Field Trip | Finn Slough + Fall Colours


About five minutes from where we live here in Richmond (a suburb of Vancouver), one can be transported very easily from city life to country life.  We often take drives through the country roads south of us (especially in the autumn) when it's harvest time and we come searching for pumpkins and fresh corn.  It's like another world, and when we need a refresh, we'll take a detour through this picturesque valley. Not only are there farms, there are horse stables, huge, huge mansions with water fountains and long windy driveways and as you'll see here, something called Finn Slough.  A heritage community with Finnish roots found on the south arm of the Fraser River. In the 1890s a group of Finnish people bought land along the river and settled here.  If you'd like to read more about them, here is a small history of the area. There are people still living in these dwellings (which are mostly made of recycled wood and materials, made long before recycling ever was a thing); the area is eccentric and super interesting to see;  a great place for taking photo's or even painting; We like taking a stroll on the public walking trails nearby, where dogs can go off-leash.  It's also near Steveston village, a quaint fishing community right along the river which leads out into the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes we end up in Steveston and pick up some fresh fish and chips right on the fishermen's docks where it's served in rolled-up newspapers English-style.




As noted on the Finn Slough website, "the Slough is bounded on the Fraser River side by Gilmour Island and on the north by a dyke built to protect Richmond. Access to homes on the Gilmour Island side of the Slough is by a wooden draw-bridge, creating a definite sense of isolation from the nearby urban areas of Richmond and Vancouver." We took some pictures on a recent visit, although a grey day, still beautiful fall hues.  Let's take a look!


love that driftwood gate handle






To get the Finn Slough is fairly easy.  We access it by driving south on No. 4 Road crossing Steveston Highway and driving down a narrow windy road till you see Finn Road.  Turn left until you hit Dyke Road and where there is a "T" in the road.  The community lives both right and left of the "T" in the road.  Check out a few pictures of the farmland on the way there below.  We love the mountains in the background in the first shot and all the muted colours. This is how it looks most of the time here in the winter.  No snow much, just very overcast and lots of muted blues, greys, browns, greens, yellows and burgundy.





Farmers tending to the veggie fields - we love their Asian hats



Pumpkins are ready!

Everything is so green!
Here is a map if you ever are in the area and want to check this area out.  It's hard to believe the city is only five mintues away. We love it here.

Fall Colours Week!  Just a reminder, our 6th annual fall colours week is happening next week, starting Monday, October 12th on Instagram. Click here for all the details!

Jan Halvarson

2 comments:

Alanna said...

I grew up around there, walking the dog on the dyke and visiting Finns slough. I once got to go inside one of the homes- it was filled with books! So cool

Jan Halvarson said...

Ookpiik - how cool and oh man - always wondered what it was like inside those places.