Hiking Around the Vancouver Seawall

For those interested in a long walk without having to leave the city, Vancouver has the popular seawall. This 22 kilometre (13.5 mile) pedestrian path winds its way through many of the city’s neighbourhoods and parks. It’s a great way to see some of Vancouver’s best spots, and great dining and attractions are close to many parts of the seawall. If you decide to bring a lunch, you’ll have no trouble finding a spectacular picnic spot.

For a great urban day hike, start at Kitsilano Beach and head east on the seawall. You'll pass by Granville Island, Stamps Landing, and the Olympic Village neighbourhood before coming to Science World. From there, continue along and you'll pass BC Place and Rogers Arena stadiums before arriving in Yaletown. You’ll then head underneath the Granville and Burrard bridges before finding yourself strolling along near Beach Drive and then English Bay, at the foot of Stanley Park. If you're looking for more, the seawall wraps around the entire shoreline of Stanley Park before heading east again along Burrard Inlet all the way to the Vancouver Convention Centre. The trail supports two-way traffic, so this hike can be done in the reverse order or in sections as you please. The best part is, if you don’t feel like hiking the full 22 kilometres (13.6 miles), the False Creek Ferries and Aquabus have numerous stations along the False Creek section of the seawall!