Getting around Stanley Park in Vancouver BC

Getting Around Stanley Park

Getting Around Stanley Park

Driving Around Stanley Park

Going around the park by car is the method of choice if it is necessary to see the most with little time available. There is no free parking in the park during the day and overnight stays in campers or other vehicles are not allowed.

The main drive basically follows the circumference of the park and is one way for most of its length going in the direction from Coal Harbour counter clockwise to English Bay. The two exceptions are Pipeline Road from the Beaver Lake access to the Georgia Street entrance and a stretch of the main drive from Second Beach to the Beach Street entrance.

All other cut offs or shortcuts maintain the counter clockwise direction. Each attraction or activity area has its own parking.

The Stanley Park Causeway is not a method of getting about the park even though it does go through the park. It is a connector that allows traffic from downtown to access the Lions Gate Bridge and cross to North Vancouver and vice versa.

Biking in Stanley Park

At the entrance to the Park you find many places to rent a tandem bike or rollerblades.

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.

 

Walking Around Stanley Park

Wherever possible the best experience of the park is on foot. All areas are accessible. A leisurely walk around the seawall takes approximately 2 hours (10km). The whole park, including stops for meals, picnics and/or stepping into the water at the beaches, can be experienced in a day without being rushed.

The Seawall is 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)

At second beach you can leave the seawall and head back to your staring destination depending on how you arrived at the park.

You can also continue 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 walking this is the spot where you would have completed your loop of the park and ended up near Denman and Davie Street.

Roller Blading Stanley Park

If you decide to roller blade you can rent these at the same places you would rent bikes. depending on your skill level or endurance level hop on the seawall and stay on the side of the walkway that is designated for bikes and blades. You can take the same route as the bikers or cut through the park to see other attractions. staying on the seawall is a preferred route as there are no hills to navigate or climb.

Be sure to check out the Horse Drawn Tours


Dining in Stanley Park
Stanley Park Attractions

Hotels in Vancouver BC

Century Plaza Hotel and Spa
Century Plaza all Suite Hotel in Downtown Vancouver
Best Western Sands
Best Western Sands Hotel on Davie at Stanley Park
Hampton Inn Vancouver Downtown - Hampton Inn Hotel next to BC and GM Place downtown Vancouver
Loden Hotel Vancouver
Loden hotel in Coal Harbour Vancouver great rates and reviews

Hotels on Robson Street

Blue Horizon Hotel in Vancouver
Blue Horizon Hotel located downtown on Robson Street
Empire Landmark Hotel
Empire Landmark Hotel affordable Vancouver Hotel on Robson Street
Rosedale on Robson
The Rosedale hotel is close to Gm Place and BC Place Stadium