Adventure & Outdoors
Vancouver's oldest park and its best uncrowded harbour walk, with North Shore mountains, drifting freighters and a restored salt marsh doing the work.
Hastings-Sunrise, off New Brighton Road at North Windermere Street
More infoThe seawall gets all the glory, which is exactly how New Brighton Park stays so pleasantly uncrowded. This is Vancouver's oldest park, a grassy East Van harbour front where Burrard Inlet laps at the path and the North Shore mountains line up across the water. Walk the shoreline past the restored salt marsh and watch a freighter make its slow, dignified crossing. Come late afternoon for the gold light.
Start at New Brighton Park off New Brighton Road at North Windermere Street, where there are pay-parking lots (on New Brighton Rd and Wall St) plus on-street spots along the park edge, pay-by-phone applies 9am, 10pm. From the lot, walk down to the shoreline path where Burrard Inlet meets the grass and the North Shore mountains fill the horizon. Follow the trail past the restored salt marsh, a quiet little wildlife and birding spot worth slowing for, with freighters and float planes passing offshore. Don't miss the small pier and the marsh viewpoint for the best mountain-and-water photo. For a longer outing, loop up and inland toward Hastings Park (the full loop is around 5 km / about an hour). Want a quick version? Just do the out-and-back along the waterfront edge for a ~25-minute harbour stroll.
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