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Lighthouse Park
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
18 reviews for Lighthouse Park
18 reviews in English
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Review from Alice A.
8/31/2011
Totally do it!
1) Situated in West Vancouver, Lighthouse Park is barely a half an hour's drive from downtown Vancouver, yet it's a completely different world.
2) It's a serene picture of fresh air, easy trails and giant trees. The different relatively short trails take you to secluded spots right next to the waters.
3) As you get closer to the lighthouse or any other viewpoint, you hear the crashing waves and smell the invigorating salty air. Then you find a spot on the rocks to take in the gorgeous sunset, endless blue skies and vast Pacific Ocean.
If and when you need to get away, or just to enjoy the natural beauty BC has to offer, this place is highly recommended! -
Review from Roanna Z.
With trails hugging the coast and meandering into the rainforest, following a creek up past large mossy trees and then jutting out on multiple outcroppings for views of the water, this beautiful park is really worth the time to visit.
These are easy to follow, kid and dog friendly hikes. We took our time today and enjoyed the serenity of the park, stopping for lots of breaks and resting on the rocks at the water's edge.
We spotted a Seal and two Eagles circled above us all in the same resting point.
Wear sturdy footwear, as the roots and rocks can be really slippery in the damp forest so be mindful as you walk.
This park rocks! -and yes, pun intended.Listed in: North shore businesses and…, "Wanna get outta Dodge"?, Mountain hikes and easy…, Free Stuff!, Tail waggers welcome here
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/15/2010
This is a place where you can take a short, easy hike with big beautiful views as payoff.
Many of us… Read more »
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Review from Tim L.
8/24/2008
This is one of my favourite parks due to it being a little more difficult to get to. It's seclusion makes for a peaceful getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life while still being within reach.
There are a ton of great trails to wander, rocks & sand to soak in the sun under, and even a decent place to go climbing. The trails are also pet friendly.
If you wander down to the edges you either get a great view back into downtown Vancouver our out onto the water. -
Review from kath r.
2/20/2009 1 photo
Close and accessible to downtown Vancouver, Lighthouse Park offers great, short and relatively easy hikes with rewarding picturesque vistas.
From the parking lot we headed out to Juniper Point, then back along the Juniper Trail to Shore Pine Trail, down towards the Shore Pine Point lookout, and then down to the lookout off the West Beach Trail before settling on the rocks of West Beach Trail enjoying the view of the lighthouse for which the park is named. Ambling along the trail and admiring the views from each of the lookouts we came across, the roundtrip journey took us about an hour and a half.
Well marked, a relatively easy gradient and with plenty of maps available at the information board, I would highly recommend this park for family and pet friendly hikes. -
Review from Tim A.
6/14/2009 3 photos
Whats great about this park? It's only 30 minutes from Vancouver. It's easy to get to. It's a forest of "gigantic Douglas firs." It has a lighthouse (duh). It has a number of trails to choose from.
The trails meander through the forest and lead down to various rocky beaches around the park. The trails are marked with trail names throughout, but unless you have memorized the trail map back at the parking lot (ala an "Amazing Race" challenge), good luck! And with all these cute little trail marker signs, not one points the way back to the parking lot. Having become a big fan of the TV drama "Harper's Island" where some psycho keeps chopping people up in the forest, I would appreciate knowing how to run back to the safety of my car when THAT GUY jumps out from behind a tree! OK?!
Anyhow, the lighthouse was pretty cool, but I agree with Megan S.--not super cool. Snapped a few good photos, didn't see any bald eagles, worked up a sweat and didn't get axed! Overall, a successful day at the park. I definitely would recommend it if you have a few hours and you want to escape the city for a fairly easy hike. -
Review from Kelsey P.
Vancouver, BC
8/25/2010 1 photo
This is one of the prettiest places to watch the sun set. Lots of lush and beautiful nature, and the trails are quite well maintained so even in the dark you can find your way back to the car without too much hassle. Just try not to "cut through the shrubs" too often as the shrubs are more like thorns that will rip your clothes....
I highly suggest coming here on a sunny day for a leisurely walk, but most off all I suggest coming here close to sun down, maybe with a little blanket, a friend, and a snack, then just sit back and enjoy the view. -
Review from Rich B.
1/12/2010 3 photos
The combination of accessibility, hill climbs and rocky outcrops to scramble up makes this park absolutely top-notch for wearing out energetic children. With the views of the city, giant Douglas Firs, Western Redcedars and Hemlocks it is also a great place to take out-of-town visitors for a multi-faceted Pacific coast experience.
My recommendation is to turn east from the south end of the car park and head for the 'Valley of the Giants' trail for the best blend of city views and forest experience.Listed in: Rich B's guide to practical…
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Review from Nicole Y.
Vancouver, BC
8/24/2011
I don't like hiking. I just don't "get" it. But I went to Lighthouse Park today and fell in love. This is a beautiful spot full of great rocks to scramble on and beautiful views of the city from Stanley Park to downtown to UBC and beyond. This has renewed my stance on hiking and I will certainly be back again.
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Review from Megan S.
12/15/2008
I don't know much about bears- but there is a nice BIG sign warning you about bears before you begin a trail. There's a few trails to choose from, most people taking a trail that will ultimately lead to the lighthouse.
The lighthouse itself is (dare I say) a little disappointing. I'm not sure what I expected- something more dramatic maybe? But you can get a really cool view of it from on top of some big rocks. Nice view of the water too.
I like that it's a bit off the beaten track, so it's not ever going to be crowded. Yet- it's also very easy to get to. -
Review from Chloë E.
Vancouver, BC
11/17/2008 3 photos
Lighthouse Park is another fabulous transit-friendly hiking destination in Vancouver. The clear trails and dense forest canopy make a great rainy day destination.
Walk along ocean-side trails amidst great fallen giants and a lighthouse, see the BC ferries come and go, and watch kids and dogs scramble over the shore combing for beach finds.
We last visited during very moody weather and really enjoyed the visit. A great trip when an overcast day threatens to try and keep you indoors. -
Review from Joe L.
Vancouver, BC
9/9/2009
This is a great hiking and picnic spot in Metro Vancouver is you would like to be somewhere slightly out of the metro area. I live next to Stanley Park so I'm always on the lookout for other urban hiking and picnic spots.
The park is the at the most western end of Metro Vancouver at the mouth of Howe Sound. It has a small parking lot so arriving early is recommended. Different trails lead to you various boulder edges and rock beaches overlooking Burnaby Mountain, Downtown Vancouver, Lions Gate Bridges, and the overlapping mountains to the west of Howe Sound depending on where you end up. The Howe Sound view is absolutely beautiful. To me it rivals some of the fjords I've seen around Oslo (no along western Norway where the dramatic ones are). Pack a lunch. A perfect way to spend a sunny (or even cloudy day - you will enjoy the different hues of the Sound) day for the cost of your food.
The downside of the location is that you really need a car to get there but it's common with most provincial / state parks if you are looking for secluded and serene locations. Bring a hiking stick because there is a sign at the entrance warning wildlife sightings. -
Review from Chelsea S.
West Vancouver, BC
Updated - 3/23/2011
I forgot to mention the purple starfish... If you like echinoderms, you can find them on/under rocks at Starboat Cove.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/20/2011
In addition to the previous 15 reviewers comments on the quality of the trails through the forest,… Read more »
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Review from Jonathan L.
10/28/2009
This was a great place to hike up to! It was fun and once we got out to the rocks, we could see the lighthouse before us, and when we walked a bit further down to the water, you could see an AMAZING view of the Lions Gate Bridge.
Took a bunch of pictures just messing around out by the water, was a lot of fun! -
Review from David L.
1/12/2010
Lighthouse Park is one of my favourite parks in the Greater Vancouver area. It is rarely crowded, the air is always fresh and clean, and there are easy and more challenging terrain for more experience hikers. Parking can be difficult to find on the weekends especially when the weather is nice and you have to watch out for black bears so I wouldn't go here by yourself without some sort of protection. The shoreline of the park can be described as amazing and it's a good place to pack something for a picnic by the cliffs on the park.
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Review from Doug S.
New Westminster, BC
4/23/2009
This is a great little park to hike around and/or practise bouldering, rock climbing and top-roping. Beautiful view of the ocean and easy to get around. Accessible by car or bus.
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Review from Dr J.
Vancouver, BC
9/8/2009
Lovely little park. Nice trails. The views onto Bowen Island on the western side are beautiful. There is a little cove on the eastern side, which has magnificent views onto Vancouver. It is good for easy and short hiking.
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Review from Bea Y.
11/7/2008
There are so many beautiful parks and natural environments to explore in Vancouver, which make it one of the most beautiful urban cities in the world. The Lighthouse Park is one of my favorite places in West Van; it's pretty much near the end of Marine Drive, off of Beacon Lane. It's only about 15 minutes drive from downtown Vancouver, and it's well worth the visit.
It's probably not heaven for hiking fanatics, but it has well-maintained and groomed trails good for families and short hikes. There are several viewpoints with different views of the city, the lighthouse, and the ocean. The views are amazing, but one of the best things I like about the park is that it's relatively uncrowded. It's a great place to quickly get away from the city, listen to the waves and catch an occasional site of a bald eagle. -
Review from Sho G.
6/5/2009
Awesome park with great trails. It is secluded so you can get away from everything for a bit. I think I saw a golden eagle while sitting up on the rocks looking at the the lighthouse too. He has a nest up in one of the trees in the park.
