If there is one thing that I urge you to do while in Vancouver, it is to go biking in Stanley Park. The 9km seawall around Vancouver’s Stanley Park can accommodate both bikers and walkers, and there are so many great stops along the way too. Here’s my guide to biking Stanley Park in Vancouver.
Renting your bike
There are so many bike rental places within a few block radius of Stanley Park, that you can really have your pick. There are different kinds of bicycles that you can hire – from single gear, mountain bikes, and tandems. We used Spokes Bicycle Rentals on the corner of W. Georgia and Denman Streets, simply because it was located 1 block from the entrance to the cycle path. We got simple 1-speed cruisers, as the sea wall ride is all on the flat. We got two bikes, helmets, a basket for my handbag, and locks for the bikes, for less than $40 for 2 hours. The seawall ride only takes about 1 hour, but we decided to stop at various spots along the way.
During our stay in Vancouver, we stayed at the Barclay Hotel on Robson Street
The Stanley Park Seawall bike ride
The cycle path actually covers 22km from Coal Harbour, round Stanley Park, following the harbour to Granville Island and out to Pacific Spirit Regional Park and beyond. We chose to do a 9km section around the Stanley Park seawall. It is very accessible for all ages and biking abilities. I even saw wheelchair-users enjoying the seawall path, which shows great consideration for accessibility during the design and upgrade of this pathway.
The seawall bike path is a one-way system for the majority of the seawall, so once you are on the main loop, you are committed. Otherwise you will have to come back via the pathways and roads further inland in Stanley Park. View the official Seawall map and timeline PDF.
Stops along the route
Coal Harbour
I recommend you test your bike and get comfortable with it down at the entrance to the cycle path, along the boardwalk from Coal Harbour. Admire the houseboats and take note of where the harbour cruises leave from. Enjoy the seaplanes too!
Wildlife
The likelihood is that you’ll see some wildlife on your bike ride. We saw geese, herons, and a sea otter (although I didn’t get a shot of it). British Colombia is home to some incredible animals, so hopefully you get lucky and see some on your bike ride!
The Stanley Park Totem Poles
One of the most visited attractions in Vancouver are the First Nations art and totem poles at Brockton Point. There are 9 totems in total, and they were moved to this location in the 1960s so they could be viewed and admired with ease. It is a must-see stop while you are biking Stanley Park.
Brockton Point Lighthouse
Brockton Point Lighthouse was built in 1914. It makes a good spot to pause for a minute with its view over the harbour.
Siwash Rock
According the the City of Vancouver website, the Squamish legend is that a man was turned into Siwash Rock; “as an indestructible monument to Clean Fatherhood”. This beautiful outcrop of rock is millions of years old and withstands the weathering of the sea.
Lions Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate of Vancouver, the Lions Gate Bridge is around the halfway point on the journey. We caught it on a day with lots of mist and it was quite dramatic.
Biking Stanley Park
Whenever I visit a city that is conducive to bike riding, I make sure I hire a bicycle and take a cruise around. Much faster than walking, biking allows you to cover huge distances and get your fill of your destination. You get a bonus workout too! Biking Stanley Park is a great way to escape the fast pace of the city and see some of the most scenic parts of Vancouver.
While in Vancouver, why not nip over to Victoria BC on Vancouver Island too?
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 24 mm f/2.8 STM Lens; and an iPhoneX.
I loved visiting Stanley Park in Vancouver and wish I had thought to take the time to bike it. It’s such a brilliant way to take your time and explore all the different areas and things to see in the park. Hopefully I’ll make it back someday and when I do you can bet I’ll be biking!
Biking around Stanley Park must have been so fun. The flatness especially would have been very helpful – I always forget that some cities aren’t hilly. Your photo of the Lion’s Gate Bridge truly is dramatic. Hope those clouds didn’t bother the rest of your journey.
what a fantastic way to explore the area and at your own pace. I love all the waterfront trails – it’s perfect for easy bicycling experiences around the park and different highlights along the way.
I haven’t still made it to Canada but Vancouver is on my list. I have heard that Vancouver weather looks like London. But when I read your post about renting bikes and cycling around Stanley Park, I was thinking about Richmond in London, Where the price of the rental bike is quite similar. You could book two bikes and accessories for $40 for 2 hours. but here in London, we book only a bike for an hour 10 Pounds. You can make a stop in Richmond Park to see wildlife too, but there is no lighthouse 🙂
I love exploring a city by two wheels, the stanley park trail reminds me quite a bit of the Tony Knowles trail in Anchorage. This looks like a great rides and I love that you get a bit of city and nature, not to mention a bit of culture with the totem poles.
I had the pleasure of visiting Vancouver last year and i think that it’s one of the prettiest cities in the world. I was only there for one day, so i only got to see stanley park via a tour. I’d love to return and explore by bike, i think it’s the best way to experience cities. thanks for the great tips, renting a bike to explore stanley park will be on the top of my things to do on a return visit!
Biking looks like fun. We rented bikes in Sydney and road around the harbor. Other bloggers urged us to and we would not have done it otherwise. Doing the whole 22 km doesn’t sound like much unless you are constantly dodging people. We are heading to Vancouver this summer so I bookmarked your post.
Non-hilly places are great for cycling! Vancover looks spot on perfect – and I’d go for single gear too – it just makes life easier if you are not a regular cyclist. I’d love to visit myself and see the totem poles and lighthouse.
This must have been a great experience. i love places that allow people to rent a cycle and explore. I wish more tourist places adopt this culture which is good for both health and environment. Those Totem Poles are also intriguing!
I can’t believe I still haven’t been to Vancouver! I hear such great things about it, and this park looks like such a fun place to spend the day. I especially want to see the totem poles and lighthouse.
I have heard Stanley Park is incredible and from these photos i’d have to agree. i especially want to see the totem poles there and agree renting a bike is a great way to cover more ground and see more of the park.
Sea otters? I’d do this bike ride just for the chance of seeing them alone! if you rent a bike from the shops near the entrance of stanley park, are you only allowed to ride along the sea wall? Or can you take them elsewhere in the city too?
Hannah, this post brought back such great memories. We have spent so much time in Vancouver and biking around Stanley Park is such a great thing to do. You guys look great in your helmets 🙂 Good reminder about the seawall path being a one way system. The totem poles are always a favourite stopping point. So glad you got to do this in Vancouver!
What a fun day trip idea along the waterfront in Vancouver. it’s a great way to see a large stretch of the city and fit in a little fitness! i absolutely love those houseboats in the harbour. I have to stay in one of those when I visit vancouver.
Nothing beats incorporating a little fitness into a vacation. What a beautiful harbor and biking is certainly one way to see the best of it! Love the little “finds” along the way like the totems, lighthouses, bridges and more. For me the food in the end is always the best reward. Lovely guide.
I am planning a trip to Canada next year and Vancouver is also on the list of places to go. Cycling is always a great way to explore the area and I will definitely follow your advice to rent a bike in Stanley Park!
I always think biking when traveling would be ideal but admit its something I rarely do though my husband and I are trying to change that. This trail at Stanley Park looks ideal and I love how scenic the trail is with great sites to see along the way. I appreciate that my communities are putting money into bike paths and trails and offering bike rentals so people can get more active when traveling.
Not sure I can bike the entire 22 km stretch but 9 km does sound doable. I love how you get to see the wildlife on the way. the totem poles look pretty interesting as well. the lighthouse makes for a great picture too. I’d love to catch the sunset at Stanley Park!
I’ve wanted to visit Vancouver for a long time! And I think biking is such a great way to see a city – I often try to hire a bike when exploring a new city. I’m glad Vancouver has a great cycleway like Stanley Park. how cool that you can stop and see all the wildlife! I’d be so excited to see a sea otter! Brockton Point Lighthouse looks like a magnificent photo spot too. I could imagine it in a dramatic storm with dark skies. Beautiful!
Stanley Park is my favorite hangout! I’ve walked and skated the seawall around the park, past Sunset Beach and to the Burrard Bridge many times and it just never gets old!
Did you stop at Prospect Point? A bunch of raccoons live in the brush on the hillside and can often be seen begging from tourists at the Point. It’s also got a nice restaurant overlooking the Lionsgate Bridge. You can watch cruise ships go under the bridge – a tight squeeze for some.
Anyway, I enjoyed reading your take on one of my very fave places.
Thanks for reading! Yes, we stopped at Prospect Point briefly, but didn’t see any raccoons! We would love to go back to Vancouver – it was a great place to visit!
So happy to see this post as Stanley park is one of my favorite memories of visiting Vancouver. Would love to ride a bike around and see all these spots, to go over to the galleries nearby and visit the Aquarium again. It’s all glorious sun or no sun.