Vancouver, Coast & Mountains is home to many impressive viewpoints. These include the fragrant, flowered, sub-alpine meadows of Manning Provincial Park ; the panoramic city vistas from atop Grouse Mountain ; or the Vancouver Lookout ; Lighthouse Park's unobstructed view of ocean, mountains, islands and city; as well as the captivating rapids of Skookumchuck Narrows . Cascade Lookout (Manning Provincial Park) Manning Provincial Park sits in the heart of the Cascade Mountains. The turnoff to the Cascade Lookout and Sub-Alpine Meadows is located across the highway from Manning Park Resort. The 16km/ 10mi drive ascends a steep and winding road right into the mountains. At the 8km/ 5mi mark, the Cascade Lookout provides spectacular must-see vistas of valleys, lakes and rivers. Visitors who drive the remaining 8km/ 5mi will be treated to a myriad of flower-clad meadows. If you experience the sensation of being on top of the world, it's because you are! The road is open June to September, weather permitting.
Manning Park is located along Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton , three hours east of Vancouver . Manning Park website .
Grouse Mountain Known as the Peak of Vancouver, Grouse Mountain is a favourite destination for locals and visitors alike. Just a short drive from downtown
Vancouver , your mountain adventure begins in the parking lot, where a 100-passenger aerial tram ride whisks visitors up the mountain to the lodge.
Ride to the top of the Vancouver Lookout in the Harbour Centre and enjoy spectacular 360-degree views of the city, North Shore mountains and one of Canada's largest ports. Scale the approximately 167m in a glass elevator, arriving at the top in 50 seconds to explore the interpretive displays around the viewing deck.
Learn more about the Vancouver Lookout by clicking on Field Reporter Simon's video below.
Lighthouse Park The entire family will enjoy this wilderness escape at the mouth of Burrard Inlet. Hidden on the outskirts of
West Vancouver , the well-developed trail system includes an invigorating 5km/ 3mi circuit through centuries-old Douglas-fir and cedar forest. This moderately-rated walk should take around two hours.
To the east, enjoy fabulous views of English Bay, Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver . To the west, see Bowen Island and, further on, Vancouver Island . No trip to the park is complete without a look at its namesake, 1912's Point Atkinson Lighthouse.
Lighthouse Park is located in West Vancouver, 25 minutes from downtown Vancouver.
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Lighthouse Park website .
Skookumchuck Narrows The word "Skookumchuck" is Chinook for "powerful waters." That about sums up what visitors to Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park will encounter. On a 3m/ 9.8ft tide, 757 billion litres/ 200 billion gallons of water pulse through the narrows connecting Sechelt Inlet to Jervis Inlet. The result is a crescendo of turbulent rapids renowned for their astounding whirlpools and whitewater. A relatively flat 8km/ 5-mi roundtrip trail leaves from the site's parking lot to the Roland Point viewing area. Time your walk so that you arrive when the tidal surge is at its strongest.
Rated "easy", the walk should take around two hours. Consult with the tide table or Sechelt Visitor Centre for best viewing times
The park is located off Highway 101 near Egmont, one hour north of Sechelt .
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Skookumchuck Narrows Park website .
Whistler Mountain The panoramic views are breathtaking at the top of Whistler Mountain. Your adventure begins with the Whistler Gondola (which charges an admission fee), taking you from the Village to the mountain top, where you'll enjoy 360-degree views of pure splendour. Take in world-famous peaks, crystal lakes and magnificent glaciers. During the summer months there are also some wonderful trails to explore, including Glacier Trail, Harmony Lake Trail and the quirkily named Musical Bumps. Before setting off to explore the mountain, please note the time of the last gondola back to Whistler Village.
> Whistler Blackcomb website .
Stanley Park The crown jewel of Vancouver's parks, 405ha 1,000ac Stanley Park has room for plenty of spectacular views. Navigating the park in a counterclockwise direction, some of the panoramic vista points include:
The Seawall from the Georgia Street entrance to Brockton Point Lighthouse provides stunning views of the downtown skyline, including the distinctive five-sails silhouette of Canada Place .
Rounding the bend beyond Brockton Point, prepare to be wowed by the stature of Lions Gate Bridge, the legendary three-lane suspension bridge connecting Vancouver to the North Shore .
In proximity to the bridge is Prospect Point, a perfect place to stop and view the picturesque North Shore.
Stanley Park is within easy walking distance of downtown Vancouver .
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Stanley Park website .
Beaches of English Bay Most people expect water views from a beach. In
Vancouver , you also get the unexpected: mountain and cityscape views.
This is particularly true of Spanish Bank, Locarno, Jericho and Kitsilano Beaches along the southern shores of English Bay. Each is renowned for its stunning views of the downtown city skyline, North Shore mountains and Pacific Ocean.
Gaze at the setting sun from your perch on a large log - one of many interspersed along the beaches. Observe the mesmerizing bob of passing sailboats and keep a lookout for a Harbour seal.
English Bay's south-shore beaches are just a 15 to 25-minute drive from downtown Vancouver .