Stanley Park, 1,000 acres of old-growth forest against the ocean
The scent of western red cedar hits you before you even leave the sidewalk. It only takes a few steps to transition from the glass towers of the West End to a temperate rainforest where some trees are nearly 800 years old. This contrast between the city and the wild is the core of the Stanley Park experience.
Why visit Stanley Park?
Opened in 1888 on the unceded ancestral lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations, the park covers a 1,000-acre peninsula. Archaeologists have discovered artifacts here dating back more than 3,000 years, particularly at the X̱wáýx̱way village site near the current Lumberman's Arch.
Eight million visitors come here every year. Its forest of Douglas firs and giant western red cedars is crisscrossed by 17 miles of trails.
The Seawall, the park's backbone
The Seawall path traces a 5.5-mile loop around the peninsula. On foot, plan for two to three hours. By bike, one hour is enough to complete the circuit, which is traveled in a counterclockwise direction. Pedestrians and cyclists each have their own dedicated lane.
Several rental shops are located on Denman Street. Renting a standard bike costs around 30 to 40 CAD ($22 to $29) for the day, and electric bikes make it easy to push further to Granville Island via False Creek.
Stops worth a real look
Brockton Point and the totem poles
The collection of totem poles at Brockton Point is one of the most photographed sites in British Columbia. Installed beginning in the 1920s, these poles carved from red cedar represent the heritage of several Indigenous nations. The Spoken Treasures guided tour offers valuable insight into their meaning.
Prospect Point and Siwash Rock
Prospect Point overlooks the strait from 200 feet up, with a direct view of the Lions Gate Bridge and the cargo ships gliding toward the port. There is a cafe if you want to linger. Further along, Siwash Rock, an isolated rock pillar in the water, is an important spiritual site for the Coast Salish peoples.
Lost Lagoon and Beaver Lake
Lost Lagoon, accessible from the Georgia Street entrance, takes its name from the tides that used to make it disappear. In the spring, swans nest in the reeds. Further into the park, Beaver Lake is a quiet wetland where herons and turtles coexist away from the crowds.
The beaches and the aquarium
Second Beach has a heated outdoor pool open in the summer. Third Beach, more isolated facing Burrard Bay, remains a local favorite for sunsets. The Vancouver Aquarium, the largest aquarium in Canada, houses more than 65,000 animals. Sea otters and Steller sea lions are the stars here. Plan for two hours and book your tickets online.
Local tip: to enjoy the park without the crowds, arrive before 9 a.m. or enter via Pipeline Road rather than Georgia Street. The morning light in the undergrowth is spectacular, and your chances of spotting bald eagles increase significantly.
Opening hours
The park is open year-round, 24 hours a day.
Stanley Park Aquarium: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry at 3:30 PM), with extended hours during the summer (9:30 AM to 6:00 PM in July and August).
*Information subject to change
I absolutely fell in love with this urban park located on a peninsula!
I walked around this natural space, but you can also do it by bike since there is a bike path that follows the coastline.
During my visit, I really appreciated the nature vibe just a stone's throw from the city center. You walk along the forest and on the ocean side I even saw a seal!
For photography lovers, the views of Vancouver and its modern towers are splendid.