Maplewood Flats Conservation Area
49°18′ N 123°00′ WConservation areaFreeTemporarily closed
Maplewood Flats Conservation Area in North Vancouver suits birders who want a free salt marsh on Burrard Inlet about 2 km from the Second Narrows bridge. Its trails have been closed since 4 October 2026 to give foraging bears room, and the Wild Bird Trust of BC will say when they reopen.
Wildlife notice
Maplewood Flats closes its trails to give foraging bears room
The Wild Bird Trust of BC closed every trail at Maplewood Flats on 4 October 2026 until further notice. Five black bears keep turning up on the site several times a day, and a mother with her two cubs is among them. A poor berry and salmon year has them feeding hard before winter, so the trust is yielding the trails to them. Staff are still on site, and the Coast Salish Plant Nursery opens on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Leave dogs at home, even on a leash. Report a sighting to the District bear line at 604-990-2327.
Checked 2026-10-16 · wildbirdtrust.org
Photo Bosancich123 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Field card · Sight · No. 018 · checked 17 Oct 2026
Every trail has been shut for the bears since 4 October 2026.
The Wild Bird Trust of BC calls Maplewood Flats the North Shore's only wild bird sanctuary, and the District of North Vancouver counts more than 200 bird species on its 35 hectares of salt marsh. The trust is a non-profit society, and it co-manages the site with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. The Tsleil-Waututh Nation's community and village site lie next door.
Before industry came to Burrard Inlet, mudflats ran unbroken along this shore, and the Tsleil-Waututh managed them for food. The trust now runs monthly bird counts and guided nature walks, and its programs bring Coast Salish culture to visitors as a path toward reconciliation.
For the fall of 2026 the trails are shut. The trust closed them on 4 October because a poor berry and salmon year sent bears to the sanctuary to feed, and it chose to leave the space to them. BC's Wildlife Act makes it an offence to feed dangerous wildlife, so keep any food packed away when the trails reopen.
Worth knowing
- Check the Wild Bird Trust's home page for the reopening notice before you set out.
- Pick up the trust's self-guided tour map and its trail guidelines once the trails reopen, since they set out how to walk the site with respect for the wildlife.
Quick answers about Maplewood Flats Conservation Area
Is Maplewood Flats open?
No. The Wild Bird Trust of BC closed all trails at Maplewood Flats Conservation Area on 4 October 2026 until further notice, because bears are foraging heavily on the site.
Is Maplewood Flats free to visit?
Yes. Maplewood Flats Conservation Area is free for individual bird watching and self-guided walks when its trails are open.
How much does Maplewood Flats Conservation Area cost?
Maplewood Flats Conservation Area is free to visit.
What are the opening hours of Maplewood Flats Conservation Area?
Maplewood Flats Conservation Area is open the conservation area normally stays open 24 hours a day, and the Wild Bird Trust's office opens Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. All trails have been closed since 4 October 2026.
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