Photo credit: daveelmore on Flickr

Perhaps because it’s situated a bit outside of downtown, Pacific Spirit Regional Park doesn’t get as much attention as some of Vancouver’s other green gems like Stanley Park and Queen Elizabeth Park.  But that doesn’t mean Pacific Spirit can’t hold its own with the local heavyweights.

Located adjacent to the University of British Columbia, the park covers a whopping 763 hectares, making it almost twice as large as Stanley Park.  It embraces terrain ranging from rugged shoreline, including the popular Wreck Beach, to thickly forested hills, plateaus and valleys.

Among the park’s biggest draws is a network of more than 50 kilometers of trails that runs through pristine bogs, rain forests and groves.  On any given day you can see walkers, runners, cyclists and even horse riders out on the trails – not to mention a stunning variety of wildlife.  In the forests, it’s not uncommon to encounter woodpeckers and squirrels, skunks and racoons and even the occasional coyote.  Meanwhile, along the waterfront and estuaries, herons and bald eagles make their homes.

If you’re new to Pacific Spirit, or even if you’ve been there many times before, a great way to see the park is a special evening event called Night Quest.  On Saturday, March 19, from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. visitors can explore a two-kilometer, lantern-lined trail under the moonlight.  The nighttime hours, of course, bring out a range of wildlife rarely seen during the day, from reclusive owls to night birds, frogs and bugs.

After exploring the forest, follow the trail to a picnic area with bonfires, entertainment and that greatest of campfire delicacies, Girl Guide cookies.   The event is free and the trail takes approximately one hour to walk.  The trail starts at the Pacific Spirit Regional Park entrance at 4915 West 16th Ave., approximately 400m west of Blanca Street.  You can drive or take bus 33 or 25.  More information is available on the Pacific Spirit Park Society website.

Has anyone been to a Night Quest before?  Please share your experiences.