VERDICT: We gave 4 out of 5 tickets and here’s why!
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This article is part of our 🚗 Fraser Valley Day Trip series, exploring Canadian communities. Discover communities like Langley, Surrey, Maple Ridge, Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Hope. Our adventure takes us through diverse towns, spectacular lakes, international events, and many hidden gems of the Valley. Read the complete series here.
Here are a few of the top Fraser Valley Day Trips. For more scroll to the end of the article.
Walking, wildlife, family activities, local history and beautiful Mount Baker views, all wrapped around one of Abbotsford’s favourite lakes
Our Little Escape in the Middle of Abbotsford
We consider ourselves fortunate to live within easy reach of Mill Lake Park. It is one of those places we can visit again and again without really needing a reason.
Sometimes we go for exercise. Sometimes it is simply for a walk, a coffee or to sit beside the water for a while. Whatever brings us here, we love the fact that such a large green space exists right in the middle of Abbotsford.
Mill Lake really does offer something for almost everyone.
We see regular walkers completing their daily circuit, runners getting their kilometres in, families heading towards the playgrounds and cyclists cruising along the paved pathway. Others are quite happy to claim one of the many benches overlooking the lake and simply watch the world go by.
And sometimes that is exactly what we do.
Walking Around Mill Lake
One of our favourite things to do is simply walk around the lake.
The paved loop is approximately 2.3 kilometres, relatively flat and easy to manage, making it suitable for everything from a casual stroll to jogging, cycling and family walks with strollers. The route passes through open parkland, mature trees and waterside sections before crossing one of our favourite features, the floating boardwalk.
There are plenty of benches around the route, so there is absolutely no need to rush.
On a clear day, look beyond the lake and you may also be rewarded with a beautiful view of Mount Baker rising above the landscape to the southeast.
It is quite a backdrop for a city park.
Wildlife Around the Lake
We always keep an eye out for wildlife while we’re walking.
Ducks and Canada geese are regular residents, while other waterfowl come and go throughout the year. Bald eagles are also seen around Mill Lake, sometimes soaring directly overhead.
Then there are the turtles.
If you’re lucky, look carefully around logs and sunny spots close to the water and you may spot a painted turtle. Their darker shells and distinctive red and orange markings make them relatively easy to identify once you know what you’re looking for.
Seeing one always adds something to our walk.
Fishing, Volleyball and Outdoor Exercise
You don’t have to walk around Mill Lake to enjoy it.
Fishing is popular, with anglers regularly trying their luck from designated areas and docks around the lake. There are also sand volleyball facilities, large grassy areas and outdoor fitness equipment if you want to add a little more exercise to your visit.
The park even has a lawn bowling facility. The Abbotsford Lawn Bowling Club has been part of the recreational mix here for years, proving that Mill Lake caters to considerably more activities than you might expect from an urban park. ( There’s even a ‘Horse-shoe throwing club)
A Great Abbotsford Park for Families
For families, Mill Lake is particularly good.
There are several playground areas around the park, giving children something new to discover as you make your way around the lake.
During the warmer months, the Mill Lake spray park becomes especially popular. It sits beside the playground and Centennial Outdoor Pool, creating an excellent summer recreation area.
The Centennial Outdoor Pool is another bit of classic Abbotsford summer life. You can access the pool at 2310 Emerson Street, it operates seasonally and is used for public swimming, lessons and aquatic activities.
We also regularly see families arrive with blankets, chairs, food and everything needed to settle in for several hours. There are picnic areas and shelters, and the large lawns give children plenty of space to burn off some energy.
Food trucks also appear during the summer, making it even easier to spend an afternoon or evening here.
Coffee Beside Mill Lake
One of the newer additions to the Mill Lake experience is Habitual Wellness Club & Café, located near the eastern side of the lake.
It has become a convenient place for us to grab a coffee or something to eat and then continue our walk. There is something particularly enjoyable about having a coffee beside the lake without having to leave the park environment.
It’s a small addition that makes Mill Lake even more appealing as somewhere to meet friends or spend a relaxed morning.
Kariton Art Gallery
Another reason to slow down is the Kariton Art Gallery, located beside Mill Lake on Ware Street.
Operated by the Abbotsford Arts Council, this small community gallery features changing exhibitions and provides an opportunity to discover the work of local and regional artists.
We like the fact that within one walk we can combine nature, recreation, art and local history.
Not many city parks can offer all four.
Trethewey House: A Window Into Abbotsford’s Past
Tucked away on the eastern side of Mill Lake is one of the city’s most important heritage buildings – Trethewey House.
The Craftsman-style home was constructed around 1919–1920 for lumber businessman Joseph Ogle Trethewey and his family. It has since been restored to represent its appearance around 1925 and today serves as an important heritage site.
The house is particularly significant because the Trethewey family was closely connected with the lumber industry that helped shape early Abbotsford.
The interior includes period furnishings and historical artifacts, while original architectural details help visitors understand how one of Abbotsford’s prominent families would have lived during the early 20th century.
It is also one of the few physical reminders that the peaceful lake we walk around today was once part of a major industrial operation.
Why Is It Called Mill Lake?
This is where the story becomes particularly interesting.
Long before modern Abbotsford existed, the lake and surrounding lands were within S’ólh Temexw, the traditional ancestral territory of the Stó:lō people. The Halq’emeylem name historically associated with Mill Lake is Lekw’ōquem.
Following European settlement, the lake went through several names.
It was initially known as Bais Lake, named after a pioneer farmer, and was later called Abbotsford Lake.
Its present name came from the lumber mills that eventually dominated the area.
An early sawmill operated beside the lake, but industrial activity expanded considerably after the Trethewey family became involved. By the early 20th century, lumber operations surrounding the lake had become an important part of Abbotsford’s economy.
Logs were transported by rail and dumped into the lake, where they could be stored and sorted before entering the mill.
At its peak, the mill operation became one of British Columbia’s major employers and the largest employer in the Abbotsford area.
The Great Depression, combined with depletion of surrounding timber resources, eventually contributed to the mill closing in the 1930s.
Even today, remnants of the old industrial landscape survive. Old pilings associated with the former log dump remain, while submerged logs and other traces of the lumber era lie beneath the lake.
The mills disappeared.
The name Mill Lake remained.
From Industrial Lake to Abbotsford’s Urban Park
The transformation from industrial site to community park happened gradually.
In 1936, the former District of Matsqui acquired approximately 8.23 acres south of Mill Lake from the Abbotsford Lumber Company for the remarkable price of $1.
During the following decades, more land was added and community organizations, particularly the Abbotsford Lions Club, played an important role in transforming the former industrial shoreline into recreational space.
By the 1950s, Mill Lake had become a popular destination for swimming and family recreation. A beach, swimming area, bathhouses and other facilities helped establish the lake as a community gathering place.
Centennial Park and Centennial Pool opened in 1958, while other sections of parkland were gradually incorporated.
Powerboats were finally prohibited from the lake in 1970.
What was once a working industrial lake had evolved into the green recreational centre we enjoy today.
Community Events at Mill Lake
Mill Lake isn’t just somewhere to walk. It has also become one of Abbotsford’s major outdoor gathering places.
One of the best examples is Run for Water. The Abbotsford event began in 2008 and includes courses that use Mill Lake Park and surrounding streets. Over the years, the organization has raised millions of dollars toward clean-water projects.
Another favourite is Symphony in the Park.
This free summer concert transforms the park into an outdoor music venue, with thousands of people bringing chairs and blankets and settling onto the grass for an evening of live orchestral music.
Recent events have attracted crowds of 2,000 or more, which gives you some idea how popular the evening has become.
Mill Lake also hosts swim meets, community celebrations, outdoor movie nights, charity events and other seasonal activities throughout the year.
Sevenoaks Shopping Centre Is Just Minutes Away
Another advantage of Mill Lake’s central location is its proximity to Sevenoaks Shopping Centre, at the intersection of South Fraser Way and Gladwin Road.
It is one of Abbotsford’s major shopping destinations, with a broad mix of fashion retailers, services, restaurants and food outlets. Current retailers include names such as Best Buy, Sport Chek, London Drugs, Foot Locker, Bath & Body Works, Pandora and numerous smaller stores.
That makes it easy to combine a Mill Lake visit with shopping, lunch or simply somewhere indoors if our famously unpredictable Fraser Valley weather suddenly decides not to cooperate.
Parking & Location
Mill Lake Park
2310 Emerson Street
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Canada
There are several access points around the park rather than one single entrance.
Emerson Street: A convenient choice for the spray park, playground and Centennial Outdoor Pool.
Mill Lake Road / Bevan Avenue: Useful access for the southern side of the lake, walking trail and larger park areas.
Ware Street: Convenient for Trethewey House, Kariton Art Gallery and the eastern side of the lake.
Public parking areas are available around the park, although spaces can fill quickly during major community events and hot summer weekends.
The multiple entrances are actually useful, depending on what we’re planning to do, we simply start from a different side of the lake.
Why We Keep Coming Back
There are bigger parks, longer trails and considerably more dramatic wilderness areas throughout British Columbia.
But that isn’t really the point of Mill Lake.
Its strength is that it is right here in the middle of Abbotsford.
We can walk the lake, ride bikes, stop for coffee, watch the ducks and geese, look for turtles, admire Mount Baker, visit an art gallery, explore a century-old heritage home, fish from the shore or simply find a bench and breathe.
Families can spend hours here without having to plan an elaborate day trip and for the most part it’s free!
And throughout the year, the park changes. Spring brings fresh greenery, summer brings swimming and community events, autumn changes the colours around the lake and winter gives us quieter walks.
For us, Mill Lake is one of those places that helps make Abbotsford home.
And sometimes the best places to explore aren’t hundreds or thousands of kilometres away.
Sometimes they’re right on your doorstep.
Top 5 Things to Do in Abbotsford
- Explore Historic Downtown Abbotsford: Walk Montrose and Essendene, discover independent shops, cafés, restaurants and the city’s growing collection of murals. Grab a coffee at the newer Rail District.
- Visit Clayburn Village: Explore one of Abbotsford’s most interesting historic areas and stop at the famous old-fashioned Clayburn Village Store.
- Discover Sumas Mountain: Head into Sumas Mountain Regional Park for forest trails, Chadsey Lake and impressive Fraser Valley scenery.
- Experience Castle Fun Park: A longtime Abbotsford family attraction offering mini golf, arcade games, go-karts and other entertainment.
- Explore Abbotsford’s farm country: Discover the agricultural side of the Fraser Valley through farm markets, seasonal attractions, berry farms and local food experiences.
Explore Destinations Across BC
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