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Spring is in the air, which means it’s time to start visiting our city’s amazing and inviting green spaces once again. And one of the best local spots to wind down, breathe some fresh air and commune with the great outdoors is Richmond Nature Park, which recently completed an extensive restoration project.
The project focused on improving and upgrading existing facilities, which means everything locals love about the park is still there. On our recent visit, we spent a couple of hours reconnecting with the winding trails, multitudinous birdlife and much-loved Nature House––and when it came time to leave, we were already planning a return trip. Check out our video and read on for more details.
PARK 101
Occupying around 200 acres of lush peat bog and forest habitat, Richmond Nature Park is a highly accessible introduction to the region’s flora and fauna. Its four well-marked trails are relatively short and easy to explore, while its richly varied birdlife make it a spotter’s paradise for visitors of all ages and abilities.
Near the park’s entrance, the unique Nature House interpretive centre is teeming with fascinating displays and resources that showcase the area’s wild side––including lots of kid-friendly exhibits. Junior visitors will also love the excellent outdoor playground just a few steps away.
NATURE HOUSE
The first port of call for many visitors, don’t miss the park’s newly renovated Nature House. Inside, you can pick-up free trail maps and interpretive guides on the park’s birds and plants (great for identifying what you’ll be seeing outside). There’s also a travelling exhibit to check out. This changes once or twice a year––on our visit, there was a fascinating display about bats.
The Nature House also offers lots of interactive activities for kids, including puzzles, colourful displays and a hands-on critter and plant id display where you can test your knowledge on everything from creepers to little brown bats. Check in at the friendly front desk here and you can also find out about the park’s popular geocaching and Adventure Lab scavenger hunt activities.
There’s also a surprisingly good gift shop nook in the Nature House, complete with educational toys and birding guidebooks. This is a great spot to pick-up hummingbird feeders, owl and raccoon stuffies and even chuckle-tastic animal-themed joke books. All proceeds benefit the work of the park.
Our favourite Nature House feature, though, is the series of glass tanks housing live local critters. Peer into these lush microhabitats and––if you’re lucky––you’ll see garter snakes, banana slugs, Pacific tree frogs and Newton, the rough-skinned newt who seemed to be stretching up to greet us when we spotted him!
BIRD EXTRAVAGANZA
Keen to meet more critters? Just behind the Nature House, you’ll find plenty of West Coast wildlife to focus your camera on. Arguably the Lower Mainland’s easiest place to try your hand at birding, multiple feeding stations have been set up here to nourish hungry locals of the feathered variety.
On our visit, dozens of juncos, chickadees and finches were hustling for seeds. We also spotted a fox sparrow plus a pair of lovely mourning doves. There was even an enthusiastic Douglas squirrel hanging from a feeder like a daredevil acrobat. Other park visitors have also reported seeing barred owls, cedar waxwings, pileated woodpeckers and the occasional Cooper’s hawk.
And if you love hummingbirds, the multiple syrup feeders here make Richmond Nature Park a must-visit destination. We spotted five Anna’s hummingbirds sparring over the nectar stations. These are year-round residents in our region, of course, but this is also a great place to see the less common, copper-coloured rufous hummingbirds that visit B.C. in spring and summer.
EASY TRAILS
Richmond Nature Park also has four well-marked and interlinked trails, together totalling about 5km. These are a wonderful way to explore the great outdoors even further––especially if you slow down, turn off your phone and focus your full attention on the tiniest details of the natural world.
The first route is the 350-metre Pond Trail, encircling a small pool where frogs, turtles and dragonflies can sometimes be seen. This trail also includes a wide boardwalk that is wheelchair-accessible. The remaining 830-metre Time Trail, 1,600-metre Quaking Trail and 1,800-metre Bog Forest Trail fan out from here, offering spongy-soft strolls alongside dense shrubs and leafy woodland.
Bring your plant checklist from the Nature House and look out for everything from false dandelion to Canada goldenrod and from purple loosestrife to round-leaved sundew. We also spotted lots of cool fungus varieties, lush lichen hanging from the trees like little green beards and a huge array of fresh new buds––showing that springtime in Richmond is just around the corner. Don’t miss it!
IF YOU GO:
Richmond Nature Park is located at 11851 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC. The park is open daily from dawn to dusk, with the Nature House opening from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Dogs are not permitted. There is parking here but the park is also on the number 405 TransLink bus route (it’s a 15-minute ride from Richmond-Brighouse Canada Line Station). There is a covered picnic table area with four tables (first-come-first-served) as well as good washroom facilities.
Last Updated on March 19, 2025 by Tourism Richmond