Stanley Park

A top attraction for anyone. Bikes, walks, people, beaches and picnics. Stanley Park is wrapped by a super seawall that is super busy and fun. Lots of beaches and sights to see. Try trails through the center of the park too.

Over 1,000 acres (10% bigger than New York’s Central Park), this is Vancouver’s largest urban park. Stanley Park was opened by David Oppenheimer in 1888 in the name of Lord Stanley Preston, the Governor General of Canada. The park is a beauty with old growth trees (up to 76 meters), lakes, trails (over 200km of trails and roads), fields, history and the most used 8.8 kilometer seawall that circles the park and is used by several million people each year. There are lots of paid activities too - the Vancouver Aquarium is the most popular, but we won’t worry about that on this free-to-do site!

OK, so you get the point - this is it. Grab your bike, strap on your in-line skates, put on your running shoes, or just go for a stroll around this beauty. If you’re biking or skating, remember that it is one way from Coal Harbour to English Bay area - so be prepared for the 8.8km journey (it’s all flat). Views are always better on a nice warm and clear day with a high tide (it hides the dirty rocks). Bring your camera - you will want to snap all the way around Stanley Park. You will get great shots of downtown Vancouver, the Burrard Inlet, Coal Harbour, float planes, ships, mountains, Lion’s Gate Bridge, lighthouses, beaches, totem poles, statues, trees and plenty more.

There’s a great kids play area on the north side of the park (where the Aquarium road cuts through and joins the ring road), including run-through fountains. There’s a nice field on the other side of the road with lots of picnic benches. There’s also a concession available in the warmer months.

Brockton Point is a fabulous view spot of the Inlet and mountains. It’s also a great place to have a BBQ in summer - there’s a grassy patch with some picnic benches that have fabulous views. There’s enough parking, so you should be OK to drive if you are not on your bike.

The good beaches are on the west side of Stanley Park. The first one you will hit is 3rd Beach, then 2nd Beach and then 1st Beach. 1st Beach is also known as English Bay (area). 3rd Beach and 1st Beach are the better of the two. There is a good size parking area at 3rd beach if you are bringing the car and there is also a concession if you are hungry. 2nd Beach is not much of a beach at all - it is more about the paid swimming pool and the grassy park across the road. There is a playground in the grassy park - so it makes a good destination for the kids.

If you are doing the loop around Stanley Park and want to get back to Coal Harbour, then you can either cut back through 2nd Beach area or you can head for 1st Beach (English Bay) and cut through along Denman Street.

Don’t forget everything to do in the center of Stanley Park - there is great trail running and strolling. It is a little darker with the big trees - but that can be a blessing in the hot months of the summer.