Stanley Park Seawall

The Stanley Park Seawall is a 10 km paved pathway that circles the perimeter of Stanley Park, one of Vancouver's most famous landmarks. The path hugs the waterfront the entire way, providing continuous ocean and mountain views as it loops around the 400-hectare park.

For families, cycling the Seawall is the most popular way to experience it. Bike rental shops on Denman Street near the park entrance offer bikes for all ages, plus trail-a-bikes for younger kids and bike trailers for toddlers. The path is flat and paved, making it manageable for kids who can ride independently (roughly age 6+). The full loop takes about 1-1.5 hours by bike at a leisurely pace.

Walking the full loop takes 2.5-3.5 hours, which is too long for most families with young children. Instead, many families walk a portion — the section from the park entrance past the totem poles to Brockton Point (about 2 km) is the most scenic and manageable.

Key stops along the Seawall include the totem poles at Brockton Point, the Girl in a Wetsuit statue, Siwash Rock, Third Beach, Second Beach (which has a playground and seasonal pool), and Prospect Point lookout. Each makes a good turnaround point for families who don't want to complete the full loop.

The path has separate lanes for cyclists and pedestrians on most sections, reducing conflicts. Cyclists must travel counterclockwise — this is enforced and signed. Pedestrians can walk in either direction.

Stanley Park is accessible by car (parking lots at various points), by bus (#19 Stanley Park), or on foot from the West End neighborhood. The park has washrooms at several locations along the Seawall, plus concession stands at Second Beach and Third Beach during summer.