West Coast 2025: Vancouver - Stanley Park

It has been 9 years since I last visited Vancouver's Stanley Park. As I said even then, you cannot come to Vancouver and NOT visit this magnificent park. It's a huge public park surrounded by the waters of the Burrard Inlet and the English Bay. On a sunny afternoon, we cross the Lions Gate Bridge to enter the park.

Prospect Point is the first place you must stop. It has grand vistas of the Bay and the bridge, and makes for fantastic photo opportunities. Parking near the cafe is limited but you always get a space (you may have to wait for someone to leave if it's unusually crowded). There is an ice cream shop near this point that still serves up good ice cream.

Much of the park remains as densely forested as it was in the late 1800s, with about a half million trees, some of which stand as tall as 76 metres (249 ft) and are hundreds of years old

Hollow Tree stands out - it's a Western red cedar tree stump and a popular landmark in Stanley Park. The tree was damaged during a December 2006 windstorm and was slated for removal. In 2009, the Stanley Park Hollow Tree Conservation Society was formed and began raising money from private donors to preserve the landmark. A metal frame was installed within the tree to hold the structure in place.

Some people rent bicycles and cycle the 8km Seawall, while others roam around or find picnic spots. We, just like all those years ago, decided to drive all over the island and take in all the views. You can drive along Stanley Park Drive in the park to go all around the park. 

Another landmark is the series of Totem Poles north of Hallelujah Point. This is a First Nations art area near Brockton Point. It has nine totem poles, other Indigenous art and a gift shop. The site is one of the most visited and photographed places in the park, and in all of Vancouver as well. It’s a must-see destination for tourists, especially ones travelling from abroad.

From here on, you can access the Stanley Park Dr. which takes you to the Stanley Park Seawall Path.

You can go all the way into the water (no one swims here). There's a lot of much and seaweed on the rocks, as in high tide the water comes all the way up. A lot of people bike around the park using these tracks. The Vancouver Aquarium is also on the island and that's almost 2-3 hours by itself.

Overall, if you are visiting Vancouver, do not miss Stanley Park. You need a solid 4 hours if you want to take in the highlights, and be prepared to walk.