Hayes Trail to Kanaka Creek

Hayes Trail to Kanaka Creek in Maple Ridge is one of those short hikes that still makes your legs work for it. At 3.7 km out and back with about 164 m of gain, it looks easy on paper, but most locals would call it light-moderate thanks to the climb on the way out. It’s a quick hit of forest time that usually takes just over an hour, with a quiet, low-traffic feel.

The trail drops steadily from the trailhead toward Kanaka Creek, winding through shaded forest that stays cool even on warm days. The first part is a decent downhill with some loose rock underfoot, then it levels out for the last stretch near the creek before you turn around. Views are mostly classic Maple Ridge woods and water rather than big panoramas, but the calm along Kanaka Creek is the payoff.

Recent hikers report that the new bridge is now complete and Hayes Trail to Kanaka Creek is open again, though conditions can still get muddy after rain. Expect the return trip to feel like the real workout, with a steady uphill grind back to the parking area that bumps this above a true “easy” walk for many people. Good tread, decent shoes, and some caution on the steeper, looser sections go a long way, especially in wet weather; late winter through late summer is usually the most popular window for this Maple Ridge trail.