Being Active in Vancouver in Winter
With its relatively mild winter temperatures, it's easy to enjoy outdoor activities year-round in Vancouver. Our city is surrounded by nature so you can be active in lush urban parks or make a quick trip to the nearby mountains.
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is the Crown jewel of Vancouver: a vibrant emerald green oasis next to downtown. The 400-hectare park has lots of trails for walking or biking.
The most famous is the 10-kilometre-long Stanley Park Seawall, which traces the park's perimeter and has panoramic views of downtown and the North Shore Mountains. It's a great spot for a leisurely walk, but it's also Vancouver's most beautiful running path and part of the BMO Vancouver Marathon route.
If you want to connect with nature, hike the gravel trails in Stanley Park's rainforest interior to discover towering old-growth trees, many bird species, and a lake with resident beavers.
Cyclists will also love Stanley Park. The Seawall is the best destination for casual riders who want to stop at the viewpoints. Vancouver's road cyclists love pushing themselves on a 10-kilometre loop on the park's hilly roads, which locals call a "sploop", short for Stanley Park Loop. The route is a popular training ride to prep for the RBC Gran Fondo Whistler, which starts in the park.
North Shore Mountains
Just 30 minutes from Vancouver, the three North Shore Mountains are the go-to place for snowy adventures.
Step on to the new Grouse Mountain gondola and enjoy the view as you ride up to the Peak of Vancouver. From there, you can go skiing or snowboarding. If you're looking for a more mellow activity they also have a lighted winter walk, snowshoeing trails, a sledding hill and an outdoor ice rink.
Cypress Mountain in nearby West Vancouver hosted some of the ski and snowboard events at the 2010 Winter Olympics. They have 600 skiable acres spread across two mountains. A third mountain, Hollyburn Mountain, is home to cross country ski trails, snowshoe trails, and a huge tube park.
Family-run Mount Seymour in North Vancouver is another great skiing and snowboarding destination. They also have a network of snowshoe trails both at the resort and in Mount Seymour Provincial Park, which borders the ski area. Their tube park has faster runs for big kids (and adults) as well as a toboggan park for younger children.
Pacific Spirit Regional Park and UBC
Head to the leafy west side of Vancouver to hike, run, workout, and bike. The area includes the University of British Columbia campus, some residential neighbourhoods, and the 860-hectare Pacific Spirit Regional Park. The park protects a variety of ecosystems including forests, creeks, beaches, cliffs, and bogs.
The 55 kilometres of trails crisscross each other, so you can choose your own hiking adventure. It's also the best place to go trail running in Vancouver.
If you're looking for a high-intensity interval workout, the steep sets of trails running from Marine Drive down to Wreck Beach and Tower Beach are a fun place to do repeats. As a bonus, you can enjoy ocean views between sets.
The quiet roads around UBC are also a favourite destination for Vancouver's road cyclists, especially those training for races. A popular route is to start by climbing Northwest Marine Drive from Spanish Banks Beach, then loop back around via Southwest Marine Drive.
Seawall and Beaches
Vancouver's Seawall doesn't just run around Stanley Park - it continues for 28 kilometres along False Creek and out to Kitsilano Beach. From there, separated biking and walking paths follow the ocean west to Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks Beach. The entire 28-kilometre pathway system is the world's longest uninterrupted waterfront path.
You'll find locals and tourists alike strolling the Seawall every day of the year. The False Creek section has great city views and lots of cafes in Yaletown, Olympic Village, and Granville Island to take a break.
The Seawall is also a spectacular place to run. The famous Vancouver Sun Run, one of the world's largest 10 km races, uses the Sunset Beach section of the Seawall as part of its course.
The separated bike paths on the Seawall are a low-stress spot for biking since you won't have to worry about cars. And of course, the views are amazing.
If you need to feel centred, head to one of the beaches along the Seawall to do yoga with a view of the mountains.
West Dyke Trail and Steveston
The West Dyke Trail in Richmond has a rural feeling even though it's just a few minutes south of Vancouver. The six-kilometre trail hugs the western edge of Richmond along Sturgeon Banks, an estuary at the mouth of the Fraser River.
The flat gravel path along the dyke has great views of the Strait of Georgia and the North Shore Mountains. It's a wonderful place for a leisurely walk or a bike ride.
The grassy marshland next to the trail is a part of the Pacific Flyway, an important migration path for over 1.4 million birds each year. Bring binoculars and come near dawn or dusk for the best chance at spotting dozens of species including hawks, eagles, and herons.
At the south end of the trail, follow the streets into historic Steveston, an old fishing village that has lots of cute boutiques and cafes along the riverfront.