Stanley Park in downtown Vancouver is a beautiful and astoundingly huge network of hiking/walking/biking trails. An estimated 8 million hikers, walkers, rollerbladers and cyclists visit the park yearly. The wonderful spider web of trails throughout the park add up to a staggering 200 kilometres, which explains how the park generally feels serene and relatively quiet most days despite its phenomenal popularity.
Stanley Park can be walked or biked in any number of routes and lengths. Certainly one of the popular, and most straight forward routes is by a large, 10k circle, paved trail that runs around the perimeter. You can park at one end, for example near English Bay, and head along the coastal, paved trail and follow the beautiful circumference of Stanley Park and return to where you started after a wonderful and constantly scenic 10 kilometre seawall route.
The interior trails wind their way through the unexpectedly huge trees within Stanley Park. Some trees stand over 70 metres (249 ft) and are centuries old. The more impressive trees include Douglas-fir, Western Red Cedar, Western Hemlock and Sitka Spruce. The trees are numerous and the forest so thick that you would certainly get lost if not for the excellent and well organized trail layout in the park. The park has frequent concession stands, washrooms and points of interest. Stanley Park is also the home of the Vancouver Aquarium, with its considerable array of marine life, from penguins to Beluga whales. Stanley Park is not so much a hike as an amazing walk, but certainly a must see in Vancouver. It definitely is the most convenient and scenic.
If you are entering Vancouver from Lions Gate Bridge, you will notice just as you leave the bridge you will see a turn lane and road entering the park on your right. This takes you to Prospect Point(pictured below). This is a wonderful way to start your tour of the park. A large viewing area over the ocean and Lions Gate Bridge amazingly close. There is a small restaurant, a cafe and dozens of picnic tables in this amazing setting. This is a fantastic way to watch sunsets and appreciate the enormous gap the Lions Gate Bridge spans.
From Prospect Point, Stanley Park Road continues through the park with the next parking area being on your left for the Hollow Tree. Definitely worth a look, this massive, now hollow tree has quite an interesting history, depicted on pictures and murals near it. The next parking area is for Third Beach where you will find concessions, washrooms and stairs to this remote feeling and often very lively beach. Further along the road you come to Second Beach, more concessions and home to frequent festivities throughout the year. A huge swimming pool and kids play park is located here as well. From here you can continue driving to English Bay or turn left and along Lost Lake, cutting across the park to the other side.
Buying hiking gear is expensive and confusing. Let us take the time and trouble out of getting hiking gear for you. We have the best quality and highest rated hiking gear on the market, and bring it to you at bargain prices. We rent individual items or complete hiking and camping kits. Our complete kits for one or two people consist of everything you need to hike in Whistler except clothes, food and water! Reserve today and hike into paradise! Whether you are short one backpack for your group or need to fully equip everyone, we have you covered. We rent all the best, highest rated hiking gear you will need to enjoy hiking in and around Whistler and Garibaldi Provincial Park. We are proud to offer the best gear at the best prices. Fully equip yourself with backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, sleeping pillows, complete cooking stove systems(stove, fuel, pot, cup, fork, spoon and coffee press), first aid kits, camp towels, knife and trekking poles. All you have to bring is food, water and clothes! We put all the fun back into hiking and remove the boring and expensive parts.
We will deliver your full set of hiking gear, packed and ready to hike. You then hit the trail into paradise for a night.. or two.. or more, call us when you get home and we will pick up everything. You don't have to worry about figuring out what to pack or buying expensive equipment. We bring the best to you and at bargain prices. Why? Because we love Whistler, love hiking, love camping and we are passionate about hiking in Whistler. We will do everything in our power to make you have the most amazing hiking and camping trip of your life. And it starts with getting you the best gear, prepacked and delivered to you, without you having to spend a fortune buying gear. You can rent individual items or entire hiking/camping kits. Whatever your need, we have what you need to get you on the trail! Have a look at what we have to rent here!
Whistler Hiking Trails
Garibaldi Lake is the centre and base for much of the hiking in Garibaldi Provincial Park. The Garibaldi Lake campsite is located on the amazing, turquoise shores of this massive and mostly still wild ...
Nairn Falls is a wonderful, crashing and chaotic waterfall that surrounds you from the deluxe viewing platform that allows you to safely watch it from above. The beautiful, green water rushes through the ...
Ancient Cedars is a nice, easy/moderate 2.5 kilometre(1.6 mile) hiking trail on the far side of Cougar Mountain, just 13.1 kilometres north of Whistler Village. A small, untouched grove of huge western ...
Cheakamus River is a beautiful, crashing, turquoise coloured river that flows from Cheakamus Lake, through Whistler Interpretive Forest at Cheakamus Crossing, then down past Brandywine Falls to Daisy Lake. ...