and grippy shoes make a big difference here, and trekking poles are worth bringing if you have them. Expect mud and ruts in the wet months, drier but looser footing in summer, and plan for a full-day outing with limited spots to sit comfortably, since much of the route follows rough, rocky track.