Best Outdoor Activities in Vancouver
Here’s a list of some ideas of the outdoor activities you can enjoy around Vancouver. Hiking trails, biking & cycling, splash pads, tennis courts, and picnic areas and more...
Hiking
Pacific Spirit Regional Park
Location: Vancouver
Difficulty: Easy
The forests, creeks, beaches, cliffs and bog of this regional park provide habitat to a wide variety of plants and animals in the heart of Canada’s third largest urban area. The park’s trails are also a great place for Metro Vancouver residents to get out and connect with that amazing nature.
Stanley Park
Location: Vancouver
Difficulty: Easy
Stanley Park is a magnificent green oasis in the midst of the urban landscape of Vancouver. Explore the 400-hectare natural West Coast rainforest and enjoy scenic views of water, mountains, sky, and majestic trees along Stanley Park's famous Seawall. Discover kilometres of trails, beautiful beaches, local wildlife, great eats, natural, cultural and historical landmarks, along with many other adventures. The park offers a wide range of unforgettable experiences for all ages and interests, including Canada’s largest aquarium.
Iona Beach Regional Park
Location: Richmond
Difficulty: Easy
Iona Beach Regional Park is north and west of Vancouver International Airport. It is a location with excellent viewing at the border between land and sea, where you can observe a surprising mix of wilderness and commercial air and river traffic, then walk towards the setting sun to stand under and endless sky along a 4km jetty.
Burnaby Lake
Location: Burnaby
Difficulty: Easy
This regional park, right in the heart of Burnaby, is a place to reconnect with the natural world without leaving the city. The area is a stunning wildlife sanctuary where birdwatchers regularly spot great blue herons and rarer birds like the green-backed heron.
SUP and Kayaking
False Creek
Location: Vancouver
Explore Vancouver from the water, and take off from our docks in Olympic Village. Find relaxation and improve your strength as you explore everything the Vancouver coastline has to offer.
Deer Lake
Location: Burnaby
Deer Lake Park is situated in a peaceful natural environment that serves as the cultural centre of our city. Leisurely walking trails with scenic views connect the lake, Burnaby Art Gallery, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Burnaby Village Museum and Hart House restaurant.
Deep Cove
Location: North Vancouver
Deep Cove is Vancouver’s premier paddling location for kayaking, stand up paddleboarding and surfskiing. located only 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver by car, and are easily accessible by public transport. Deep Cove is a beautiful place to spend a day, a week or a lifetime, exploring the stunning scenery from the water and from on land.
Biking & Cycling in Vancouver
False Creek Seawall
Location: Vancouver
A cycling path all around False Creek, from near Kitsilano Beach to Science World and all the way to English Bay
Stanley Park Seawall
Location: Vancouver
A Stanley Park cycle tour is the number one thing to do in Vancouver. The 9 km portion around Stanley Park takes one hour to cycle.
Central Valley Greenway
Location: Vancouver, Burnaby, and New Westminster
25 km regional greenway linking Vancouver, Burnaby, and New Westminster. It is a combination of off-road paths and on-street routes. It follows the Expo and Millennium SkyTrain lines, running from False Creek through Burnaby, and along a shallow valley south to the Fraser River in New Westminster.