Bicycling in Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Bicycling in Stanley Park is one of the most popular activities to do in Vancouver! When bicycling in Stanley Park you get scenic views of downtown Vancouver, Coal Harbour, Burrard Inlet, North and West Vancouver, and English Bay and pass many of the best Attractions in Vancouver!
There are both paved and crushed gravel roads and Trails that you can ride on. There are many paths and trails within Stanley Park that you can cycle which will take you through the forest or to the many attractions within the park!
There is a temporary bicycle lane on Stanley park that was put in during the Covid pandemic. Most of it is still there, but there are plans to remove most of it.
There are many reasons why people bicycle in Stanley Park such as for fitness, for sightseeing, for the views, to get to one of the Beaches, to go to the Restaurants, to get to a concert, or to one of the many attractions such at the Totem Poles!
To bicycle in Stanley Park, reserve at least a bare minimum or 1 hour which may allow you to go quickly around Stanley Park. Typically, bicyclists will spend much more time cycling in Stanley Park because they will stop and enjoy the views or attractions!
Temporary Bicycle Lane in Stanley Park
During Covid, the Vancouver Parks Board created a temporary bicycle lane on Stanley Park Drive for cyclists to use instead of the bicycle path that was next to the Stanley Park Seawall. This was to give more room for people to social distance when walking on the seawall.
Originally, the temporary bicycle lane was created using orange cones which costed tens of thousands of dollars to rent each month. Later, hundreds of thousands of dollars was spent to put in concrete dividers to separate bicycles from cars. So, the temporary bicycle lane is 'not so temporary' anymore.
The introduction of the temporary bicycle lane has reduced the car lane to only 1 lane so getting around Stanley Park by vehicle is much slower because of the inability to pass.
Serious cyclists love the temporary bicycle lane, but it is not as scenic or flat as the seawall bicycle path and has one very steep hill up to Prospect Point that average cyclists can't cycle up.
The temporary bicycle lane is very controversial in Vancouver between the bicycle lobby, car lobby and seniors/disabled person groups and the Vancouver Parks Board.
A new Parks Board was elected recently and has decided to remove most of the temporary bicycle lane, however, most of it currently remains in place as of the Spring 2023.
Bicycle Routes in Stanley Park
The most popular (and scenic) route to cycle is around Stanley Park on the Stanley Park Seawall. The speed limit on this route is 15km/hour.
You can also ride on the temporary bike lane on Stanley Park Drive. This lane was put in as temporary during the Covid pandemic, but still remains there and open in 2023. This route is not as scenic as the seawall route and is more popular with road bicyclists. Also, be aware that there is a very steep hill on this route which most bicyclists cannot cycle. The speed limit on this route is 30km/hour.
You must ride COUNTER-CLOCKWISE when on the seawall bicycle path or the temporary bicycle lane!
You could also make your own route within Stanley Park. There are many paved, and crushed gravel paths and trails throughout Stanley Park. You can bicycle to many of the Attractions within Stanley Park.
If you want a little more of a mountain bicycling experience, the trails on the west side of Stanley Park have some vertical to them and are in the middle of a forest!
Bicycle Rentals in and near Stanley Park
Within Stanley Park there are a number of Mobi bicycle rental stations. These are basic bicycles that you can rent.
Just outside Stanley Park in the West End neighbourhood there are number of bicycle rental shops that will rent you better bicycles, tandem bicycles, electric bicycles, helmets, children's carriers, and more.
Bicycle Tours of Stanley Park
A number of the bicycle rental stores near Stanley Park in the West End of Vancouver offer bicycle tours.
Bicycle Events in Stanley Park
There are a number of annual events which include a bicycle ride around and through Stanley Park.
The RBC Gran Fondo Whistler is annual cycling event in September that starts and goes through Stanley Park to Whistler, BC.
The Rotary Ride for Hearing in July is a ride that goes around Stanley Park.
The Vancouver Triathlon in September each year is another event that has a bicycle ride component that goes around Stanley Park.
Bicicletta (a bicycle store) used to have a weekly Wednesday night ride around Stanley Park prior to Covid. This was more for bicycle racers. We are not sure if this ride will start up again!
Bicycle Racks in Stanley Park?
There are bicycle racks at some of the main areas of Stanley Park such as the Second Beach Outdoor Swimming Pool and Third Beach.
Note that at peak times these racks completely fill up!
Stanley Park Bicycling Photos
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about cycling in Stanley Park
Here are the frequently asked questions about cycling in Stanley Park.
How many miles around Stanley Park?
How long is the path around Stanley Park?
It is approximately 9km (or 5.6 miles) around Stanley Park on the Stanley Park Seawall bicyle path.
You can actually bicycle much further than 9km because one end of the Stanley Park Seawall bicycle path connects to the Coal Harbour Seawall which has a cycle path and the other end connects to the English Bay Seawall which also has a cycle path. All together it would be over 20km long.
Can you cycle through Stanley Park?
Yes, you can bicycle through Stanley Park. There are many paved and crushed gravel trails within Stanley Park that you can cycle on.
Additionally, you can cycle on Pipeline Road and Avison Way that cut across Stanley Park. Also, you can bicycle on the sidewalk of the Stanley Park Causeway (one-way) to go over the Lions Gate Bridge to North Vancouver.
How long does it take to cycle around Stanley Park?
How long does it take to bicycle completely around Stanley Park?
It takes an average cyclist 45 minutes to bicycle around Stanley Park on the Stanley Park Seawall Bicycle Path.
It probably takes longer to take the temporary bicycle path because there is a very steep hill on it which most people have to walk their bicycles up.
Can you bike on Stanley Park Seawall?
Yes, there is a separated bicycle path on the Stanley Park Seawall. It was closed to bicycles during the Covid pandemic, but parts or all of it is now open.