Greatest Issues to do in North Vancouver, British Columbia

Issues to do in North Vancouver

Most guests to Vancouver will find yourself spending time in North Vancouver in some unspecified time in the future throughout their journey. It’s the place the town meets the mountains, rainforest and Pacific Ocean. There are such a lot of enjoyable issues to do in North Vancouver for guests and residents of the Decrease Mainland. 

North Vancouver is definitely a separate metropolis, not only a path from downtown Vancouver.

We’ve lived in North Vancouver for a number of years, so we all know a factor or two about methods to take pleasure in this little slice of paradise. Over time, we’ve explored North Vancouver’s mountains and mountaineering trails, walked alongside its seashores and waterfront parks, and loved at its many eating places, cafes and breweries. 

On this submit, we share our favorite issues to do in North Vancouver.

Whether or not you’re visiting North Vancouver for the primary time, otherwise you’re a resident searching for weekend inspiration, this submit was written with you in thoughts.  

A couple of issues to notice earlier than we get began. The main target of those actions and suggestions is for the Metropolis of North Vancouver and District of North Vancouver (right here’s a map). Technically they’re two separate municipalities. Nonetheless, for the aim of this submit, we’re mixing the 2 areas collectively. Most guests don’t know (or care) concerning the boundary strains between the 2.

We additionally did not embody West Vancouver on this submit. Additionally it is a separate metropolis, not only a path from Vancouver. Collectively, these 3 municipalities are sometimes referenced as ‘The North Shore’. 

This can be a lengthy and detailed submit. Skip forward utilizing the Desk of Contents under.

Issues to do in North Vancouver

1. Lonsdale Quay Market 

We start the journey in Decrease Lonsdale, the guts of North Vancouver. You’ll be able to’t miss this iconic North Vancouver landmark; simply search for the enormous spinning Q on the waterfront. 

Lonsdale Quay Market has lengthy been certainly one of North Vancouver’s high vacationer points of interest. Though the outlets and retailers inside the general public market have modified over time, the unimaginable views of Vancouver’s skyline proceed to draw guests yr spherical.

The SeaBus ferry terminal is conveniently positioned beside the Lonsdale Quay Market, providing fast and quick access from downtown Vancouver. And vice versa. In case you’re staying in Vancouver, a go to to the Lonsdale Quay Market is the right begin to your North Vancouver adventures. 

2. The Shipyards District

Positioned immediately beside Lonsdale Quay Market is The Shipyards District. Over the previous decade, this waterfront house has remodeled into certainly one of North Vancouver’s premier locations. 

The Shipyards has a number of eating places, cafes and outlets to discover. Seize a contemporary espresso and pastry at Cafe Artigiano and discover a seat on the pier to take in the implausible views of Vancouver and Burrard Inlet.  

You’ll be able to’t go improper with any of the eating places right here. Nonetheless, our favorite is Pier 7 Restaurant + Bar. We love seafood, so we come right here for contemporary oysters, fish tacos and craft beer. It has two ranges of patio house that provides unobstructed views of the Vancouver skyline. 

Many festivals, concert events and neighborhood occasions are hosted right here. In case you’re visiting The Shipyards on a weekend, you is likely to be handled to dwell performances. 

The Shipyards is a good spot for households any time of the yr. 

Within the winter, The Shipyards gives the biggest out of doors skating rink within the area (see picture under). In the summertime, the identical house is transformed right into a splash park for teenagers.

And… it’s house to Welcome Parlour Ice Cream Store. All the things is best with ice cream, proper? 

Contemporary oysters, fried calamari and fish tacos at Pier & restaurant at The Shipyards. 

Outside skating rink within the winter. It’s coated, so even when it’s raining (which tends to occur in North Vancouver), you’re shielded from the weather.

Don’t have tools? No downside. You’ll be able to lease skates and helmets right here. 

Outside patio at Faucet and Barrel Shipyards restaurant, one other native favorite. 

The Burrard Dry Dock Pier at The Shipyards

The North Vancouver waterfront is arguably the very best place in Vancouver to look at the sundown. 

3. Grouse Mountain 

One of the fashionable vacationer points of interest in Vancouver is Grouse Mountain. The self-described Peak of Vancouver attracts greater than 1.3 million guests every year, so it’s form of a giant deal in these components. 

Grouse Mountain gives year-round operations, so there are many issues to do regardless while you go to.

There are a number of eating places and cafes inside Peak Chalet, together with Altitudes Bistro and The Observatory. Each eating places provide unimaginable views of Vancouver, Pacific Ocean and the Gulf Islands. 

Summer season actions on Grouse Mountain embody mountaineering the notorious Grouse Grind (aka Mom Nature’s Stair Climber), mountaineering trails, chairlift rides, mountain ropes journey and zip strains course, youngsters tree cover journey, wild life refuge with grizzly bears, lumberjack present, and self guided eco walks. 

Winter actions on Grouse Mountain embody snowboarding and snowboarding (33 ski and snowboard runs, 15 evening runs, 4 chairlifts, 6 terrain parks), snowshoe trails (9 km of trails), mountaintop ice skating, snow sliding zone, and the magical Gentle Stroll. 

The Grouse Mountain Skyride is an attraction all by itself. It’s North America’s largest aerial tramway system, transporting company from base to summit in lower than quarter-hour. 

You’ll be able to e-book a tour that features Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge (see under) and round-trip transportation out of your resort. 

4. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is arguably the most well-liked attraction in North Vancouver. Though it’s develop into fairly touristy over the previous decade, it delivers a very distinctive West Coast expertise in contrast to wherever else. 

The star attraction is the wobbly suspension bridge. It stretches 450 toes from end-to-end and 230 toes above the Capilano River. 

Nonetheless, there’s way more to this North Vancouver icon. Lately, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park has expanded points of interest with the Cliffwalk and Treetop Adventures, together with Raptors Ridge, Kai’Palano schooling centre, informative forest trails and Story Centre exhibit. 

In case you’re brief on time and need assistance deciding what to do in North Vancouver, we suggest you go to each Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge. It will likely be a full day, however you’ll expertise the 2 finest North Vancouver vacationer points of interest.

E book your tickets to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park right here.

Through the pandemic, company had been required to stroll throughout the bridge in a single path solely.

I’m undecided if park organizers will proceed with this one-way method, however we favor this method. It does create wait instances to cross the bridge, however the one-way crossing limits congestion on the bridge and permits for higher picture alternatives. 

We’ve visited Capilano Suspension Bridge a number of instances over time. The above picture is the primary, and solely, time we’ve witnessed the bridge fully empty. Not one particular person strolling throughout it!

This was throughout a world pandemic on a wet Sunday, which is a extremely distinctive circumstance.

Do NOT anticipate to have the bridge all to your self. This park will get busy. However, in the event you’re affected person, you may seize that good Instagram picture. 

Cliffwalk journey at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Cliffwalk is the latest exercise at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. The cliffside stroll takes company by a sequence of suspended walkways that stretch out from the granite cliff. It’s an adrenaline pumping stroll, particularly in the event you don’t like heights. 

Arial views of the Cliffwalk bridge stretching over the Capilano River under. 

Treetops Journey at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Treetops Journey is the primary venue of its variety in North America. It’s a sequence of seven suspension bridges, connected to viewing platforms related to 250+ yr previous Douglas-firs. This distinctive cover stroll guides you thru the temperate rainforest with a squirrels-eye view.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park additionally has a number of totem poles and the Kia’palano academic centre. The phrase Kia’palano means “beautiful river” within the Skwxwú7mesh language.

Canyon Lights runs in the course of the winter months, from November to January. The suspension bridge is lit from finish to finish with multi-colour altering lights. The Cliffwalk and Treetops Journey bridges are additionally lit up with glowing lights, making a magical rainforest expertise. 

E book tickets to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park right here.

5. Stroll throughout Cleveland Dam

In-built 1954, the Cleveland Dam holds again the man-made Capilano Lake, often known as the Capilano Reservoir. It provides contemporary ingesting water to the residents of the Decrease Mainland. 

The 300 foot concrete dam is part of the Capilano River Regional Park. It’s free to stroll throughout the dam and entry the encompassing forest trails. 

Chances are you’ll acknowledge the enduring inexperienced floating boathouse in these photographs. It’s some of the photographed areas on the North Shore. The mountain within the backdrop above is Grouse Mountain. 

The floating inexperienced home on Capilano Lake. This picture was captured in late Spring. 

Capilano Lake and the little inexperienced hut coated below a blanket of snow.

Cleveland Dam within the winter with solely a trickle of water being launched into the Capilano River. Can you see the guts formed pool of water?

Totally different scene within the spring! The Cleveland Dam releases extra water within the spring due to the snow soften from the mountains. The water was raging that morning! 

6. Discover Capilano Canyon 

There are a number of mountaineering trails inside Capilano River Regional Park. You can begin from the highest of Cleveland Dam and stroll down in the direction of the river, or vice versa. We frequently hike these trails with our younger boys and they’re tremendous with the terrain. The paths are broad and well-marked.

Are you able to see Cleveland Dam within the backdrop of the above picture?

The Capilano Salmon Hatchery is one other fashionable free attraction inside Capilano Regional Park. The hatchery is open yr spherical, however late August by to November is an efficient time to view salmon swimming up the river.

It’s a brief stroll from the Cleveland Dam to the Salmon Hatchery. Or you’ll be able to enter from Capilano Street. It’s simple to overlook the doorway, so drive sluggish. There’s parking on the Cleveland Dam on Capilano Street.

You may also take public transit from the Lonsdale Quay Market. Extra transit data right here.

Mountaineering round Capilano Canyon is certainly one of our favorite issues to do in North Vancouver. 

Views of the Capilano River. You’ll discover a small dam within the backdrop – that’s the Capilano Salmon Hatchery. 

7. Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

To not be confused with Capilano Suspension Bridge talked about above, the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge is one other fashionable North Vancouver attraction. The park and suspension bridge are free to enter and discover.

This 160 toes lengthy (50 m) slender pedestrian bridge can get bouncy while you attain the center, which provides to the expertise. The views of the canyon from the suspension bridge are spectacular. 

Whereas the precise bridge will not be as spectacular as Capilano Suspension Bridge, the encompassing mountaineering trails, forest and swimming holes make this park price a go to. In case you’re searching for extra nature, this bridge is a greater possibility than Capilano.

Take a look at The Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre, open most days between 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  

Connor will not be a fan of the bouncy Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. It may be intimidating for little ones as a result of the bridge is kind of excessive from the steep canyon under.

8. Lynn Canyon Park

Whereas the primary attraction at Lynn Canyon Park is the suspension bridge, this expansive park has a number of mountaineering trails by the temperate rainforest that surrounds the canyon. The park has over 600 acres of rainforest and trails to discover. 

The Baden Powell Path splits by Lynn Canyon Park, passing throughout Twin Falls Bridge, which is positioned at south of Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. Extra data about this path right here.  

North of the suspension bridge, the path leads right down to the river (Lynn Creek) and pure swimming swimming pools (30 foot pool). This can be a fashionable spot in sizzling summer season months. 

Lynn Canyon trails are effectively maintained with wood stairs, boardwalks and bridges. 

Learn extra posts about British Columbia right here.

Swimming at Lynn Canyon Park

When it’s sizzling outdoors, we prefer to hung out within the shade alongside the river. The water is pretty shallow in most areas, so it’s good to soak within the pure swimming pools that kind alongside the rocky shore. 

We favor swimming in contemporary water rivers, as a substitute of the salty ocean. 

It’s not normally this busy. Actually, it’s hardly ever this busy. We captured this picture on the 30 Foot Pool throughout a warmth dome final summer season (July 2021), when temperatures exceeded 41 levels Celsius. 

9. Decrease Seymour Conservation Reserve

Seeking to get outside and luxuriate in North Vancouver’s quick access to nature and wilderness? We suggest you go to the Decrease Seymour Conservation Space. We will simply dedicate a complete weblog submit about the very best mountaineering trails in North Vancouver. 

Right here’s an awesome useful resource that highlights the very best trails in Decrease Seymour Conservation Reserve for an adventurous hike or a household journey.

The Seymour Valley Trailway is a ten km paved path by the forest. It options a number of picnic websites with outhouses. Right here’s a map of the path.

Right here is an outline (instructions and map) of methods to get to Decrease Seymour Conservation Reserve. Parking is free (on the time of publishing) and there are washrooms. 

Mountaineering the plush trails in Decrease Seymour Conservation Space. 

10. Fishing at Rice Lake

Are you an angler searching for a quiet place to forged your line? In that case, Rice Lake is the place you wish to be.

Positioned inside Decrease Seymour Conservation Reserve, Rice Lake is stocked yearly with rainbow trout. It’s a relaxed lake with a number of spots to forged from, together with a floating bridge (pictured under).

To succeed in the lake, drive to the Decrease Seymour Conservation Space car parking zone. It’s a couple of 1 km forest stroll from the car parking zone to the lake. The Rice Lake path is well-marked and largely flat.  

Reminder, provincial contemporary water fishing rules apply right here.

11. Mount Seymour – snowboarding, snowboarding, tubing, snowshoeing

Mount Seymour is a well-liked winter vacation spot positioned in Mount Seymour Provincial Park. The Mount Seymour ski space has 4 lifts, 40 ski/snowboard runs, 4 terrain parks, 330 meters of vertical drop, and 200+ acres of skiable terrain. Right here’s a path map of Mount Seymour.

Mount Seymour has a number of snowshoe trails with various problem. Right here’s the snowshoe path map. Snowshoes are required on the Discovery Snowshoe Trails and might be rented on the lodge. 

Tubing and tobogganing are additionally obtainable at Mount Seymore. Extra data right here.

12. Mountain biking in North Vancouver

The North Shore mountains provide world-class mountain bike trials for all talent ranges. It has every thing from simple cross-country trails to superior technical trails with obstacles like bridges, ladders, and teeter-totters.

Mount Seymour has probably the most in depth community of trails in North Vancouver. One of the fashionable mountain biking trails is the CBC path. This 2 km path begins on the high of Seymour Parkway and concludes on the car parking zone on the base of the mountain, close to Northlands Golf Course.

Right here’s a path map of Mount Seymour Biking Trails.

Don’t have a mountain bike? Lease one at Lynn Valley Bikes or Infinite Biking.

13. Deep Cove

Deep Cove a small neighborhood within the easternmost a part of North Vancouver. It’s a cute village with a eating places, outlets and the favored Honey’s Doughnuts. Watch out – these donuts are extremely addictive.

The Cove is understood for its picturesque marina, kayaking and standup paddle boarding, mountaineering and seashore park. The favored Quarry Rock hike is a comparatively simple hike that takes about 1.5 hours spherical journey (at a reasonable tempo). The views from the highest of Quarry Rock are implausible.

In case you don’t have your individual tools, you’ll be able to lease kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and surf-skis from Deep Cove Kayak. Or, you’ll be able to be part of a Deep Cove Kayaking and Mountaineering Tour.

The rental store will get very busy in the summertime, particularly on weekends. It’s sensible to make a reservation forward of time, simply in case. We’ve made the error of assuming we may simply stroll up and lease a kayak, solely to be disillusioned as a result of the entire kayaks had been in use. 

One other distinctive North Vancouver journey is boating the traditional glacial fjord of Indian Arm on a non-public boat tour that departs from Deep Cove. 

Parking at Deep Cove is difficult. It’s finest to reach early (earlier than 8:30 AM), in any other case you might need to park a number of km’s away and stroll into the village. You may also take public transit from Lonsdale Quay Market to Deep Cove.

14. Cates Park

Seeking to spend the day on the seashore? We suggest you spend time at Cates Park. This seaside park has washroom services, youngsters’ playground, simple forest strolling trails, picnic areas and boat launch. 

In the summertime months, from Might to September, you’ll be able to lease kayaks, surfskis and stand-up paddleboards from Cates Park Paddling Centre. It’s really useful to make reservations for tools leases. Right here’s a map with paddling areas to discover.

Entry to the park is off Dollarton Freeway, the identical street that results in Deep Cove. Cates Park is simply 5 minutes from Deep Cove. 

We noticed these purple starfish on the seashore at Cates Park throughout low tide. 

Pier, dock and boat launch at Cates Park in North Vancouver. 

15. Lynn Headwaters Regional Park

Lynn Headwaters Regional Park is positioned near Decrease Seymour Conservation Reserve and Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. In case you’ve received the time, you’ll be able to go to all of those parks in the identical day. 

Lynn Headwaters Park is is the biggest of twenty-two regional parks in Metro Vancouver. It has over 9,216 acres of forest and gives a wide range of mountaineering trails that vary in problem. Trails are colour-coded and vary from 3 km (2 miles) to 21 km (13 miles). 

Widespread mountaineering trails embody the Varley Path, Lynn Loop Path, Cedars Mill and Lynn Headwaters Path Loop, Lynn Lake path, Coliseum Mountain Path and the difficult Lynn Peak Path (9 km to the summit).

Right here’s a map of Lynn Headwaters Park.

Lynn Headwaters Park is understood for it’s large boulders that line the river, creating a number of pure swimming pools for soaking your toes or taking a refreshing dip. 

16. Waterfront Park 

Waterfront Park is positioned west of Lonsdale Quay Market. It’s solely a 5 minute stroll from the market and SeaBus terminal. The Spirit Path pathway crosses by this inexperienced house. You’ll be able to seize meals and drinks from the close by market and luxuriate in a waterfront picnic with excellent views of the town. 

As you’ll be able to see under, Waterfront Park is likely one of the finest spots to look at Vancouver sunsets. 

17. North Shore Spirit Path 

After you’ve spent a while on the Lonsdale Quay and/or Shipyards District, take a stroll alongside the North Shore Spirit Path. This can be a lengthy metropolis path that passes alongside the North Shore waterfront. 

You’ll be able to go east or west from the Lonsdale Quay. It’s a straightforward paved pathway, so you are able to do this path with a stroller, bike or scooter. 

In case you go west, you’ll go Waterfront Park earlier than reaching Mosquito Creek Marina, the place you’ll see the floating properties pictured above. Proceed strolling west and also you’ll come to Kings Mill Stroll Park, a waterfront seashore park with views of downtown Vancouver. 

See North Shore Spirit Path map right here. 

Vibrant floating properties at Mosquito Creek Marina, views from Spirit Path pathway.

Kings Mill Stroll Park

In case you proceed strolling west alongside the Spirit Path, from Lonsdale Quay Market, you’ll attain Kings Mill Park. This park has a sandy stretch of seashore at low tide.

It’s a pleasant spot to benefit from the metropolis views and watch the sundown, as you’ll be able to see within the above picture. 

Moodyville Park

Positioned on the Spirit Trial, east of Lonsdale Quay Market, is the newly up to date Moodyville Park. This can be a enjoyable park for teenagers as a result of it has a pump monitor, zipline, playground, picnic space and forest trails with a suspension bridge (above). 

18. Brewery District – North Shore Ale Path

The North Shore Ale Path is comparatively new to North Vancouver. Over the previous few years, a number of craft micro-breweries have popped up within the Decrease Lonsdale Shipyards space. 

Often known as The Brewery District, that is THE place to seize a craft beer sampler of North Vancouver’s best. The primary micro-brewery to open within the Decrease Lonsdale space is Inexperienced Leaf Brewing, positioned contained in the Lonsdale Quay Market. 

Inside a 3 blocks of Lonsdale Quay Market, you’ll be able to go to a number of breweries, a cidery, a distillery and a number of brewpubs. And, there are extra coming!

Listing of breweries in North Vancouver’s Brewery District

• North Level Brewing – positioned on 1st Road, between St George and St Andrew Ave
• Streetcar Brewing – entrance within the alley between Esplanade and 1st Road, east of Lonsdale Ave 
• La Cerveceria Astilleros – positioned on Esplanade and St George Ave
• Beere Brewing – positioned on Esplande and St Andrew Ave
• Home of Funk Brewing – positioned on Esplanade, a number of steps east of Beere Brewing
• Shaketown Brewing – the latest brewery to open on Esplanade Ave
• Copperpenny Distilling (Gin Distilery with cocktails) – positioned beside Shaketown on Esplanade 
• Windfall Cider & Co. (Cidery) – positioned on Esplanade, beside La Cerveceria

Extra issues to do in North Vancouver

In case you made it this far, congratulations! That was a LOT if data. Nonetheless, there are nonetheless MORE issues to do in North Vancouver that didn’t make this submit. 

• The Polygon Gallery – Artwork Museum at Lonsdale Quay (image above)
• Museum of North Vancouver – positioned close to Lonsdale Quay
• Northlands Golf Course – close to Mount Seymour
• King Pins Bowling Alley – central Lonsdale Avenue
• InterRiver Park – close to Lynn Canyon Park
• Park and Tilford Gardens 
• Maplewood Farm

We are going to replace this submit sooner or later with extra element about every of those spots.

Our favorite eating places in North Vancouver

There are such a lot of nice eating places in North Vancouver, so it’s exhausting to slender the checklist to only a few.

Eating places in Decrease Lonsdale inside strolling distance to Lonsdale Quay Market: 

• Pier 7 Restaurant and Bar – contemporary seafood with waterfront patio
• Nook – Italian delicacies with out of doors seating
• Joeys Shipyards – waterfront bistro, see menu right here.
• Fishworks – sustainably sourced seafood with British Columbia wine alternatives
• Jamjar Canteen – Lebanese meals. Get take-out order and eat outside on the pier or Shipyards 
• Farina a Legna – Italian restaurant serving pasta and neapolitan pizza
• Anatoli Souvlaki – Greek delicacies with Completely happy Hour menu

Different North Vancouver eating places on our rotation:

• Cazba Restaurant – Persian delicacies, positioned sixteenth Road West and Lonsdale 
• Sushi Umi Japanese Restaurant – positioned Lonsdale and nineteenth Road
• Smoke and Bones – Southern Type Barbecue, positioned on Marine Drive 
• Tequila Cocina Lonsdale – Mexican delicacies, positioned Lonsdale and twentieth Road
• Palki Restaurant – arguably the very best Indian restaurant in North Vancouver
• Kinton Ramen – small ramen joint positioned on Lonsdale and thirteenth avenue

The place to remain in North Vancouver 

It’s finest to remain within the Decrease Lonsdale space as a result of that is the place the motion is. Most of the points of interest and eating places talked about listed here are inside strolling distance to the Lonsdale Quay Market.

The perfect lodges in North Vancouver are:

One other good possibility is the Vacation Inn Lodge. It’s positioned simply of the freeway, so it’s a super resort in the event you’re taking a British Columbia street journey from Vancouver. 

Learn extra posts about British Columbia:

Have you ever visited any of those North Vancouver points of interest?

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