Vancouver, Coast & Mountains has a vast number of well-marked trails to suit walkers of every ability. You'll be charmed by the desultory ambles at Alice Lake and Manning Park. Walk around Stanley Park’s Seawall with its spectacular views or admire the giant trees in Pacific Spirit Park. Admire BC's third largest waterfall, Shannon Falls or stroll around Inland Lake on the Sunshine Coast.
Local bookstores offer an array of books for the self-guided traveller, while Visitor Info Centres and many park entrances offer trail maps.
Planning a Walk:
- Please leave the area you visit undisturbed and be sure to carry out your garbage
- If travelling with pets, be aware that restrictions may apply
- Obey posted signs and keep to designated trails
- Be mindful: cougars, bears and other wildlife inhabit the region.
Metro Vancouver
Stanley Park Seawall
Stanley Park is the crown jewel of Vancouver's parks. Crowds of international tourists and locals alike can be found enjoying a brisk jog or leisurely stroll all year round. While there are a multitude of places where the famed Stanley Park Seawall can be accessed, the most common starting point is at the park's east-side entrance on Georgia Street. From here, the invigorating walk loops around spectacular Coal Harbour and Burrard Inlet to scenic English Bay and around.
Approximately 10km/6.2 mi in length, the seawall presents a never-ending vista of mountains, ocean, forest and cityscape. While the Seawall is the park's most famous walking route, numerous trails cut through its thick-forested interior.
Stanley Park is within easy walking distance of downtown Vancouver.
Attributes: - Rated: easy
- Approximate time required: 3 hours
- In the summer, tired pedestrians can see the park's most popular attractions by hopping aboard the free Stanley Park Shuttle Bus
> Stanley Park website.
This large park on the west side of the city is located on the University of British Columbia endowments lands. Stroll among dense forests, marches, rocky beaches, wooded ravines, and an ancient bog. Large Cedars, Hemlock, and Douglas fir are the definite giants and attract many walkers and joggers.
Attributes: - Rated: easy
- Approximate time required: varies by route
- Best time: year round
Sea to Sky Country
Alice Lake Provincial Park
A popular camping, fishing and swimming destination, Alice Lake offers numerous picturesque trails from which to choose. The gently winding trail around the lake itself makes for a leisurely after-dinner stroll. Another popular route is Four Lakes Trail, a 2-3 hour circuit which takes walkers through canopied Douglas-fir and western redcedar forest past four charming woodland lakes. Watch and look for wildlife here: the calm of Alice Lake is balanced by the musical chirrups of warblers, Steller's jays, robins and chickadees. Raccoons, squirrels and chipmunks play in the trees.
Alice Lake is situated off Highway 99, approximately 10 minutes north of Squamish.
Attributes: - Rated: easy
- Approximate time required: varies by route
- Best time: March - October
> Alice Lake Park website
BC's third largest waterfall 335m /1,099 ft is located in Shannon Falls Provincial Park and can be viewed by walking along Shannon Creek just off Hwy 99. Hikers should be watchful of slippery wooden walkways and rushing water during heavy rains. Wading in the creek or climbing onto rocks and debris is very dangerous and not recommended. Shannon Falls is located just off Hwy 99, outside Squamish.
Attributes: - Rated: easy
- Approximate time required: 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Best time: March - October
Shannon Falls Park website
Mighty Fraser Country
Manning Provincial Park
Manning has 70,844 ha/175,000ac of magnificent parkland welcoming hikers of all levels. The area's marvels include mountain summits covered in heavy green forest, alpine meadows, deeply sliced valleys as well as cool lakes and rushing rivers. Two of the more notable ones are the Sub-Alpine Meadows and the Lightning Lake Loop. To reach the Sub-Alpine Meadows, drive up the winding road just opposite Manning Park Resort. From the meadows parking lot, you can enjoy a panorama of the surrounding splendour as well as an up-close perspective of summer wildflowers. Routes from the meadows range in length from 20 minutes to several days. The best time for viewing wildflowers is between late July and early August.
Visitors in search of a stroll through gentle wilderness will value the Lightning Lake Loop, which skirts the shoreline of the first of four lakes in the Lightning Lake Chain. The 9km/5.6mi loop takes approximately 2-3 hours and is at its best May through October.
Manning Park is located along Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton, three hours east of Vancouver.
Attributes: - Rated: easy to difficult
- Approximate time required: varies by route
- Best time: July - September
> Manning Park website
Sunshine Coast
This wheel chair accessbile trail loops around Inland Lake, 5.5km/3.4mi long lake. The Park has picnic areas, four overnight camping areas with small, rustic cabins and six fishing piers on the trail loop around the lake. The cabins are reserved for disabled persons but can be utilized by able bodied parties if available. Inland Lake is located north of Powell River.
Attributes: - Rated: easy - moderate
- Approximate time required: varies by route
- Best time: March - November
Inland Lake Park website