Nicomen Slough is a narrow stretch of water surrounding Nicomen Island, and is a popular bird-watching destination, especially for Trumpeter swans. Other wildlife inhabiting this area includes spawning salmon and bald eagles. Directions coming from Mission: After you pass the Dewdney General Store built in 1904 and just before the bridge, River Road leads off to the right and follows the shoreline of Nicomen Slough past a pub to Dewdney Nature Park, where there’s a vehicle boat launch. The Fraser River flows past just beyond sight, a short distance south of the boat launch. This is a languid section of the river where a series of sloughs forms backwaters away from the river’s main course. Strawberry Island lies at the east end of Nicomen Slough. (In the 1930s, strawberries were a major cash crop in the Hatzic area.) This is one of the quietest backwaters between here and the eastern end of the Fraser Valley.