Fort Langley Day Trip

We absolutely love visiting the Fort Langley National Historic Site. On our most recent visit, it was raining and we had nearly the entire place to ourselves. What an experience! The folks giving demonstrations and information were very knowledgeable and kept everyones attention. A great location to learn more depth of the history of fort langley and its surrounding areas, each time we learn something new.
Brie Bowles - 3 months ago

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Such a beautiful and meaningful place to visit! Fort Langley National Historic Site is not only peaceful and well maintained, but also gives you a fascinating look into the early history of British Columbia. The fort was originally established by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1827 as a fur trading post, and it later became an important centre for the trade of salmon, cranberries, and other goods along the Fraser River. One of the most interesting things to learn is that it was here, on November 19, 1858, that the Colony of British Columbia was officially proclaimed. Walking through the historic buildings, wooden fortifications, and exhibits really gives you a sense of what life and trade were like in the 1800s. I also appreciated learning more about the important role Indigenous peoples and communities played in the history and trade of this region. A wonderful place for families, history lovers, or anyone visiting Fort Langley. Definitely worth stopping by — you get to enjoy a beautiful place while learning an important part of BC’s history. Highly recommended!
Shahryar Vafaei (MR REVIEW) - 2 months ago

What a great place to visit! Went there for the first time, and found it delightful. They have people dressed in period pieces, full of information for their station. In the main house they even had a young lady playing the piano! They had a gentlemen baking fresh sourdough in an period authentic oven, along with a black smith showing you how they made nails etc. 4 hours of free parking was available, which was a really nice touch when everywhere else on the lower mainland charges by the second, and they had a shop selling drinks and coffee. To top it all off, they even offer tents you can book to stay overnight in. I'd definately recommend this site as something to see when visiting the lower mainland
Peter - 4 months ago

If you have an hour or two, this is a great place to spend time to learn the history about our country. We weren't told about a booklet for kids when we went in. Only found out about the book when we left. Make sure to ask for one as they don't advertise it.
Anthony Young - 3 months ago

Fort Langley: The Historic Town Visitors to Greater Vancouver Often Miss Most visitors to Vancouver rarely stray beyond downtown, Stanley Park, Granville Island, Whistler or Richmond. Yet drive east for about an hour along the Fraser River and you will discover a historic destination that many tourists overlook: Fort Langley. Today, Fort Langley is a small, peaceful riverside town that has retained much of its traditional character. Its old houses, antique shops, independent bookshops, cafés and restaurants are clustered around a handful of streets. There are no sprawling attractions or noisy crowds, nor does the town feel like a heritage theme park trying too hard to appear “old”. Visitors may initially be drawn in by the generous four hours of free parking, but a walk into the old fort soon reveals the town’s much greater historical importance. As one of the guides explained, the story of Fort Langley begins with the Fraser River. Before the arrival of railways and roads, the Fraser was the natural artery connecting the interior of British Columbia with the Pacific Ocean. Indigenous peoples had lived, fished and traded along the river for thousands of years. In 1827, the Hudson’s Bay Company—the commercial empire that once controlled vast territories and much of the fur trade across Canada—also recognised the river’s strategic value. It established a trading post nearby, exchanging fur, salmon, cranberries and agricultural produce with Indigenous communities. In 1839, the fort was relocated to its present site. What truly changed Fort Langley’s fortunes was the Fraser River Gold Rush of 1858. Thousands of prospectors poured north from the United States. Fearing that the territory might be absorbed by its expanding neighbour, Britain acted swiftly. On 19 November 1858, James Douglas formally proclaimed the establishment of the Colony of British Columbia at Fort Langley. This is why Fort Langley is known as the “Birthplace of British Columbia”. Inside the Fort Langley National Historic Site, visitors can still see the wooden palisades, storehouses and blacksmith’s workshop, as well as the bilingual English-and-French proclamation from 1858. Most of the buildings are later reconstructions, but the old storehouse genuinely survives from the Hudson’s Bay Company era. Standing before the proclamation and thinking back to that day more than 160 years ago, it is striking that British Columbia was formally born as a political entity in this otherwise unassuming trading post beside the river. After visiting the fort, it is worth wandering along Glover Road and Mavis Avenue, before walking part of the Fort-to-Fort Trail for views of the Fraser River and the islands lying within it. The town is small, so there is no need to rush from one attraction to another. Its charm lies precisely in being able to wander without a plan: browsing old shops, stopping for coffee and imagining the fur traders, Indigenous canoes and gold prospectors who once travelled along the river. We particularly enjoyed Sabà, a family-run restaurant that seems perfectly suited to the character of the town. Its Mediterranean-inspired food is refined without being pretentious, while the atmosphere is warm and relaxed. Sabà Café is ideal for coffee, pastries or brunch; Sabà Bistro is a lovely place to sit down for an unhurried lunch or dinner after exploring the fort. Fort Langley may not offer the instantly dramatic mountain and ocean scenery for which Vancouver is famous. What it does offer is the Fraser River, the history of trade in western Canada, the birthplace of colonial British Columbia—and a genuine small town in which to slow down for a few hours.
H Z - 2 months ago