Vancouver is one of North America’s top running cities. Catch this city on a sunny, warm day and you will be rewarded by some of the most spectacular runs of any urban area in the world, on a par with San Francisco and Sydney. Surrounded by ocean and mountains, Vancouver’s planners have taken full advantage of the city’s spectacular geography by building a wonderful network of parks and trails. Among the highlights of running in Vancouver, British Columbia are the 17-mile Seawall Trail– the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path. And even though downtown is looking increasingly Hong Kong-esque with its huge skyscrapers, Stanley Park, with miles of oceanfront and forested trails, is at your doorstep. Running the Seawall around the perimeter of Stanley Park is one of the great urban runs in the world.
There are also wonderful beaches, parks, and running trails in the western part of the city, on the peninsula across the bridge from downtown. The “Kits” neighborhood has great oceanfront running with terrific views of the city and mountains beyond. The University of British Columbia (UBC) campus, at the end of the peninsula, is large and composed of numerous trails and parkland nearby. In North Vancouver and heading toward the mountains, there are huge parks and recreational areas, with world-class trail running. The ‘Grouse Grind’ is an iconic run/walk/hike. For those with time, B.C. is a recreational mecca, between Vancouver Island, a ferry ride away, and the mountains to the north. Vancouver has great public transportation: Skytrain light rail system, ferries/aquabuses, and buses. The city has also invested significantly in a network of bike trails and overall bicycle infrastructure, which benefits runners and walkers as well.
Vancouver’s issue is weather. Catch it on a good day in the summer and the recreational opportunities are unparalleled. But outside of summer there can be long stretches of rainy and overcast days. Winter temps rarely fall below freezing, but the days can be damp and dark.
We have put together 15+ runs for you in Vancouver. A few favorites: The western side of the Stanley Park Seawall (English Bay, Sunset Beach), and the Kits area at the end of the day — gorgeous views and fantastic light; similarly, the eastern side of the Stanley Park seawall at sunrise; False Creek, for an easy, flat and seamless waterside run; and on a rainy day, enjoy the trees and hills of the interior section of Stanley Park, with the foliage providing a virtual canopy of protection from the elements. And, for the multi-sport athletes among you, on a nice day, see our Kits Beach multi-sport spectacular.
The three best bets from the main business/hotel area of downtown: north side into Stanley Park; south side to English Bay Beach/Sunset Beach part of the seawall; and over the Burrard St. Bridge to Vanier Park/Vancouver Museum/Kitsilano Beach.
