Lookouts in Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC, Canada
There are a number of lookouts and viewpoints in Stanley Park that offer magnificent views of Downtown Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Burrard Inlet, and of the ocean to the West.
The main Lookouts in Stanley Park are: Prospect Point Lookout, West and North Vancouver Lookout, Port of Vancouver Lookout, Siwash Rock Lookout, and the Lost Lagoon Lookout.
Prospect Point (Lowdens') Lookout
The Prospect Point (Lowdens') Lookout is the highest point of Stanley Park and has great views of the ocean to the west, West and North Vancouver to the north, and the Lions Gate Bridge.
This lookout is located at Prospect Point which is at the north-west side of Stanley Park.
The plaque says:
Welcome to Lowdens' Lookout
You can thank Vancouver's early shipping activities for this viewpoint--originally the site of a signal station that guiede ships through First Narrows.
Towering Beacon of Safety
A two-storey signal station once sat atop Prospect Point, 67 metres (220 feet) above the sea to alert approaching vessels of strong tides, winds and maritime traffic. Installed in 1910, it helped prevent groundings and collisions in the Narrows. The Prospect Point lighthous keeper took on the signal station job as an added responsibility. To accdess the station, he climbed from his boat up a narrow, zigzagging stairway west of the cliff face--a dangerous task during a slippery, wet night.
Service and Dedication
Originally the site of a signal station that guided ships through First Narrows, this viewpoint was named in 2009 for Jim Lowden, a devoted Park Board director. In his 25 years of service to the citizens of Vancouver Jim left an eduring legacy in the city's recreation facilities, waterfront and green spaces. Jim adeptly guided the successful restoration of Stanley Park after a massive windstore in December, 2006 swept across the peninsula, leveling thousands of trees in its path. This lookout represents Jims' passion for Stanley Park--his commitment to honour its storied pst while restoring it for the benefit of future generations.
Left pane:From Flags to Radar
Keepers of the original signal station hoisted flags up a mast at all hours to report ship movements. An upgrade to the station in 1922 added a signal light, balls and cones--used and arranged in certain ways to tell ships entering First Narrows of vessels approaching of ahead of them. on top fo warning of hazards, the keeper maintained a daily log of incoming ships to report to the Vancouver harbourmaster. This allowed ships' agens to accurately track their vessels movements in an dout of the harbour. Today, shipping traffic is regulated from the black tower on the North Shore using radar.
Right pane:Gateway to the Pacific
In the early 1900s, trade grew steadily after the Canadian Pacific Railway chose Vancouver as its terminus over Port Moody. This improved connections between ships in the harbour and railways carrying raw resources such as timber. Ships bringing goods and passengers to Vancouver came from USA, Asia, Britain, Europe, and Eastern Canada. Today, the port receives about 3,000 vessels each year.
West and North Vancouver Lookout
The West and North Vancouver Lookout offers a fantastic view of West and North Vancouver and points out the various north shore mountains.
Port of Vancouver Lookout
The Port of Vancouver Lookout offers an exceptional view of Burrard Inlet and highlights the working port of Vancouver.
From this lookout you can see many of the working terminals at the port.
The Port of Vancouver Lookout is located on the northeast corner of Stanley Park. It is just off of the Stanley Park Seawall and mere steps from the Brockton Point Lighthouse.
There are a number of plaques on the lookout which describe some of the activities that take place at the port.
The plaque says:
Celebrating the Centennial of Stanley Park
The Port of Vancouver LOOK-OUT
is presented to the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation for the enjoyment of Canadians, and for our visitors whose homelands are linked to us by the oceans of the world.
The Vancouver Port Corporation
Captain Hector D. Perry
Chairman
November, 1988
The plaque says:
Cruising
The land-mark 'sails' of Canada Place welcome the Port's most elegant callers - the international cruise liners. Each year, the international cruise liners. Each year, thousands of passengers set sail from Vancouver's cruise ship terminals; voyaging north along Canada's West Coast, through the Inside Passage to Alaska, and its storied ports of call.
The plaque says:
Container Cargo
Bright orange container cranes locate the Port's major container terminals on the south shore. Consumer goods imported from many Pacific Rim nationals arrive in modern container ships to be distributed across the continent by high-speed trains. Recurring containers carry a variety of Canadian export products back across the Pacific.
The plaque says:
Agricultural Products
The distinctive silhouette of elevator terminals signal the Port's historic role as shipper of millions of tonnes of Canadian grain, such as wheat, barley, and canola to markets world-wide. More specialized products, including fresh and processed seafood, fruit and beef is exported in ventilated or refrigerated containers.
The plaque says:
Forest Products
The Port's diverse cargo sectors are handled by more than two dozen specialized terminals, including a variety of forest products facilities. Pulp, paper, logs and lumber are moved in general cargo vessels, wood chips in bulk ships, and certain higher-value wood products in containers.
The plaque says:
Minerals and Petroleum Products
Yellow sulphur from Alberta, potash from Saskatchewan, coal from British Columbia, Millions of tonnes of ore, concentrates, and petroleum products move through the Port's north shore terminals each year. From mine-site to rail-car to giant bulk carrier--Canada's mining resources are traded to nations on six continents.
Siwash Rock Lookout
The Siwash Rock viewpoint offers a spectacular view to the west. In particular you get great views of Siwash Rock, Third Beach, West Vancouver, and the ocean to the west.
Lost Lagoon Lookout
The Lost Lagoon lookout offers a fantastic view of Lost Lagoon and the Jubilee Fountain.
The Lost Lagoon Lookout is located on the southeast side of Lost Lagoon on the roof of the Nature House. This is very close to the intersection of Alberni and Chilco streets.