Vancouver Weekend: We're Thinking....Walks

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      Need something to do this weekend? Here are five Greater Vancouver walks you can take to help you understand why we are called Beautiful British Columbia.

      Lynn Canyon Park, North Vancouver

      Ferns, tree moss, and the invigorating scent of firs: this North Shore park offers an instant escape to a hobbitlike rain forest. There are boardwalks, steps, and a mix of rugged and smooth sections that give this walk a hike-y feel, especially if you take on the section of the Baden Powell Trail that passes through here. In the summer you can cool off by wading into the emerald 30 Foot Pool along the way. Go up the road a little farther and you'll find an easy trail that takes you to the Twin Falls Bridge and its awe-inspiring view of a waterfall and pool below. And we haven't mentioned the suspension bridge that sways above the splashing rapids—all free. A warning though: on a recent sunny stat holiday this trail was as busy as West Georgia at rush hour. Apparently, the world has discovered the Lynn Canyon trail. On the rare day it gets crowded, head farther up the road to the serene trail that circles Rice Lake instead. Act like a local and reward yourself with a coffee or old-fashioned licorice at the nearby End of the Line General Store when you're done.

      The floating bridge at Hastings Park Sanctuary is both peaceful and beautiful.
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      The Sanctuary at Hastings Park, east of the PNE Forum

      It's hard to believe that such a peaceful place can be wedged between an amusement park and a hockey arena, but that's exactly where the Sanctuary at Hastings Park sits. Enter the preserve from Renfrew Street, just east of Pandora, and, hidden away from the flurry of one of Hastings-Sunrise's busiest intersections, you'll quickly realize that the beautiful garden not only serves as a retreat for wildlife (over 130 species of birds have been spotted on its grounds), but for people, too. Make your way down the manicured walkways and across the floating bridge, and revel in the abundance of greenery and the serene sounds of sparkling water and soothing birdcalls. You might even spot a school of rainbow trout swimming in the sanctuary's pond. It doesn't take long to do a full loop around the garden, so you can easily extend your walk by starting all over again.

      With a view like this at Pitt Lake, you'll want to make walks a daily routine.
      Greater Vancouver Parks

      Pitt Lake at Grant Narrows Provincial Park, Pitt Meadows

      We’ve all been to Stanley Park’s seawall for that Sunday afternoon walk, and probably a bunch of other mundane trails around Vancouver. If you want an adventure a little farther out from town, Pitt Lake at Grant Narrows Provincial Park offers nature at its finest. Just about an hour’s drive from Vancouver, this walk is nestled right beside the lake itself—the second largest one in the Lower Mainland. You’ll be able to check out the viewing tower to catch glimpses of eagles or blue herons (or other wildlife for that matter), admire the glistening reflections of mountains in the lake, and basically bask in the epitome of beautiful B.C. If you still have a full bucket of energy after your walk, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy. These include kayaking and canoeing, fishing, having an afternoon snack at the picnic tables, and watching people launch boats at the wharf. Make sure you go early on the weekends, though—a lot of Vancouverites are making the trek out here.

      There's more to Capilano than its suspension bridge.
      Metro Vancouver

      Capilano River Regional Park, North Vancouver

      This park has it all: stunning views of a roaring river, freshwater fishing, free electric-vehicle charging stations, off-leash and on-leash dog-walking trails, clean washrooms, a wheelchair-accessible picnic area, a year-round salmon hatchery, and some the most breathable air in the Lower Mainland. That’s because the forested area and the river itself act as Mother Nature’s air purifier. The trails in the park are easy to navigate, with gentle grades offering just enough of an incline to stretch those quads. The roomy paths are at least 1.5 metres wide along the Second Canyon Viewpoint Trail and at Cable Pool Bridge. Those interested in a quiet stroll won’t encounter mountain bikers, unlike in other North Shore hiking areas or in the University Endowment Lands. And there are almost never any headbangers in this park, which means a refreshing absence of pit bulls and rotties. Best of all, there’s a magnificent vista of the waterfall coming over the Cleveland Dam.

      Don't be surprised to see large flocks of ducks, geese, and swans here.
      George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary

      George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta

      Thanks to Alfred Hitchcock and the shithawks who camp out near the food-court exit at Granville Island, birds sometimes get a bit of bad rap. The beauty of the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary is that you get to see our fine-feathered friends in their natural habitat, instead of gobbling down discarded french fries in a Burger King parking lot. A protected area that makes up part of the Fraser River estuary, the 740-acre avian oasis is crisscrossed with walking trails that run both through shaded forested areas and next to open wetlands. (Those wanting a bird's-eye view of the world can also climb the massive lookout tower). Over the course of a walk that can be as short as a quick trot to the gift shop or a couple of hours if you've got the stamina, expect to see everything from barn swallows and lesser yellowlegs to sandpipers and snow geese. Don't forget to bring a bag of birdseed for the friendlier members of the over 250 species that have been recorded on-site. And by friendly, we're talking the kind of birds that not only wouldn't have signed on for that Hitchcock film, but also can't stand those thieving shithawks on Granville Island.

      Running every Thursday, Vancouver Weekend spotlights five Straight-approved places around the city worth discovering.

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