Hugging the Fraser River, Chilliwack is a lively city surrounded by snow-capped mountains. It’s home to an excellent museum exploring its indigenous and gold discovery heritage and is a hub for outdoor pursuits in the surrounding lakes, waterfalls and mountain ranges.

Things to do

Discover the region’s cultural heritage at the Chilliwack Museum and Historical Society, which occupies the former City Hall in the heart of Chilliwack. Learn about the Stó:lō First Nations people and the discovery of gold in 1857, then see how the rugged beauty of the Cascade Mountains has inspired the community throughout the decades.

Drive east to the Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park, which encompasses this 122-metre-high cascade. Experience it during the spring or autumn when its water volume is at its highest before being closed during the winter when it freezes into a solid body of ice.

Take a dip in the warm waters of Cultus Lake, a popular destination for water skiing, windsurfing and fishing. Get your thrills on the waterslides of the Cultus Lake Waterpark or experience the family-friendly trails, mini golf and amusement rides of the Cultus Lake Adventure Park.

For sweeping views of the Fraser Valley, follow the easy trail through subalpine meadows to the summit of Cheam Peak. It features a steep north face that plunges to the valley floor while offering 360-degree panoramas of the Cheam Range and North Cascade mountains.

Getting around

Chilliwack is 1.5 hours’ drive from Vancouver International Airport, with trains connecting west to Abbotsford and Vancouver. With more than 150 kilometres of bike lanes, Chilliwack is a bicycle-friendly city and well-serviced by public buses.