Ava GabouryOne of the best ways you can explore Vancouver is on foot, as it lets you get up close and personal with the city’s most iconic sights. Fortunately, this beautiful city is pedestrian-friendly and it features various paths that can provide the most scenic walks!
From cityscapes to coastlines, we’ve rounded up some of these amazing walking paths for your next adventure in Vancouver. So if you’re ready to lace up your shoes and start exploring the city’s wonders, here’s everything you need to know:
Stanley Park Seawall
– Media credit: tourcanada
Website: https://stanleyparkvan.com/stanley-park-van-seawall-stanley-park.html
Address: Stanley Park Dr, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada
Contact details: +1 604-873-7000
Operating hours Open 24 hours
The Stanley Park Seawall is arguably Vancouver’s most famous walking path—and for several good reasons!
For starters, it features the most spectacular views that any walking path can have in the city thanks to sights like the North Shore mountains and English Bay.
Aside from those two, you can also catch glimpses of the ever-so-stunning skyline of Vancouver throughout this trail. Overall, the trail is around 9 kilometres and will take about two to three hours to complete on foot.
We have a strong feeling that you won’t feel this time pass by though, as you’ll be treated to beautiful sights left and right. Meanwhile, if you want a more time-efficient way to complete the path, you can ride a bike instead, which will take about an hour.
| Pro tip: Check out their website to get a printable map of Stanley Park that features all of its points of interest. This map also marks all the essentials from restrooms to parking spaces, gift shops, restaurants and more—pretty handy! |
Talking Trees, Stanley Park
– Media credit: talaysay_tours
Address: Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4, Canada
Contact details: +1 604-681-6728
Operating hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Talking Trees is an urban walk that Vancouverites love to explore on a nice day in the city. It’s located in Stanley Park but we felt that it deserved its separate spot on this list because of how beautiful the views are throughout this trail!
This is because the trail mostly consists of paths in the old-growth forest of Stanley Park. As you may have gleaned from its name, this forest features overgrown towering trees, some of which reach upwards of 13 metres—talk about elevation!
Walking here will make you feel like you’re in one of those Lord of the Rings movies, as you’ll be surrounded by nothing but beautiful lush trees—we’re not complaining! Just be sure to limber up so that you can explore everything that this trail has to offer.
| Pro tip: If you want to make the most out of your walk on this trail, you should opt for the guided tour offered by Talaysay Tours. This tour will last around 90 minutes and every second will be filled with information, from what plants you’ll encounter to what their uses are in the real world. |
Queen Elizabeth Park
– Media credit: ina_vine_cu_tine
Address: 4600 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC V5Z 2Z1, Canada
Contact details: +1 604-873-7000
Operating hours: Daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
If you want your walks to be accompanied by stunning views of flowers, trees and other forms of plants, then Queen Elizabeth Park should be right up your alley! What most people love about this park is its pleasant temperature, which makes walks all the more enjoyable.
It’s among the most beautiful parks in Canada thanks to its well-maintained gardens and picturesque surrounding views. The abundance of plants found here not only makes for great photo-worthy backdrops but also provides the crispest air for joggers and strollers alike.
Plus, thanks to it being the highest point in Vancouver, you can also catch breathtaking glimpses of the city from a unique perspective.
| Pro tip: If the marvellous flowers and plants in this park weren’t enough for you, make sure to visit the Bloedel Conservatory! In this dome-shaped sanctuary, you’ll get to observe over 100 species of birds and 400+ kinds of exotic plants. |
Pacific Spirit Regional Park
– Media credit: camilaciasu
Address: 5495 Chancellor Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1E4, Canada
Contact details: +1 604-224-5739
Operating hours: Daily from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
People looking to go on an outdoor adventure but don’t want to leave the city at the same time can check out Pacific Spirit Regional Park. This park does a great job of disconnecting its visitors from the city that it’s surrounded by thanks to its lushly forested areas.
Speaking of forested areas, the ones you’ll find here add up to a total of 750 hectares—that’s a lot of ground to cover! Plus, the trails that go through these towering trees are accessible all year round so you can go on a tranquil walk at any season.
| Pro tips: If you don’t want to leave your furbabies at home, bring them with you! Just be sure to keep them on the leash until you enter the leash-free zone where you can let them run wild with other dogs in the park. There are more than ample parking spaces in Pacific Spirit Regional Park. However, if you run out of these spaces, you can opt for the street parking options in the surrounding areas. |
Jericho Beach Park
– Media credit: ozzie.the.doxie
Address: 3941 Point Grey Rd, Vancouver, BC V6R 1B5, Canada
Operating hours: Daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Jericho Beach Park is one of the best places to go on a morning stroll because of its stellar views and overall chill vibes. Nothing beats walking on a tranquil path with the sound of waves gently crashing in the background—chef’s kiss!
The beach itself also has a lot of views that are worth observing during your long strolls. For instance, you can spot some people wind sailing and sailboating, which further adds to the picturesque nature of the setting.
You can also create your own route while you’re here! Most people like to start their walk from Jericho Beach to Spanish Banks, as it provides them with majestic views of the North Shore mountains.
| Pro tip: We recommend going on a picnic date in Jericho Beach Park because it features a large grassy area where you can set up a blanket and dine among nature If you’re coming with kids, you can also make a stopover by the shore of the beach and let them build their best sandcastles! After all, the beach does feature a wide stretch of pure sand. |
Coal Harbour
Address: 1199 W Cordova St, Vancouver, BC V6E 4T1, Canada
Operating hours: Open 24 hours
Want to go on a scenic walk but have little time to spare? Then a trip to the Coal Harbour is called for in your busy itinerary—don’t worry, you won’t have to leave downtown to get here!
Walking along Coal Harbour’s seawall won’t take but 30 minutes to complete, but don’t be fooled! These precious minutes will be packed with beautiful sights of the sea, mountains and of course, the Vancouver skyline.
Aside from that, you’ll also come across various stop-over-worthy establishments like cafes, restaurants and boutique shops. We recommend strolling here with no particular goal in mind and just going with your gut on which establishment you feel like entering—exciting!
| Pro tips: If you have a lot of time on your hands, a great way to make this walk into a loop is by turning left on Denman Street and heading to Robson Street. This way, you can go back to Canada Place where you can restart the walk all over again. While you’re here, make sure to take photos of public art displayed across Coal Harbour like the Digital Orca and The Drop. |
Kitsilano Beach Park
Address: 1499 Arbutus St, Vancouver, BC V6J 5N2, Canada
Contact details: +1 604-873-7000
Operating hours: Open 24 hours
Kitsilano Beach is a staple in a typical Vancouverite’s summer, as it offers refreshing water activities and Instaworthy sights. It’s also one of the best places to go if you want to be alone with your thoughts while enjoying a lovely stroll.
The views that you’ll see during your walk mostly consist of the sea, but hey, it’s nothing to complain about, especially if you time your walk during the sunset. The Vancouver skyline is also visible here, reminding you how far away you are from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Of course, an advantage of taking a walk here is that you can easily bring your swimming attire and dive into the refreshing water of the beach.
| Pro tip: If you want to treat yourself to even more stunning views of the sea and its surrounding landscape, you can rent a paddleboard, Meanwhile, if you have a plus one, the two of you can set out on a kayak! |
East Vancouver Brewery Walk
– Media credits: yeastvanbc and strangefellowsbrewing
Address: East Vancouver, Vancouver, BC, Canada
If you don’t know what to do during happy hour, one of the best things you can do is stroll along East Vancouver and go on a craft beer walk. This neighbourhood is famous for housing over 20 craft breweries, all of which serve delicious artisan beers.
Doing this walk means that you can taste the wide spectrum of Vancouver’s craft beer scene while getting your daily dose of exercise at the same time. Trust us, you’d want to walk as much as possible in between bars to burn those extra calories!
You can also stop by some cafes and restaurants along the way if you start to feel hungry!
| Pro tip: Some of the bars you should check out throughout this walk are Parallel 49 Brewing Company, Powell Brewery and Yaletown Brewing Company. |
Main Street
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Address: Main Street, Vancouver, Canada
Main Street is a must-visit for anyone travelling to Vancouver, as it’s one of the best hubs that features local restaurants, bars and boutique shops. Walk here if you want to experience Vancouver’s vibrant culture at its finest!
Strolling here is a different experience because you’re guaranteed to make a lot of stopovers throughout your walk, regardless if you’re planning on buying anything. Whether it be jewellery, vintage clothes, artisan coffee and more, you’re bound to find something interesting.
| Pro tips: If you want to add more destinations to your stroll on Main Street, you can do a mural walk. Doing this lets you admire various street murals up close and personal and of course, take iconic photos! While you’re here, don’t miss out on stopping by Science World, especially if you’re coming with kids. This amazing museum will impress you and your children with awe-inspiring exhibits that are the result of simple science. |
John Hendry Park (Trout Lake Park)
– Media credit: rafaeldarocha3
Address: 3300 Victoria Dr, Vancouver, BC V5N 4M4, Canada
Contact details: +1 604-873-7000
Operating hours: Daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
John Hendry Park is another worthwhile destination if you’re planning on reconnecting with nature during your walk. The best way to describe this park is that it’s sort of an oasis that’s located smack dab in the middle of the city, making it a great place to quickly escape stress.
Several trails can be found here, with each one featuring interesting wildlife, from exotic plants to birds and more. Of course, one of the main highlights of your walk here is the titular lake, which is also great to admire while sitting down on one of the log benches.
| Pro tips: Bring your dogs here so that you can have a companion during your walks. Also, the park features an off-leash area where they can play with other dogs in the park. If you want to see this park lit up with beautiful lights, we recommend scheduling your walk during the annual Lantern Festival (December). |
