Richmond
. . . . .
| ROUND TRIP | 18.7 km (11 ½ miles) |
| TERRAIN | Paved road and unpaved service road; flat |
| TRAFFIC VOLUME | Low |
| ALLOW | 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours |
| HIGHLIGHTS | Ocean and river views, beach, Iona jetty, McDonald Beach Park |
| PICNIC SPOT | Iona Beach Regional Park at 13.4 km |
| STARTING POINT | McDonald Beach Park |
| HOW TO GET THERE | BY CAR: From Grant McConachie Way (the approach road to Vancouver Airport’s main terminal) turn right on Templeton Street, left on Grauer Road and right on McDonald Road. |
| BY TRANSIT: Take the Canada Line SkyTrain to Templeton Station and ride to the starting point. | |
| WHEN TO GO | Watch for migratory birds in spring and fall. |
FOR MANY urban cyclists, a quick way to get out in the open with a bike is to skirt Vancouver Airport and head for Iona Island. Some may be able to cycle from home to this destination, or transport their bicycles by car, bus or SkyTrain as far as Templeton Street, just off Grant McConachie Way. For the short and easy ride described here, a convenient place to start and finish is McDonald Beach Park, which offers shaded picnic tables on the riverbank and lively boating activity to watch.
Situated at the mouth of the North Arm of the Fraser River, Iona Beach Regional Park comprises riverbank, marsh, tidal flats and a long sandy beach backed by grassy dunes. A service road alongside a 4-kilometre-long pipeline carrying treated sewage out to sea provides cyclists with an unusual sea-level ride with a nautical bias. Note that this is a popular training spot for road racers and rollerbladers, so keep an eye out for packs of cyclists and rollerbladers whizzing by.
McDonald Beach Park
Iona is an important stopover on the Pacific Flyway, attracting thousands of migrants in spring and fall and many keen birdwatchers year-round. The island is usually breezy, so make sure you have windproof clothing.
KM THE ROUTE
0.0 McDonald Beach Park.
0.8 Right on Ferguson Road.
3.3 Causeway linking Sea Island and Iona Island. McDonald Slough is on your right.
4.2 Left to Iona Beach Regional Park. Pipeline from sewage treatment plant alongside road.
5.1 Left on Iona jetty at the information kiosk. Cyclists must use the service road, not the walkway on top of the pipe.
9.1 Jetty terminus. View from the platform of the North Shore Mountains and Vancouver Island.
9.1 Backtrack along the jetty.
13.1 Left on road.
13.4 Parking lot and South Marsh. Toilets, beach access and picnic tables.
13.4 Retrace your outward route.
18.7 McDonald Beach Park.