If you’re looking for wilderness hikes in an urban environment walk through Stanley Park. It is one of the biggest and most beautiful urban parks in North America. You can pick up a map of the park with marked trails at most park concessions.
If you want a seaside hike, then, instead of walking through Stanley Park, follow the seawall around it. This walk will give you a sense of the grandeur of the park, the city and the North Shore mountains.
You can also walk along English Bay, then cross the Burrard Street Bridge to Vanier Park. From here, you can hike along to Kitsilano Park and beach. If you’re feeling especially energetic, continue past Kitsilano Beach and visit the other beaches that stretch west toward the tip of Vancouver: Jericho Beach, Locarno Beach, Spanish Banks and, finally, around the tip to the clothing optional, Wreck Beach.
If you want to be in the woods and you’ve already hiked Stanley Park, then head out toward the University of British Columbia where you’ll find Pacific Spirit Park, also called the University Endowment Lands. This 1885 acre park is nearly twice the size of Stanley Park.
If your prefer the mountains, cross Lions Gate Bridge and hike in the Coast Mountains that provide a backdrop for Vancouver’s North Shore. There are hundreds of kilometres of trails that take you on leisurely or strenuous day hikes or overnight backpacking trips.
The best way to access the trails is to know where trail heads are located. That way you can choose a trailhead and then explore from there.
