Vancouver Seawall

Cyclists fly by, tourists stroll, joggers cruise the paths and all Seawall denizens look out onto the bay. It's easy to see why the Seawall is Stanley Park's most famous feature. It's an impressive 8.8-kilometre (5.5-mile) paved route that loops around the park and, along with adjoining seaside pathways, connects the park to downtown Vancouver and skirts its entire inner waterfront. Created in 1917 with the goal of staving off erosion, the Seawall took 60 years to complete. Today, it is the park's most popular walking, jogging, biking and rollerblading path and, because of its relatively flat terrain, it's a wonderful route for all ages and abilities.

It features numerous hallmark views of the city and the water as well as a number of landmarks along the way. Over the years, the Seawall has expanded beyond the park's boundaries and now encompasses 22 kilometres (14 miles), extending from Coal Harbour all the way to Kitsilano Beach Park.

The Seawall is just one of a variety of lovely walking and biking paths within Stanley Park. In fact, more than 64 kilometres (40 miles) of forested trails wind through the park's interior. These well-maintained, bark-mulch-packed paths lead past towering trees that are hundreds of years old, providing welcome shade and a peaceful escape from the crowds on the park's more-developed periphery.