5 Places to Get a Quick Nature Fix in Vancouver

Photo: Destination BC/Jordan Manley

By now you’ve probably seen countless news stories about how exposure to nature is good for us. It makes us happier, reduces stress and boosts creativity. According to scientists, just listening to birdsong and running water or smelling trees can help us chill out.

In Vancouver, you don’t even have to leave the city limits to spend some time in the woods. Here are five Vancouver parks with a wilderness feel, perfect for a quick nature fix in the city.

Renfrew Ravine Park

This little park is tucked away in a quiet East Vancouver neighbourhood. Even though it’s right next to the 29th Avenue Skytrain Station, many Vancouverites don’t even know it’s there. The park is home to Still Creek, one of the few creeks that still flow in the city. Follow the steps down into the ravine, then stroll along the boardwalk next to the babbling stream.

Stanley Park

Stanley Park is the crown jewel of Vancouver’s park system. However, most visitors stick to the seawall around the perimeter and don’t venture into the wooded interior of the park. You can explore over 27km of forested trails where huge cedar and douglas fir trees tower overhead. An especially tranquil spot is the Cathedral Trail boardwalk just north of Lost Lagoon.

Photo: Tourism Vancouver/Coast Mountain Photography

Everett Crowley Park

Even though Everett Crowley is the fifth-largest park in Vancouver, it’s relatively unknown. You can find it in the Champlain Heights neighbourhood in south-east Vancouver. A network of trails winds through the park, making a 2.5km loop. The park is covered in deciduous cottonwood and maple trees that attract hundreds of different bird species.

Pacific Spirit Park

Located on the far west end of Vancouver, Pacific Spirit Park has over 78km of trails. Most of the path wind through thick forest, but you can also stroll along the beach, or explore the boardwalk around the Camosun Bog.

Wreck Beach in Pacific Spirit Park. Photo credit: Anthony Maw on the Inside Vancouver Flickr pool

Jericho Beach Park

The sandy shores of Jericho Beach Park are a great place to enjoy the water in the summer. But just behind the beach, you’ll find a lots of forested trails. The canopy of trees drowns out the sounds of the city. The nearby ponds are also a great place for bird watching.