Vancouver

I have three runs for you in this beautiful city! And they are all completely different!

City Run: The Famous Stanley Park Seawall Trail

Location: Stanley Park

The Work: 5.8 mile flat loop, All Trails Link

Parking: there are many options for parking, but I parked on North Lagoon Dr.

Bathrooms √ (many options throughout the park)

I stopped in Vancouver to visit my friend Jess on my way up to Alaska, and decided to do this loop on my 32nd Birthday. The loop was very beautiful with stunning views of sea and city. This is a good loop to do if you want to avoid any hills and just want to have a straightforward paved run. If you want to add in a little trail like I did, just veer off at any point into the the middle of the Park and you will find plenty of unpaved trails. I added a little onto my run in the end (because why not), to finish at 8 miles total for a nice start to my birthday!

Fun (or scary) Fact: There was a surge in 2021 of coyote attacks in the park.

Strength Run: Wreck Beach Stairs, Pacific Spirit Regional Park

Location: Trail 6

The Work: 479 wooden stairs (as many times as your legs can go, I did 4 reps)

0.36 miles + 240ft vertical gain

Parking: metered parking lot here or here OR street parking along NW Marine Dr

Bathrooms √ (located at the top of the stairs)

If you’re up for something different and want an urban workout, try the stairs over at Wreck Beach. Not only is this a good workout with 479 stairs to tackle, but the scenery is breathtaking. Wreck Beach is located near the University of British Columbia and is located in Pacific Spirit Regional Park. To cool down from a hard and sweaty workout, take a cold plunge in the ocean like I did!

Fun Fact: Wreck Beach is a clothing optional beach, so be prepared to see some naked bodies walking around.

Trail Run: Lower Lynn Loop Trail – Lynn Canyon Park

Location: Lower Lynn Loop Trail

Parking: Trailhead parking

The Work: 3.4 mile loop with 613ft in elevation gain

Bathrooms √ (porta potties)

I ran this beautiful trail with my friend Jess. She knew the area and has run these trails quite a bit. It is a flat start, until you hit some stairs that bring you up the hillside. You continually climb until you are basically at the peak of your elevation for this run and then its all downhill from there! This is bear country, so bring your bear spray or make a lot of noise while you're running. The group ahead of us saw a bear, but we were lucky to have missed it! If you want to add some miles on, you can follow my Strava map so you can cross the rushing Lynn Creek from high above on the Pipeline Bridge.