Enjoying the Capilano Suspension Bridge on a rainy day. Photo: Capilano Suspension Bridge.
Long-time locals embrace Vancouver’s reputation as “Raincouver”. All that rain keeps our forests green, our air fresh, and our waterfalls pumping. And if you’re prepared, getting outdoors on a rainy day can be gorgeous.
Rainy Day Adventure Tips
- While it can be rainy in Vancouver, it’s usually a light drizzle rather than a downpour. Use hourly weather forecasts to find the best time of day to be outside.
- On wet and chilly days, plan adventures that finish near a cafe or restaurant so you can warm up afterwards with coffee or a bowl of soup.
- Layer up with warm clothing underneath and waterproof layers over top. Wear quick-drying fabrics like wool or synthetics. Skip the cotton – it soaks up water which will make you chilly and miserable.
- If you’re going a hike, pack essential safety gear and leave a trip plan so someone knows where you are going and when you’ll be back.
Take a Hike
Photo: Destination BC/Boomer Jerritt
Grab your hiking boots and rain jacket, then make a bee-line for the forest. The canopy of branches will help deflect some of the rain and all that moisture makes the moss and ferns seem extra green. Pacific Spirit Regional Park and the treed interior of Stanley Park are great close-to-town hiking options. Or venture a little further away with one of the trails on our list of the best rainy day hikes in Vancouver.
Go Wildlife Watching
Raccoons on a path near Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. Photo: Pete Nuij/Unsplash
Wild animals can’t go indoors when it’s raining, so wet weather can be a great time to spot them. The rain tends to scare away most humans, which gives you a higher chance of spotting wildlife.
Between March and October, you can book whale watching tours and spot orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, river otters, porpoises, and more.
You can also spot wildlife like raccoons, squirrels, beavers, coyotes, frogs, and more in parks around the city. Lost Lagoon and Beaver Lake in Stanley Park are a great place to start. Be sure to respect the animals by giving them space. Our guide to being wildlife aware has more tips.
Vancouver is on the Pacific Flyway, a major bird migration route so we have great bird watching all year long. Rainy weather means that birds are more likely to perch in trees, which makes them easy to spot. Check out the BC Bird Trail for bird watching destinations around the city along with info about which species you can spot.
Walk Along the Waterfront
The False Creek seawall is lovely on a rainy day. Photo: Destination BC/Tanya Goehring
Vancouver has a huge network of waterfront Seawall paths. With an umbrella in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, a rainy day is the perfect time for a stroll. With fewer people around and the soundtrack of rain hitting the ocean, it’s a beautifully tranquil experience. And if you get chilly, there are cafes and restaurants every few minutes to duck inside and dry off.
Chase Waterfalls
Shannon Falls in Squamish on a rainy day. Photo: Colourful Captures/Unsplash
Ignore TLC’s advice and go chasin’ waterfalls. Rain feeds Vancouver’s rivers and streams so on wet days our waterfalls put on a show. There are lots of great waterfalls near Vancouver, most of which just require a short walk. Twin Falls in North Vancouver’s Lynn Canyon is a short hike from the parking lot. Or head north to Shannon Falls in Squamish. The Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver is also gorgeous on rainy days as the water thunders through the canyon below you.
Find the Snow
Snowshoers at the Sea to Sky Gondola. Photo: Sea to Sky Gondola
Vancouver is at sea level so in the winter it’s usually raining, not snowing. But between December and March, you can escape the rain and enjoy the snow by heading up into the mountains. Experience snowflakes fluttering down around you and frosty air once you ride the Sea to Sky Gondola or the Grouse Mountain Skyride up to the peaks. Remember to pack warm clothing and footwear!
Enjoy Nature Indoors at the Bloedel Conservatory
Photo: Bloedel Conservatory
This is cheating a little bit, but you can enjoy the wonders of nature in Vancouver without going outside. The Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park shelters a garden paradise inside a huge dome, which means it might be rainy outside but it’s tropical inside. Stroll along the paths to spot over 500 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants and flowers. The Conservatory is also home to over 100 parrots, Macaws, and other birds. Be sure to say hello because some of them can talk!