On Fraser River Between Surrey
and Pitt Meadows BC Canada
Barnston Island Location:
Fraser River, between Surrey and Pitt Meadows. Access is via 104
Ave in Surrey to Barnston Island Ferry Port Kells Terminal, followed by a 2.5
minute ferry ride.
Liked: A very short ferry ride across Fraser River,
Barnston Island circle road (10 km) with almost no traffic, great views
of Golden Ears Bridge.
Of Note: No public parking on Barnston Island, no shoulders
on circle road, backing up onto the ferry is required on Barnston Island
Terminal.
Barnston Island is a fine little island located on Fraser
River between Surrey and Pitt Meadows. A 2.5 minute-long free ferry ride
connects Surrey's Port Kells area (northern end of 104 Avenue) with
Barnston Island. A 10 km-long circle road goes around the island, and
makes for a fine bicycle ride or a hike.
Barnston Island is mostly farm land. As well, there
is a Katzie First Nation reserve. Also, Barnston Island Regional Park
has two areas on eastern and western ends of the island. In the east,
1.8 km to the left of the ferry terminal as you exit it, Point Roberts
Rest Area features a washroom, picnic tables and trash cans. There is a
decent, if not great, Fraser River view out there, 100 meters from the
road in the picnic tables location. In the west, 4 km to the right of
the ferry terminal as you exit it, a 300 meter-long path leads to Mann
Point with a very impressive view of Golden Ears Bridge.
There is no public parking on Barnston Island, and a
rather inconvenient
backing up onto the ferry is required at the Barnston Island Terminal. Thus,
the best way to visit would be on a bicycle, after parking your vehicle
at a free lot on the Surrey side of Fraser River. While the circle road has
no shoulders, there is virtually no traffic, and it's a very serene
location, with little noise, and rural and natural views all around.
1. Here is a Google map of Barnston Island. The ferry
connection is seen on the left side, by
Surrey Bend Regional Park we visited earlier in the day.
2. We are at the northern end of 104 Avenue in
Surrey, approaching Port Kells Terminal of Barnston Island Ferry, with Surrey
Bend Regional Park turnoff being several hundred meters behind us. For
directions on getting here from Highway 1, check out our
Surrey Bend Regional Park
trip report. The parking lot seen on the left side of the photo below is free.
104 Avenue Surrey BC near Port Kells Terminal for Barnston
Island Ferry
3. Barnston Island Ferry rules. Note that
backing off from the ferry is required upon arrival to Barnston Island, and backing
up onto the ferry is required on Barnston Island for the return trip to Surrey -
Port Kells Terminal.
Barnston Island Ferry Information
4. Load limit is 40 tons. No public parking is
available on Barnston Island. The cameras
you see above the stop sign show still pictures on
DriveBC. Click on the link to see the line-up at Port Kells Terminal, and
then use the map below the camera view to click on other 3 camera views (one
more at Port Kells, and two on Barnston Island side).
Barnston Island Ferry Load Limit 40 Tons
5. The ferry entrance ramp.
Barnston Island Ferry Ramp
6-7. And here is Barnston Island Ferry near
Barnston Island, as seen from the Surrey side.
Barnston Island Ferry
8. Boarding time. You would be traveling
backwards to Barnston Island. On the return trip, it's about 50/50. That's just
how the tug pushing the ferry moves it across Fraser River. Also, you would have
to back off the ferry onto Barnston Island, and then back up onto the ferry on
your ride back to Surrey.
Driving onto Barnston Island Ferry
9. Moved all the way to the front. Five
passenger vehicles can be accommodated on this ferry at a time.
10. Looking back at Port Kells Terminal we have
just left.
Port Kells Terminal for Barnston Island Ferry
Here is our video of riding Barnston Island
Ferry from Surrey to Barnston Island.
11. It took all of 2.5 minutes to cross Fraser
River, and we are now on Barnston Island by the ferry terminal. Point Roberts
Rest Area (washroom, garbage cans, picnic tables, a semi-decent river view) is
1.8 km to the left, and Mann Point (with a great Golden Ears Bridge view) is 4.0 km to
the right.
12. In the meanwhile, the ferry went back.
Barnston Island Ferry
Here is our video of Barnston Island
Ferry heading to Surrey - Port Kells.
13. A map of Barnston Island Regional Park,
courtesy of Metro Vancouver.
Barnston Island Regional Park Map
And here is our video of driving the
entire Barnston Island circle road.
14. 50 km/h speed limit applies.
Barnston Island - British Columbia - Canada
15. There isn't much to see on Barnston Island
structure-wise, though this is a neat house.
Barnston Island Residence
16. A fine-looking farm too.
Barnston Island Farm
17. Barnston Island is home to the Katzie
people.
Katzie First Nation Entrance - Barnston Island BC
18. Point Roberts Rest Area with the only
public toilet on Barnston Island. Parking is not permitted.
Point Roberts Rest Area Barnston Island BC
19. The beginning of a 100 meter-long path to
picnic tables and a river view.
Barnston Island Regional Park
20. The picnic tables.
Barnston Island Regional Park Picnic Area
21. The river view.
Fraser River View from Barnston Island Regional Park
22. And here is a point 4.3 km from the ferry
if you turn right upon getting to the island. We are actually looking back after
turning around. This is a good spot to get a fine Golden Ears Bridge views with
vegetation in the foreground.
Barnston Island near Surrey BC Canada
23. Golden Ears Bridge with vegetation in the foreground.
Golden Ears Bridge View from Barnston Island
24. With some zoom.
Golden Ears Bridge
25. And this is Mann Point path entrance 4.0 km
from the ferry if you turn right (and about 6.0 km if you turn left).
Barnston Island Mann Point Trailhead
26. The path to a great Golden Ears Bridge view
is, approximately, 300 meters long. It's a bit muddy in one spot.
Barnston Island Path to Mann Point
27-30. The beach can be very muddy too, but
what a
bridge view! Left to right, followed by a panorama.
Barnston Island Mann Point Panorama
Here is our video of Golden Ears Bridge
from this location.
31-32. We are back at Barnston Island Ferry
Terminal. Backing up onto the ferry is required here.
Barnston Island Ferry Information
33. A Fraser River view on the way back.
Fraser River View from Barnston Island Ferry
34. Back in Surrey at Port Kells Ferry
Terminal.
Barnston Island Ferry Docked at Port Kells Terminal
Barnston Island would most suit bicycle riders or hikers,
rather than drivers, and features a serene 10 km-long circle road, a
rest area, and a very impressive Golden Ears Bridge view. Highly
recommended.