Heads up, Vancouver: Parts of Stanley Park will be off limits next week

Attention to all Stanley Park visitors: falling trees and machinery will cause several parts of this Vancouver gem to close for a while.

Vancouverites who want to stroll or bike through Stanley Park “wheely” bad next weekend should consider reassessing their route.

Pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers should watch their heads as there will be essential tree work throughout the weekend, impacting the trails, parking lots, and access to the seawall.

​​

You might also like:
• 11 hidden gems in Stanley Park to discover this summer
• Construction on new 1.4-km-long tunnel in Stanley Park begins in 2024
• Bike lane changes? Stanley Park vehicle exit through Beach Avenue pondered

On Oct 20, only Pipeline Road will have sporadic closures.

From Oct 23 – 27 – Stanley Park Drive has intermittent closures. Pipeline Road is open as normal at this time.

Oct 23 – 27 – Stanley Park Drive has intermittent closures. Pipeline Road is open as normal at this time.

According to the City of Vancouver, the Tunnel Trail will be closed until November 3, and residents can expect up to 15-minute delays, followed by a 10-minute opening to traffic.

The exact schedule will be the same the following days, October 23 to 27, for both roads, and the Stanley Park parking lot will also run at half capacity.

The City of Vancouver says the moths are to blame for the closures due to the ongoing hemlock looper moth infestation following years of drought.

Feng Yu/Shutterstock

West Vancouver and other parts of the city are currently experiencing a western hemlock outbreak that began in 2019. The moths are native to this area, and although outbreaks are usual for Vancouver, they typically last only three years, so the City is removing some of the affected foliage.

The temporary closures will allow large machinery vehicles to access the main routes and avoid humans while the removals are going on. 

According to the City of Vancouver, “This essential work is a continuation of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation’s efforts to managee trees.”

The City says they encourage people to plan accordingly before heading out these days to prepare for possible delays, watch for signage, and obey staff directithe park hastheir safety.

Editor’s note: This piece has been updated for accuracy to reiterate that on October 20, Pipeline Road will have intermittent closures. From Oct 23 to 27, Stanley Park Drive has intermittent closures. These delays refer to the road not the subsequent trails.