Inline Skating

There are a handful of inline skating (roller blading) routes in the Vancouver area. The most popular route by far is the Stanley Park seawall. Seymour Demonstration Forest is close behind in popularity.

Head for Coal Harbour if you want to skate around Stanley Park. The loop around the seawall is at least 10km and you should assume that you will do all of it. Inline skating is in one direction - anti clockwise - around the park. You can cut back to Coal Harbour via Denman Street. You will be skating with cyclists and long-boarders. If you are a beginner, then go early in the day to avoid the rush or try an off season day. Take your camera and enough liquid to get your around. Skate with shoes in a pack if you don’t think you can make the full round. The seawall is mostly flat, but you will encounter at least a few moderate hills.

Seymour Demonstration Forest is another inline skating destination which is within 15 minutes drive of Downtown Vancouver. You will be skating at the feet of the North Shore mountains along a recently paved double lane access road. There is plenty of space for the cyclists and skaters, but the parking can get full quite quickly on a nice day. Plan for 20km round trip to the end of the access road. The terrain can get quite rugged and is not recommended for a novice. In a nutshell, make sure you know how to brake! The scenery is beautiful as one would expect - you will skate through old growth, new growth, hills, mountains and over creeks and rivers. There is a nice river spot at the 10km (turn around) point. Take a lunch and chill your feet on a hot day. Watch for bears as always!