Biking
around Stanley Park Vancouver
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 Biking the Seawall in Stanley Park (Map)
Biking the Seawall is one of the best ways to see as much of Vancouver's
Stanley Park, the
Beaches and
English Bay as
you can in one afternoon. Biking the seawall is a favourite thing to do by
locals and visitors alike.
It is a well-paved, 9 km (5.4 miles) route that has little elevation change and
follows the coast line from downtown all the way to
Kitsilano and
Spanish Banks.
Cyclists have access to paths
that parallel the roadways and at certain points they share the Seawall with
pedestrians.
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Bike Rentals at Stanley
Park
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Unless you've brought your own, you'll need to rent bikes and there are numerous
rental shops on Denman between Robson and Georgia. It costs anywhere from $6 and
hour to about $30 to rent a top-of-the-line bike for the day, and this includes
a lock and helmet.
Bayshore Rentals
745 Denman Street
Vancouver, BC Canada
Tel (1) 604.688.2453
Web Site:
Stanley Park Cycle
768 Denman Street
Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
Phone: 604-688-0087
Web Site:
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Biking
the Seawall
around Stanley Park |
| The best place to start the bike tour on the Seawall is around the intersection
of Denman and Georgia streets. Parking in the area is scarce, so take a taxi or
you can walk there in about 20 mins from most
hotels in downtown Vancouver.
Getting Started from the Bike Rentals:
Follow Alberni St. west from Denman and follow the path that heads under the
bridge. Presto - you are on the Seawall and ready for your day of fun (and
exercise)
First Up: Stanley Park
The first leg of the journey is the 8.8km loop around Stanley Park. Flat, well
paved and filled with wonderful vistas of the North Shore Mountains, the
downtown skyline and more, it is a stunning start to your day.
You could spend the day just seeing what Stanley park has to offer don't be
afraid to leave the seawall, and explore the Park, finding the seawall again is
really easy just look for the mountains and head there.
points of interest along the way
- 9 o'clock gun. (canon actually)
- Brockton Point and the Lighthouse
- Lumbermen's Arch ( kids spray park and concession stand)
- Aquarium, and miniature train
- Lion's Gate Bridge
- Siwash Rock
- Third Beach and second beach (stop for a dip or an ice cream)
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Keep Peddling you're heading to English Bay |
As you leave Stanley Park, you will bike along a section of the Seawall that
surrounds English Bay. Home to some of the most stunning sunsets in the city,
this tree-lined section is simply stunning. If you have had enough riding this
is the spot where you would have completed your loop of the park and would head
north along Denman back to the Bike rental.
If you choose to carry on:
Denman and Davie offer many restaurants with fantastic patios, and the perfect
spot for lunch.
- Sunset & English Bay Beaches (wonderful urban beaches)
- Views across the inlet to Kitsilano and Vanier Park.
- Burrard Bridge (large, gothic span across False Creek)
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Halfway there and on your way to
Yaletown |
Once a hap dash collection of wharves and warehouses, Yaletown is now a booming
area of hi-tech companies, glittering high rises and great shops and boutiques.
This section of the Seawall is also one of the most ornate, with wonderful
architecture and waterfront vistas.
Check Out:
- Urban Fare an upscale food market and grocery store
- BC Place Stadium
the domed stadium home to CFL's
BC Lions
- Science World looks
like a giant metallic golf ball
one of the coolest attractions in the city. Science World features permanent
exhibits and traveling attractions that will entertain and educate the young. |
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Continue on your heading to
Granville Island |
Continue down the Seawall, under Cambie St. Bridge and past the charming condos
around False Creek. Soon
you will enter bustling and world-famous Granville Island. Home to numerous art
galleries, shops, restaurants and the fabulous Public Market, it is one of the
city's most popular attractions.
Ready to head home?
You'll probably be just about done with your bike at this point.
Hop on the AquaBus and cruise back to False Creek luckily, you can take the
AquaBus across False Creek (bikes welcome!) and get let off back on the Seawall
only minutes from the rental shops.
The more motivated can take the Seawall all the way back around Stanley Park,
while the rest of us would be better served to follow
the Seawall to the entrance of Stanley Park, and then turn right down Stanley
Park Drive.
Follow this cute little road until it hits Lagoon Dr., then turn right down
Robson until it hits Denman. That's right, you are done. Time to get off the
bike and stretch! |
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