False Creek Seawall. Photo: Tourism Vancouver / Tanya Goehring
Spot wildlife, enjoy the views, and breathe in the salty air as you stroll along the ocean. Here are nine places to go for a scenic coastal stroll in Vancouver.
Stanley Park Seawall
The 10-kilometre-loop around Stanley Park on the Seawall is Vancouver’s signature walking route. The paved path leads around the outside of the park, keeping you next to the ocean the whole time. You’ll enjoy views of downtown Vancouver, the harbour, the North Shore Mountains, the Lions Gate Bridge, and Burrard Inlet. Pro tip: It’s still gorgeous in wet weather and you might even have it all to yourself. Just pack an umbrella.
The Stanley Park Seawall. Photo: Destination BC/Heath Moffatt
Coal Harbour Seawall
The Coal Harbour Seawall runs for two kilometres between Canada Place and Stanley Park along the north side of downtown Vancouver. The path has great views of the North Shore Mountains and Vancouver’s harbour. You’ll also visit some of Vancouver’s iconic public art including The Drop sculpture at the Vancouver Convention Centre and the Olympic Cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza. You’ll also pass the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre. Be sure to stick around long enough to watch a seaplane land or take off.
The Drop sculpture on the Coal Harbour Seawall. Photo: Jasper Garratt/Unsplash
False Creek Seawall
Historically, False Creek Inlet was a gritty industrial district. But today the waterway is dotted with kayakers and the surrounding neighbourhoods are full of shops and cafes that make great pit stops for walkers. You can stroll all the way around False Creek starting near the north side of the Burrard Street Bridge, then passing through the Yaletown, Olympic Village, Fairview, and Granville Island neighbourhoods to end near the south end of the Burrard Street Bridge. The entire loop is about 10 km long, but you can make it shorter by taking the Aquabus or Granville Island Ferries across the water.
False Creek Seawall. Photo: Tourism Vancouver / Vision Photography
Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks
You can walk along gravel paths beside the ocean for four kilometres between Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks on Vancouver’s west side. In the summer, this sandy stretch is teeming with swimmers, sunbathers, and beach volleyball players, but the rest of the year you’ll be treated to misty views of the North Shore mountains and ships queuing up for their turn to visit Vancouver’s busy harbour. If you’re lucky, you might spot great blue herons or bald eagles fishing in the ponds at Jericho Beach or in the creek mouths at Spanish Banks.
Vancouver skyline from the Jericho Beach. Photo: Destination BC/Albert Normandin
Ambleside Park and the Centennial Seawalk
For the best views of Vancouver, head across the Lions Gate Bridge to West Vancouver. You can walk along the ocean from Ambleside Park to Dundarave Park along the Centennial Seawalk. The route is nearly four kilometres long as it follows the shoreline beside the beaches and greenspaces of Ambleside Park. The path continues past waterfront homes before finishing at Dundarave Park and the iconic Beach House restaurant. Make a loop by walking back along Marine Drive a few blocks away, which has lots of cute shops and cafes.
Enjoying Ambleside Beach at sunset. Photo: Destination Vancouver/Kindred & Scout
Iona Beach Regional Park
Walk next to the ocean and experience some of Vancouver’s best birding at Iona Beach Regional Park in Richmond. This nature-focused park is located next to Vancouver International Airport. It hosts dozens of bird species year-round, but spring and fall are the best times to visit thanks to the annual migration. The four-kilometre-long Iona Jetty stretches straight out into the Strait of Georgia and has great views of the ocean, the North Shore Mountains, and Vancouver Island in the distance. Keep an eye out for all kinds of water birds. You can often spot seals too.
Birds at Iona Beach Regional Park. Photo: peter P/Unsplash
West Dyke Trail
The West Dyke Trail follows Richmond’s western edge for six kilometres between Terra Nova Park and Garry Point Park. The flat gravel path is great for walking and biking. Frequent benches invite you to stop and gaze out across the salt marsh to the ocean and distant views of Vancouver Island. You can spot dozens of species of birds in the marsh and sometimes coyotes too. After your stroll, walk a few extra blocks from Garry Point Park into Steveston Village to enjoy fish and chips at one of the riverfront restaurants.
Cyclists on the West Dyke Trail. Photo: Tourism Richmond
Boundary Bay Regional Park
Head to Tsawwassen’s Boundary Bay Regional Park to walk along the tidal flats. Boundary Bay marks the border between Canada and the USA, so you can look south to Point Roberts, a unique American exclave. The paths along the beach and through the dunes at Centennial Beach make a great short outing. But if you want a longer walk, follow the Boundary Bay Dyke Trail for 17 km to Mud Bay. The route is great any time of the year, but in spring and fall it’s a great place to see huge flocks of migrating birds including snow geese.
Great blue heron. Photo: Boundary Bay Regional Park
White Rock Promenade
You can experience an adorable seaside village without leaving Vancouver. Head to the town of White Rock at Vancouver’s southern edge to walk the two-kilometre-long promenade beside the beach. The highlight is the 110-year-old White Rock pier which extends nearly half a kilometre into the ocean. Depending on the weather, you might prefer to stroll with an ice cream cone or a cup of hot coffee in hand. Thankfully, you can get both at one of the many restaurants on nearby Marine Drive.
White Rock Pier. Photo: White Rock City