NatureFree entry

Stanley Park and the Seawall

#1of 10 places to visit in VancouverVancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Also known as Stanley Park Seawall

Quick answer

Opening hours: No fixed opening hours. Entry is free. Allow 3 hrs. Best time: 07:00-09:00.

Updated 18 September 2026 · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read

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Photo: The original uploader was Soggybread at English Wikipedia. / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Opening hours: No fixed hours; Open 24 hours; the Seawall is best used in daylight, since long stretches are unlit.
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 3 hrs
Best time of day: 07:00-09:00
Best months: May – Sep
Address: Stanley Park Drive, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada (main entrance at the foot of West Georgia Street)

About Stanley Park and the Seawall

Stanley Park is free to enter at any hour, and its 9 km Seawall loop circles a 405-hectare peninsula beside downtown Vancouver, as of 2026. The park opened on 27 September 1888 and is named after Lord Stanley, Canada's sixth governor general. Douglas fir, western red cedar and hemlock cover the interior, and the Seawall's paved path runs along a stone and concrete wall at the water's edge. Most visitors allow two to four hours to walk or cycle the full loop, with stops at the Brockton Point totem poles and the beaches on the English Bay side.

Best time of day: 07:00-09:00. On a weekday, before cyclists and tour groups fill the path.

Stanley Park and the Seawall timings

Opening hours: No fixed hours; Mon–Sun No fixed hours; Open 24 hours; the Seawall is best used in daylight, since long stretches are unlit.
Closed on: Open every day

Mon–Sun	No fixed hours

Good to know: Park roads and lots can close for storm damage, events or maintenance; check the Vancouver Park Board notices before driving in.

Opening hours compiled from vancouver.ca and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Stanley Park and the Seawall ticket price

Entry fees for Stanley Park and the Seawall
Ticket	Price
Standard ticket	Free
Concession (student / senior)	Free
Children	Free

Stanley Park and the Seawall are free to enter at any hour, as of 2026. Pay parking applies in the park's lots year-round; sources quote different rates (about CAD 3.50-4.75 per hour and CAD 12.75-17.75 per day depending on season), so verify current rates at the machine or on the City of Vancouver parking page. Bicycle rental (about CAD 8 per hour at shops on Denman Street, per a 2026 visitor guide) and the miniature railway (about CAD 13-20) are extra.

Prices compiled from vancouver.ca and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Best time to visit Stanley Park and the Seawall

Quiet
Moderate
Busy
Very busy

07:00 - 09:30
Early LoopBest time to go
Stanley Park's Seawall is quiet on weekday mornings; joggers and commuter cyclists dominate, and parking is easy.
Quiet
10:00 - 14:00
Midday Peak
Cyclists, tour groups and families fill the Seawall, and Brockton Point and Second Beach are crowded on sunny days.
Busy
15:00 - 18:00
Afternoon Ease
Stanley Park thins out after 15:00 on weekdays, and light on the English Bay side suits photographs.
Moderate
Jul - Aug weekends
Summer Weekend
Stanley Park lots are full by late morning, and the Seawall moves at walking pace in busy sections.
Very busy

History of Stanley Park and the Seawall

Stanley Park stands on land used by the Squamish and Musqueam peoples for thousands of years before European settlement, and two villages, Xwayxway near today's Lumberman's Arch and Chaythoos further west, stood within its boundaries. The park opened as a public park on 27 September 1888.

Stanley Park's Seawall began in 1917 as an 8.8 km wall and walkway around the peninsula, and later sections tied it into a much longer continuous waterfront route through Vancouver. The Lions Gate Bridge, completed in 1938, crosses the park's northern edge and carries traffic to the North Shore.

Stanley Park has also absorbed two large disturbances in living memory. A windstorm on 15 December 2006, with gusts of about 115 km/h, brought down an estimated 10,000 trees and damaged roughly 40 percent of the forest. Between 2020 and 2021, coyote incidents in the park rose sharply, with about 40 reported over nine months, and wildlife warnings remain posted. Brockton Point holds nine totem poles that can be viewed free at any hour.

Rules & etiquette at Stanley Park and the Seawall

Stanley Park's Seawall runs one way, counter-clockwise, for every user, and the rule is posted and enforced. Walkers use the water-side lane, while cyclists, in-line skaters and scooter riders use the forest-side lane, and riding against the flow or stopping in the cycle lane to photograph the view causes most collisions.

Stanley Park's coyotes must never be fed or approached. Keep children within arm's reach on forest trails, keep dogs on a leash, and carry food in sealed bags, especially at dusk and on the quieter western trails. Picnic scraps left on the beaches also draw crows and raccoons.

Stanley Park's Seawall crosses cultural sites, so treat the totem poles at Brockton Point as works of art and living heritage, not climbing frames. Do not lean on or touch carvings, and follow posted signs at the Xwayxway and Chaythoos village sites.

Tips for visiting Stanley Park and the Seawall

1
Stanley Park is easiest to reach without a car. Bus 19 Stanley Park runs from downtown, and TransLink charges CAD 2.85 for an adult 1-zone fare with a Compass card from 1 July 2026. Parking lots fill by 11:00 on sunny weekends, and rates vary by season, so budget about CAD 4-5 per hour and verify at the machine.
2
Stanley Park's Seawall loop is 9 km, and a standard rental bicycle covers it in 60-90 minutes, though stops for Prospect Point, Third Beach and the Brockton Point totem poles stretch that to three hours. Start at Coal Harbour, ride counter-clockwise, and finish at English Bay or Second Beach, where cafes and beach access sit close together.
3
Stanley Park's paths are shared with pedestrians on the walker lane at pinch points near Lumberman's Arch and Prospect Point, and rain makes the paving slick. Bring layers, since wind off English Bay is often 5 degrees Celsius cooler than downtown. The Stanley Park miniature railway costs roughly CAD 13-20 as of 2026 and suits families with children under 10.

How to reach Stanley Park and the Seawall

The red star is Stanley Park and the Seawall; the numbered pins are the 8 nearest places in our guides, each showing its rank in its city. Tap a pin for details.

Stanley Park Drive, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada (main entrance at the foot of West Georgia Street)Directions in Google Maps

From Downtown Vancouver (Burrard Station area)
4 km · 20-30 min
CAD 2.85 (TransLink adult 1-zone Compass stored value, from 1 July 2026; 2-zone CAD 4.20)
From Waterfront Station
2 km · 25-30 min
Free on foot
From Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
17 km · 40-55 min
CAD 6.50 YVR AddFare plus the zone fare, from 1 July 2026 (verify current total at translink.ca)

Nearest airport

From Vancouver International Airport (YVR), about 17 km via the Canada Line and a bus.

Nearest station

From Waterfront Station (Canada Line, Expo Line, SeaBus, West Coast Express), about 2 km from the Coal Harbour Seawall entrance; no rail station serves the park itself.

Stanley Park and the Seawall FAQs

Is Stanley Park free to enter?

Yes, Stanley Park and the Seawall are free to enter at any hour, as of 2026. Only parking, bicycle rental, the miniature railway and attractions such as the Vancouver Aquarium charge fees.

How long is the Stanley Park Seawall?

The Stanley Park Seawall loop is about 9 km around the peninsula. A leisurely walk takes 2.5-3 hours, and cycling takes 60-90 minutes without stops.

Which direction do you ride the Stanley Park Seawall?

Counter-clockwise, and no other direction is allowed. Walkers use the water-side lane and cyclists, skaters and scooter riders use the forest-side lane.

How do I get to Stanley Park from downtown Vancouver?

Take bus 19 Stanley Park, or walk from Coal Harbour along the Seawall in 25-30 minutes. A TransLink adult 1-zone fare is CAD 2.85 with Compass, from 1 July 2026.

Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated 18 September 2026. How we rank and check places