11 gems in Stanley Park to discover as the weather warms
Want to get to know Vancouver’s most famous green space a little better?
Stanley Park is beloved for its seawall and stunning beaches, but there’s way more to the park for those who want to explore further.
Check these sweet spots out next time you’re in the park.
Siwash Rock lookout
Submitted
This lesser-known lookout offers a beautiful view of the seawall below. Park just after the Teahouse and follow Siwash Rock Trail (Merilee’s Trail also connects with it) down to the viewing platform.
Google Maps
Drum circle
Third Beach drum circle (EB Adventure Photography/Shutterstock)
This one isn’t exactly hidden, but you have to go at the right time to find it. Every Tuesday from about 6 pm until sunset, drummers gather at the north end of Third Beach to make rhythmic magic together.
“If Stanley Park is the heart of Vancouver, we are its heartbeat,” one organizer says on Facebook.
Trail to Third Beach
Margarita Young/Shutterstock
In a rush to get to the drum circle but don’t want to bike all the way around the seawall? Use Rawlings Trail as a handy shortcut. It connects Second Beach to Third Beach, and there are no one-way rules for cyclists.
Two Spirits tree carving
Daily Hive Vancouver
A face carved into a Stanley Park tree has been called beautiful, mysterious, and a piece of guerilla artwork, but you definitely won’t find the Vancouver Park Board highlighting it.
It was done without permission sometime in the late ’90s, and it’s not known who carved it. Find it just off Rawling’s Trail near Second Beach.
Pitch and Putt
westcoastwetcoast/Shutterstock | Submitted
This wonderful game falls somewhere between mini-putt and real golf. It’s easy enough that first-timers can pick it up right away, but it’s set in nature like a real golf course — no silly plastic sculptures. Bring three friends, rent your clubs, and get some kombucha on tap (or BYOB in your backpack, but you didn’t hear it from us)
Stanley Park causeway lookout
Vancouver skyline (LeonWang/Shutterstock)
Want that money shot of the Lions Gate Bridge? This is your spot. It’s a bridge over the causeway just east of Prospect Point. You’ll need to bike or walk here to look over the railings and properly see.
Google Maps
Beaver dam at Lost Lagoon
LeonWang/Shutterstock
Ever seen a beaver before? Visit the northwest end of Lost Lagoon, and you just might spot one. The beaver has set up its dam below the pedestrian bridge, and it’s sometimes spotted in the marsh between the bike and pedestrian paths leading to Second Beach.
Heron nests
Steve Smith/Shutterstock
Stanley Park’s colony of great blue herons returns every year to nest in the tall trees near the tennis courts between Second Beach and English Bay. The nests are just outside the Park Board offices at 2099 Beach Avenue, and there’s even a 24/7 webcam during hatching season.
Cherry blossoms near the bridge
Megan Devlin/Daily Hive
Try the trees near the underpass to Lost Lagoon for an epic cherry blossom shot. The steep slope on the west side of the Stanley Park causeway means short people can stand eye-level with the gorgeous blooms.
Love lock bridge
Megan Devlin/Daily Hive Vancouver
Some committed lovers have fashioned a small bridge over a stream into a love lock site, similar to others around the world. It’s located near Stanley Park Pavillion.
Seal spot
Megan Devlin/Daily Hive
For some reason, seals love to hang out just under the Lions Gate Bridge. Keep your eyes peeled as you pass this section of the seawall, and you may spot an adorable water dog.
So many seals ? pic.twitter.com/0Ems4oMxll
— Megan Devlin (@MegDevlinn) May 26, 2022
Did we miss one of your favourite Stanley Park hidden gems? Email us with a photo at [email protected]
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