Amelia HallVancouver takes outdoor recreation seriously. Did you know that there are more than 250 parks in the city alone? These parks take up about 11% of the city’s area. Although that sounds great, it’s a nightmare to choose especially if you’re indecisive like I am.
Luckily, we’re here to guide you through the city’s best parks, so you can spend less time deciding and more time enjoying the great outdoors. Whether you enjoy a serene lakeside moment or fancy strolling through gardens, there’s a Vancouver Park for you!
Join us as we take a stroll through these green havens, guide you through what each Vancouver park can offer, and give you tips on how to make the best of your visit. Ready to embark on this green escapade? Let’s explore together!
Capilano Regional Park
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Address: 5077 Capilano Rd, North Vancouver, BC V7R 4K4, Canada
Phone Number: +1 604 224 5739
Hours: Open everyday from 7 am to 6 pm
Starting the list strong is the Capilano River Regional Park. If you’re thinking of a quaint neighborhood park with a few tall trees, then you’ve underestimated the Capilano River Regional Park. This park features a coastal rainforest and even canyon walls.
As you traverse the park, you can marvel at the towering Douglas fir and red cedar trees that call this place home. There are over 17 km of forest trails inside the park with the Coho Loop Trail moving you along the river canyon.
The other main feature is the Cleveland Dam. There is a walkway that allows you to look directly down the 91 meter concrete spillway.
| Pro Tip: You’re allowed to take your dogs to the Capilano River Regional Park. Just be sure to check the park map to know which areas require your dogs to be leashed and where they can roam free. They just aren’t permitted to be in the north picnic area. |
Charleson Park
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Address: 999 Charleson Street, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4A2, Canada
Phone Number: +1 604 873 7000
Hours: Open everyday from 6 am to 10 pm
For a harmonious blend of urban sophistication and natural serenity, Charleson Park nestled along the False Creek waterfront is the place to be. Gazing north, you’ll be treated to views of the skyscrapers that form Vancouver’s skyline.
In the background, the North Shore Mountains stand tall behind the green spaces that make up the 17.6 acre park. You can wander the meandering paths that go through the entire park. These are great for morning and even nighttime strolls to relax.
One of them takes you to a waterfall which is worth the steeper climb. Another lines the perimeter of the lagoon found in the park. There is also one that takes you to a grove.
| Pro Tip: Charleston Park can be a bit tricky to find. The park can be entered by following the False Creek Sea Wall to the Laurel Street land bridge. This will take you to the 7th Avenue Bike Path that leads directly into the park. |
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Address: 578 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K2, Canada
Phone Number: +1 604 662 3207
Hours: Open from Wednesday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 4 pm
For a park adventure with a dash of cultural exposure, a visit to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is the thing to do. This park is a meticulous recreation of a Ming Dynasty scholar’s garden in ancient China.
The entire park was made by 53 master craftsmen using materials imported directly from China. All the architecture, landscaping, and design were modeled after Taoist elements, including the pagoda surrounded by a pond made with limestone from China.
The park has regular exhibitions and events throughout the year that feature artifacts with Chinese roots. Some also showcase Chinese art like calligraphy or porcelains.
| Pro Tip: This is one of the parks where a guided tour really comes in handy because the park is a registered museum. With a guide, you get to enjoy and learn the thought behind each intricate detail, even down to the stone and rock placements. |
Capilano Suspension Bridge & Park
Address: 3735 Capilano Rd, North Vancouver, BC V7R 4J1, Canada
Phone Number: +1 604 985 7474
Hours:
- Open from Monday to Tuesday from 10 am to 8 pm
- Open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 9 pm
The Capilano Suspension Bridge & Park is the most iconic park in the city. This Vancouver Park offers you a day of daring adventure that is definitely not for the faint of heart. The main feature is a 450 foot bridge suspended 100 feet high.
On the bridge, you’re treated to views of the Capilano River and the tree tops of huge trees growing underneath. But, there are other equally exhilarating experiences within its 27-acre expanse. A unique feature are the Kia’palano or giant totem poles.
Treetops Adventure is also located within the park grounds. From the timber treehouse suspended from the tree branches to the 7 suspension bridges, you won’t get bored.
| Pro Tip: Don’t miss out on the Cliff Walk. This new addition to the park is a granite path that follows the Capilano River from up in the air. There are bridges, stairs, and platforms incorporated into the path that make it feel like a labyrinth. |
Everett Crowley Park
Address: 8200 Kerr St, Vancouver, BC V5S 4G5, Canada
Phone Number: +1 604 873 7000
Hours: Open everyday from 6 am to 10 pm
One of the more recently opened parks on this list, the Everett Crowley Park is slowly starting to rise in popularity among locals. This park was built to feel like a sanctuary and look like the woodlands with wildflowers and trees allowed to grow undisturbed.
The main feature of the park is the trail that circles around the park. It measures 2.37 km and makes for a 35 minute walk among the greenery. There are shorter walking trails that take you to some farms and fields in Richmond.
Head to Manfred’s Meadow where you’ll find a flower box and beehives. You can also host picnics here as you enjoy the view of the blooms and the trees.
| Pro Tip: If you enjoy the sound of trickling water, then don’t pass up on checking the Kings Cross Creek in the park. The Everett Crowley Park is also home to the Avalon Pon where you can sit and watch ducks swim by. |
Guelph Park
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Address: 2390 Brunswick St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3L8, Canada
Phone Number: +1 604 873 7000
Hours: Open everyday from 6 am to 10 pm
If you have no idea what Guelph Park is, then you probably know it as the Dude Chilling Park like how locals refer to it. The nickname comes from the iconic Reclining Figure statue by Michael Dennis made entirely of repurposed tree trunks.
Apart from checking the statue, there are plenty of other things to do at the park. Since the park is not that big and not the most popular, it’s perfect for peaceful strolls in the morning and evening walks for silent contemplation.
For more active park goers, you can make use of the public tennis courts or let the kids run around in the playground to blow off some steam.
| Pro Tip: The grassy areas and hills inside the Guelph Park are perfect for outdoor picnics. Bring a blanket and some snacks and you can have a great time here, especially during the early mornings or during sunset. |
John Hendry Park
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Address: 3300 Victoria Dr, Vancouver, BC V5N 4M4, Canada
Phone Number: +1 604 873 7000
Hours: Open everyday from 6 am to 10 pm
Another entry to this list that is known by another name and not its original one is the John Hendry Park. Most people will call this Trout Lake Park for the body of water located in the park that shares its name.
During the warmer months, swimming is quite popular in Trout Lake. The park is also the venue for several summer concerts. In the especially cold winters when the lake freezes over, the local city government opens it as a natural ice skating rink.
Throughout the year, the John Hendry Park offers soccer fields and baseball diamonds for public use. There are also walking and biking trails that you can discover.
| Pro Tip: The John Hendry Park is also the location for the annual Trout Lake Market. This is the city’s longest-going farmers market where you can expect to find all sorts of organic produce. There are also several kinds of baked goodies and artisan cheese. |
Lighthouse Park
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Address: 4902 Beacon Ln, West Vancouver, BC V7W 1K5, Canada
Phone Number: +1 604 925 7275
Hours: Open everyday from 7 am to 10 pm
The Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver is a neighborhood park, but it definitely isn’t your typical one. The park is a National Historic Site of Canada because of the Point Atkinson Lighthouse.
The park itself is nestled close to the ocean for amazing views, especially during sunrise and sunset. The park is also home to the biggest undisturbed rainforest in the Lower Mainland. The forest is home to the city’s last first-growth Douglas fir tree.
There are many hiking trails through the park that range from easy to hard levels. You’ll see the Burrard Inlet at the end of most of these trails.
| Pro Tip: One of our favorite spots at the Lighthouse Park is the Starboat Cove. It takes 15 minutes to walk towards the east from the Lighthouse. It takes you down to the beach area and is great for picnics when the tide is low. |
Nitobe Memorial Garden
Address: 1895 Lower Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
Phone Number: +1 604 822 6038
Hours: Open form Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm
Another culturally rich green space in Vancouver is the Nitobe Memorial Garden. This traditional Japanese garden has an authentic tea house and even prompted Emperor Akihito to declare “I am in Japan” as he explored the grounds.
The Nitobe Memorial Garden is located inside the University of British Columbia and measures 2.5 acres. The lawns are landscaped to look like the gardens of Japanese Emperors, complete with traditional plants from Japan.
There are beautiful and intricate wooden bridges scattered around the park, with some hanging over a pond filled with lucky koi fish.
| Pro Tip: Try to time your visit any time during May to September. During this season, you can participate in the tea ceremonies hosted on the last Saturday of each month. You’ll be served traditional matcha tea made with traditional techniques from start to end. |
Pacific Spirit Regional Park
Address: 5495 Chancellor Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1E4, Canada
Phone Number: +1 604 224 5739
Hours: Open everyday from 7 am to 6 pm
In the west part of Vancouver, the Pacific Spirit Regional Park is a huge area to explore with several ecosystems and natural habitats right in the heart of the city. Over 55 km of trails wind through the entire area and take you to see different plants and animals too.
There are huge forests inside the park with tall towering trees and woodland creatures like squirrels and deer. The wetlands and quiet beaches offer water views with their own set of inhabitants from fish to salamanders and frogs.
Brooks and small creeks also flow through the Pacific Spirit Regional Park are perfect for morning strolls, especially the soundtrack they provide for a relaxing time.
| Pro Tip: If you feel like exploring the entire park on foot might be too tiring, then you’ll be glad to know that the Pacific Spirit Regional Park welcomes cyclists. Just be sure to check the park map to see which trails are safe for bikes and which are only for pedestrians. |
Queen Elizabeth Park
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Address: 4600 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC V5Z 2Z1, Canada
Phone Number: +1 604 873 7000
Hours: Open everyday from 6 am to 10 pm
Perched 500 feet above sea level on the site of an old quarry, Queen Elizabeth Park sprawls across 130 acres, for the viewing point in Vancouver and a wide array of amenities. The views here include a peak of the North Shore Mountains.
Beyond the stunning scenes, meticulously maintained lawns and vibrant flower beds greet you as you make your way around the park.
The Bloedel Conservatory is the main star of the park. The glass dome houses more than 500 plants and flowers inside its temperature controlled interior. You can also see over 100 birds flying freely inside the dome and landing on the plants there.
| Pro Tip: Art lovers will be glad to know that the Queen Elizabeth Park has a whole collection of public art by different artists. The Knife’s Edge Two Piece by Henry Moore is one the most famous pieces there. Don’t miss the Photo Session and Love in the Rain either. |
Stanley Park
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Address: Stanley Park Causeway, Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4, Canada
Phone Number: +1 604 681 6728
Hours: Open everyday from 9 am to 5 pm
Although located right in downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park offers a wide selection of nature activities for you to enjoy. The most popular thing to do is to bike along the seawall in the park that runs for 9 km.
If you’d rather sit back and relax, there are also horse drawn carriage tours that take you around the park for a unique experience.
Walking the trails of Stanley Park that total 27 km takes you right into the central forest where you’ll find some of the oldest trees in the country. Walking among them can be therapeutic at times and is great for clearing your head.
| Pro Tip: If you didn’t know, the Vancouver Aquarium is actually located in Stanley Park. You can encounter over 65,000 animals that call this place home in the 30 exhibits that make it up. Tropical and arctic animals offer variety to your visit. |
VanDusen Botanical Garden
Address: 5251 Oak St, Vancouver, BC V6M 4H1, Canada
Phone Number: +1 604 257 8463
Hours: Open everyday from 10 am to 2 pm
If you’re as obsessed with plants as we are, then the VanDusen Botanical Garden will not disappoint. This place is home to over 7,500 individual plants and trees for an immersive encounter with nature. There are 7 different geographic areas.
The Japanese area is most beautiful in May with the cherry trees in full bloom. During the summer, the meadows and roses are the stars of the show. All year long, the Elizabethan maze made with 3,000 pyramidal cedars is a popular attraction.
For those looking for the perfect end to a day of exploration, the Shaughnessy Restaurant is a casual dining caféthat serves some of the best pot pies we’ve had.
| Pro Tip: The Festival of Lights which lasts for an entire month is held here at the VanDusen Botanical Garden every December. If you can, time your visit during this event to see the entire garden adorned with twinkling lights and installations. |
Vanier Park
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Address: 1000 Chestnut St, Vancouver, BC V6J 3J9, Canada
Phone Number: +1 604 873 7000
Hours: Open everyday from 6 am to 10 pm
Vanier Park needs no other description other than that it serves as the permanent home to 4 of the city’s most prominent attractions.
The Museum of Vancouver, City of Vancouver Archive, and the Vancouver Maritime Museum offer a chance to explore art and history. On the other hand, the H.R. MacMillan Space Sciences Centre lets you peek into the exciting world of space travel.
If exploring those isn’t enough for you. Vanier Park is also where the famous Children’s Festival for family fun during May to June is held. Another popular event held here is the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival from June to September.
| Pro Tip: For a relaxed ending to your day, walk at the park’s edge to gaze at the view of downtown Vancouve or sit by the quiet ponds in the park. The open grassy fields are also great for late afternoon picnics until the cool evenings. |
