What to know
- Vancouver is home to more than 240 parks and green spaces.
- Stanley Park remains the city’s most visited outdoor attraction.
- Lynn Canyon offers a free suspension bridge experience.
- Capilano Suspension Bridge Park features one of Vancouver’s most famous tourist attractions.
- Most parks are accessible by public transit and offer views of mountains, forests and the Pacific Ocean.
If there’s something that Vancouver is most known for, it’s nature and greenery.
Surrounded by mountains, valleys and the Pacific Ocean, the city is home to over 240 parks and green spaces. From expansive oceanside walks and exhilarating suspension bridges to challenging hikes and breathtaking views, Vancouver has a park for every type of nature lover.
Here are five parks, both free and with admission, that are must-see spots when visiting Vancouver.
Stanley Park
- Location: 2000 West Georgia St.
Stanley Park is debatably the most famous park in Vancouver. Located on the Pacific Ocean’s shores, the park is 400 hectares of greenery, walking trails, and ocean views. It’s perhaps one of the best urban parks in the world. The Seawall – an eight kilometres foot and bike path along the Pacific Ocean — is Stanley Park’s most famous attraction. The park also houses numerous rose gardens, a brewery, sheltered picnic tables, several playgrounds, and even a beach. The best part? Stanley Park is free to visit.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
- Location: 3735 Capilano Rd.
The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is an iconic must-see park and attraction for first time visitors to Vancouver. Although the fresh canyon air and expansive greenery is already breathtaking enough, the high suspension bridge is where the thrill comes in. Situated 137 metres above the Capilano River, the 70 metres bridge swings from side to side as you’re walking from one end to the other. Aside from the suspension bridge, Capilano Park also offers a range of nature-themed attractions, including the Treetops Adventures, the Cliffwalk, and the Living Forest. Admission to the park costs $75 for adults, $64 for students, and $49 for teens.
Lynn Canyon Park
- Location: 3590 Mountain Hwy.
Nestled in North Vancouver, Lynn Canyon Park is known by the locals as the free version of Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. The park offers a dense forest, rushing streams, and a breathtaking – yet still thrilling – suspension bridge. For those who love to hike, the nearby Lynn Headwaters Regional Park offers a network of trails with stunning views.
Trout Lake
- Location: 3300 Victoria Drive
Known more formally as John Hendry Park, Trout Lake is the crown jewel in the heart of Vancouver’s Grandview area. The park offers several playgrounds, walking paths, a community centre, an off-leash dog beach, and a summer farmer’s market. And obviously, the main feature is Trout Lake, a 67 acres swimmable lake in the park’s centre. But please check the lake’s E. Coli levels before taking a dip as Trout Lake is known for being closed for significant periods in the summer.
Jericho Beach Park
- Location: 3941 Point Grey Road
Jericho Beach Park in the city’s Kitsilano neighbourhood has everything that makes a fantastic park. There are iconic views, lots of activities to do, and rich history – it was the first Royal Canadian Air Force Station in British Columbia and operated from 1920 to 1947. Jericho Beach Park includes a tennis court, soccer and baseball fields, picnic tables, clean public washroom, and volleyball nets. The beach itself is also a very attractive spot, with smooth sand, a view of Stanley Park, and swimmable waters.
