Yew Trail -- (250 metres)
This is a short trail which passes through a well-drained knoll with a nice stand of Douglas-fir. These trees were young during the logging of the 1920s and owe their size today to surviving that period. At its junction with the Trillium Loop Trail stands Green Timbers tallest Douglas-fir.
Trillium Loop Trail -- (950 metres)
Because this trail is in low ground, it has mainly deciduous trees with a few evergreens, including a large Sitka Spruce with a broken crown. The trail has an abundance of shrubs, and the ground cover is rich in trilliums and wild lily-of-the-valley. The rare rattlesnake plantain is found in the area of the sluggish creek bed.
Moss Trail -- (400 metres)
This area contains the remnant of an experimental Scotch pine plantation (Lot #16 on the Plantation Plan Map). Judging from its appearance, this tree does not do well in our climate.
100th Avenue Pathway -- (790 metres)
This path follows the northern edge of 100th Avenue and has access points to the Trillium Trails.
Salmonberry Trail -- (450 metres)
This trail runs from 101 Avenue and 145 Street south to 100 Avenue on the old logging railbed, and runs due east to 146 Street.
Hemlock Trail -- (700 metres)
From Douglas-fir Trail to Pine Trail, this trail follows the demarcation between the mature coniferous forest and the young red alder and cottonwood which have grown since the clearing in 1986. Over time, it will be interesting to observe how the evergreens, which have seeded themselves from the cones of the old forest, will take over. Most of these evergreens are hemlocks, but there are some red cedar trees. Both are shade tolerant. The alder has a nitrogen-fixing capability and is the first to establish and provides nutrients for subsequent vegetation. This is an excellent example of the forest succession process in action. South of Pine Trail, we enter a typical reforested stand which continues to 96 Avenue (Lots #51 and 55). West of the trail and still north of Cedar Trail is a patch of the rare coral-root orchid.
Willow Trail -- (960 metres)
This trail follows the east bank of the wetland and the lake, around the south shore and on to 96 Avenue. The trail is in the process of its final planting along the shoreline. The open meadow slopes will provide habitat for shrews and voles, which are the favourite food of the soaring red-tailed hawk.
Birch Trail -- (660 metres)
Birch Trail follows the western edge of the wetland to the pump house where it enters a stretch of mature birch and alder. Here, the ground was too moist to sustain the conifer seedlings that were planted in Lt #51. The path follows the line of the buried cable which supplies the well pump house.
*Douglas-fir Trail -- (640 metres)
*Pine Trail -- (670 metres)
*Cedar Trail -- (600 metres)
All three of these trails (*) provide east-west connections from 148 Street across Salal and Hemlock Trails to Willow Trail. Between Salal and Hemlock Trails stretches Lot #52, an experimental plantation of eastern red pine, known for its hard wood. The copse has a sparse appearance with little undergrowth, apparently because it is unsuited to our climate. The straightness of Cedar Trail indicates that it was once a railway bed.
96th Avenue Pathway -- (1260 metres)
This trail is a paved path running along 96 Avenue from 148 Street to Fraser Highway. It has entry points from the south to Willow, Hemlock, and Salal Trails.
Cascara Trail – East and West --
These trails connect the Hydro Right-of-Way pathway across Fraser Highway. On the east portion are several rare yew trees.
Railbed Trail -- (270 metres)
The Railbed Trail follows the old logging railway track, as can be seen from the ditches on each side. The abutment at the crossing of King Creek contains traces of the clinkers that were emptied from the logging engine's firebox. Presumably, this was also where it took on water.
King Creek Trail -- (610 metres)
A good entrance point to this trail is west of 144th Street where 92nd Avenue ends. The trail follows the east side of King Creek, which is named after the former King and Farris Sawmill in Newton. The trail continues on through the best example of reforestation as it looks after 65 years (Lots #93 and 94). The occasional Indian pipe plant may also be found here.
Sword Fern Trail -- (50 metres)
This trail runs along the west side of King Creek and connects Railbed Trail with the footbridge to the south. In this area, the forest is a mix of mature evergreens, deciduous trees, overarching vine maple, and ferns. An 8-foot wide hollow cedar log is located off a short side trail (about ten metres). This side trail leads to a creek slightly north of the junction with Maple Trail.
Maple Trail -- (80 metres)
Maple Trail extends from Sword Fern Trail to the parking lot of the School Board Conference Centre, which is not available to the public when the gates are shut. The trail shares the same topography as the Sword Fern Trail -- both tend to be wet. Consequently, many seedlings that were planted in Lots #95 to 100 were largely overtaken by naturally growing alder, birch, cherry, broadleaf maple, vine maple, and cottonwood. Nevertheless, the Douglas-fir trees, which were young at the time of logging, being well-spaced with abundant light, have grown into some of the finest specimens in the forest.
Future Trails
The Arboretum and Nursery portion of the Green Timbers Urban Forest, which has been closed to the public, will be developed in the near future. Such development will include more trails that will connect both sides of the forest. Surrey Parks, Recreation, and Culture will be assessing this need during 2005. This new section of land will also house the RCMP regional headquarters as well as an ecology center and educational programs under the partnership of SPRC and the Green Timbers Heritage Society. Please contact us through this website for more information.
Return to Green Timbers Urban Forest.