Tours and Travels


There’s nothing nicer on a sunny Vancouver day than biking Stanley Park – it’s a type of Canadian bucket listing issues to do!

However don’t cease there.

The Stanley Park bike route continues across the Seawall to Granville Island and past.

Conveniently-located Stanley Park bike leases make it simple to get within the saddle and go for a experience.

So hop on a bicycle and let the great instances roll!

Renting bikes in Stanley Park is simple – you possibly can select from a number of rental locations

5 Finest Vancouver Stanley Park bike leases

There aren’t any precise bike leases in Stanley Park.

However there are many bike leases close to Stanley Park.

The Stanley Park bike rental retailers are situated on and round Denman Road (within the West Finish of Vancouver), which is only a hop and a skip away from Stanley Park.

The next are the 5 most handy Stanley Park and Seawall bike rental retailers. (We’ve rented from most of them.)

Biking Stanley Park is one in all our favourite actions in Vancouver!

Be aware: All costs are in CAD. (So for those who’re visiting from the U.S., the whole lot might be so much cheaper for you!)

1) Spokes Bicycle Leases

Spokes is likely one of the finest bike leases in downtown Vancouver (Credit score: Spokes)

Spokes Bicycle Leases is the most important and most distinguished bike rental close to Stanley Park.

It’s additionally the closest bike rental to the park (on the nook of Denman and Georgia Streets).

Spokes gives a big choice of cruiser bikes with totally different speeds (1-speed and 7-speed), plus mountain, metropolis, tandem and youngsters’s bikes.

All very new and clear, their bicycles are among the finest Stanley Park bike leases. They usually supply nice service.

Spokes bike rental charges 

Try this cool pink tandem bike! (Credit score: Spokes)

On the identical time, Spokes Bike Rental might be the costliest of the Vancouver Seawall bike leases.

Beginning at $8.57 an hour for an grownup bike, their hourly fee is costlier than among the different retailers listed right here (like Freedom Bikes, #5 under).

Nonetheless, for those who’re brief on time and may solely do a fast Stanley Park cycle, Spokes is a good possibility, as their location is so handy. (And the associated fee distinction is de facto fairly negligible.)

See right here for Spokes’ rental charges.

Minimal rental time

You’ll be able to hire for only one hour (with an additional cost for every extra quarter-hour).

Hours

When now we have longer daytime in the summertime, the store stays open later, till 9:00 pm in late spring and summer season.

2) Sure Cycle Excursions and Bicycle Leases

The workforce at Sure Cycle (Credit score: Sure Cycle)

Sure Cycle is one other nice Stanley Park bike rental store.

In addition they supply guided Stanley Park bike excursions (3 hours lengthy), leaving at 9:30 am.

You’ll see the totem poles, Brockton Level Lighthouse, Misplaced Lagoon, Beaver Lake and the seashores (all of which we cowl additional down within the part on the sights you see when biking Stanley Park).

Bike rental charges

Their common bikes are all the identical fee (besides for teenagers’ bikes), regardless of the model. (E-bikes are costlier, after all.)

The primary hour is $9 an hour, however then the speed drops for each extra hour.

Bikes include a basket, lock and helmet. There’s a $15 cost to maintain the bike in a single day.

See right here for Sure Cycle’s bicycle rental charges (scroll right down to the tip).

Minimal rental time

You might have the choice of renting for only one hour.

Hours  

Sure Cycle is open till 9:00 pm in late spring and summer season.

3) Jo-E Cycles

Jo-E Cycles has numerous fashions to select from in your Stanley Park bicycle rental

Stroll a block additional up Denman Road away from Spokes and Sure Cycle, and also you come to Jo-E Cycles.

They provide consolation bikes, MTB bikes, cruiser (step-through) types and electrical bikes, in addition to tandem bicycles.

They usually hire bike trailers for toddlers.

On our most up-to-date go to to Vancouver, we rented from the pleasant workers at Jo-E. The 21-speed bikes have been nice with some shock absorption (although a bit used-looking).

In order for you a straightforward experience, Jo-E additionally rents e-bicycles, able to going 18+ miles (30 km) to 62+ miles (100 km) with out recharging.

(After driving e-bikes on our Seine River cruise in France, we purchased e-bikes for ourselves again residence. Love them!)

Bike rental charges

How are you going to not smile while you go for a Stanley Park bike experience on a sunny day! (Credit score: Sejoga Naestrada)

Their fee for a half day is likely one of the finest (least expensive) per hour, because it lets you take out a motorcycle for as much as 5 hours for $24 complete. See Jo-E’s common bicycyle rental charges.

They’ve nice charges on electrical bike leases too. See their e-bike rental charges.

To hire an e-bike, you’ve have to go away a pre-authorized quantity of $250 in your bank card (to guard in opposition to injury, and many others.)

Minimal rental time

There’s no minimal rental – hire just for an hour if you want.

Hours

In excessive summer season, Jo-E Cycles is open Monday
to Sunday from 9:00 am to eight:00 pm. However their hours change seasonally, relying
on the daylight.

4) Bikes and Blades

On Denman Road, this bike rental close to Stanley Park is a trusted Vancouver bike rental store (Credit score: Bikes and Blades)

This bike rental store has been within the enterprise for greater than 25 years.

Bikes and Blades help the native market by providing Canadian-made bicycles and curler blades for hire.

Selections embody common bikes, e-bikes, tandem bikes, bicycles for kids and bike trailers to tow youngsters.

Bike rental charges

Helmets, locks and baskets are included within the charges.

In a single day expenses apply for those who don’t return the bike earlier than closing time.

See right here for full rental charges.

Minimal rental time

Bikes and Blades has a minimal cost of two
hours. After the two hours are up, they cost you for each quarter-hour.

Hours

Opening hours differ, relying on the season and daylight.

5) Freedom Bikes

Hey, scorching pink bicycles for women! (Credit score: Freedom Bikes)

This is likely one of the least expensive Stanley Park cycle rental outfits near the park.

(It’s additionally one of many least expensive Vancouver bike rental locations, interval.)

Their bikes are nonetheless good high quality, although.

They’ve males’s cruiser bikes, girls’ cruiser bicycles (try the new pink colour!) and tandem bikes.

For those who’d wish to attempt a unique option to discover Stanley Park, additionally they hire out E-scooters.

Stanley Park bike rental worth

At Freedom Bikes, you possibly can hire an grownup bike for simply $7 an hour. Youngsters’ bikes are simply $6 an hour.

A helmet, lock and basket are included within the charges.

(E-scooters go for $25 an hour.)

Minimal rental time

You solely have to hire for a 1-hour minimal. And for those who’re solely gone for 90 minutes, there’s a 90-minute fee too ($10.50).

For a fast experience, this is likely one of the finest locations for bicycle leases in Vancouver.

A Freedom bike rental in Stanley Park (Credit score: Freedom Bikes)

Hours

Freedom Bikes are open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm within the peak months. (Hours might change when it rains.)

Guided Stanley Park bike excursions

We’re all about going out and exploring on our personal.

However we additionally know that guided excursions are numerous enjoyable when touring. (You’ll be able to be taught a lot when you’ve an area information, proper?)

Right here’s an superior 3-hour guided Stanley Park bike tour that’s value trying out.

You’ll experience throughout the Seawall and alongside forest trails by the park too.

It’s an effective way to study Vancouver’s historical past as a logging middle, the Coastal First Nations, the wildlife and the park’s rainforest and totem poles.

The group dimension is proscribed to 12 folks. And each newbie and skilled riders are certain to like this tour.

Or perhaps you’d like this longer 5-hour Vancouver bicycle tour?

Additionally top-rated, it consists of biking Stanley Park, a cease at Granville Island for lunch (by yourself) and returning by way of Chinatown. The group dimension is proscribed to 9 folks.

About Stanley Park, Vancouver

Beloved by everybody, Stanley Park is likely one of the largest city parks in North America

Visiting Stanley Park is likely one of the finest issues to do in Vancouver, British Columbia, in summer season (if not year-round).

And transfer over Central Park! Stanley Park is greater than you.

And dare we are saying it, extra lovely? Conde Nast Traveler named Stanley Park one of many finest metropolis parks on this planet.

We have now to thank Vancouver’s authentic metropolis planners for preserving this 1,000-acre tract of forest as parkland proper within the coronary heart of downtown Vancouver.

Wish to gape at a half-million timber which can be a whole lot of years outdated? That is your house.

Throughout our many Stanley Park visits over time we lived in Vancouver, we’ve fed robins and songbirds from our fingers.

We’ve marveled at big pink and purple blooms within the lovely rhodo backyard, spied nice blue herons nesting in timber and watched the antics of octopi and beluga whales within the Vancouver Aquarium.

We’ve laughed at curious raccoons and sprightly squirrels crossing the strolling paths, and misplaced monitor of time gazing at Canada geese watching over their goslings by Misplaced Lagoon.

There’s numerous wildlife in Stanley Park, like this cute racoon

Strolling, jogging, roller-blading and biking Stanley Park
There are a lot of methods to see and revel in Vancouver’s Stanley Park.
You’ll be able to drive – and even take a horse-drawn carriage tour – across the park.
Or you possibly can stroll, jog, roller-blade or bicycle Stanley Park – going across the Vancouver Seawall, which is 5.5 miles (virtually 9 km) lengthy.

There’s one other lovely park in Vancouver: Get your flower repair at Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Backyard (the rhodos are beautiful in spring!)

Stanley Park map

Stanley Park bike path

There are two lanes

Pedestrians and cyclists every have their very own devoted lanes

The Stanley Park Seawall is split into two clearly marked paths – one for walkers and runners (closest to the water), and one for bicyclists and roller-bladers.

To keep away from accidents, keep within the bicycle lane.

The Stanley Park bike path is one-way solely.

It goes counter-clockwise. From Coal Harbor, it goes to Brockton Level, previous the Burrard Inlet, then round to English Bay (see the path arrows on the map above).

Stanley Park bike route

Many individuals get pleasure from simply biking Stanley Park. However the Seawall truly extends a lot additional.

After you come out from Stanley Park at English Bay, you possibly can proceed alongside Seashore Avenue and all the best way round False Creek (an inlet from English Bay) to Granville Island.

You may even wish to go a bit of additional to Kitsilano Seashore (subsequent to Vanier Park).

Observe the purple path to bicycle round Stanley Park from Coal Harbour to Granville Island

The complete Vancouver Seawall bike experience is 13.5 miles (22 km) a technique, from the Vancouver Conference Heart to Kitsilano Seashore.

(The purple biking path proven above, from the Coal Harbor facet in Stanley park to Granville Island, beneath Granville Road, is barely shorter.)

What do you see while you bicycle Stanley Park?

The next are simply among the sights that catch your consideration when biking Stanley Park to Granville Island.

Vancouver Rowing Membership

The Vancouver Rowing Membership

Being virtually surrounded by water, Vancouverites are fairly captivated with all water sports activities, together with rowing.

One of many first sights you see as you begin your Stanley Park bike experience is the Vancouver Rowing Membership, nonetheless going sturdy after greater than 125 years.

Stanley Park totem poles

You’ll subsequent see a set of historic totem poles to your left within the park’s Brockton Level.

One of the vital vital assortment of totems on this planet, they’re intricately carved and delightful items of First Nations’ artwork.

Some date again to the Eighteen Eighties, and every tells a singular story or legend from a number of indigenous cultures.

Don’t miss the historic totem poles at Brockton Level!

Initially, Stanley Park had 4 totems, introduced over from Alert Bay (on northeast Vancouver Island). However over time, extra poles have been added to the gathering.

A few of the older poles have been additionally moved to museums to guard them from the climate, and replicas have been carved to switch them.

There are actually 9 totems standing tall in Stanley Park, they usually’re apparently essentially the most visited vacationer attraction in British Columbia.

Harry Jerome statue

George admires the statue of Vancouver runner, Harry Jerome

You’ll be able to’t miss the 9-foot bronze sculpture of Canadian monitor and discipline runner, Harry Jerome (1940 – 1982).

He’s leaning ahead, as if he may vault proper off the pedestal.  

A Vancouver athlete, Harry set a complete of seven world data and received gold medals within the 1966 Commonwealth and 1967 Pan American Video games.

In 2001, he was inducted into Canada’s Stroll of Fame.

Brockton Level Lighthouse

You’ve received to cease on the Brockton Level Lighthouse to soak up the views!

In-built 1914, the Brockton Level Lighthouse was busy within the days of outdated – alerting ships to potential collisions and warning them of impending storms.

It was decommissioned as a lighthouse in 2005, and now serves as one in all Stanley Park’s finest viewpoints.

We at all times cease right here to look out at Burrard Inlet (which separates downtown Vancouver from Vancouver’s North Shore) and the Lions Gate Bridge.

View of Burrard Inlet and Vancouver’s north shore from Stanley Park

Lady in a Wetsuit

The “Lady in a Wetsuit” statue will get numerous appears from cyclists biking Stanley Park, as she sits on a rock surverying the water

No, she’s not a mermaid.

“Lady in a Wetsuit” (with flippers on her ft and her masks pushed up on her brow) is a life-size bronze sculpture of a scuba diver sitting on a granite rock within the water.

The creator who sculpted her in 1972 was impressed by the truth that scuba diving was turning into fairly widespread in Vancouver on the time.

You’ll cycle proper beneath the Lions Gate Bridge, a suspension bridge that connects the town of Vancouver with Vancouver’s North Shore communities.

Third Seashore

Are you able to swim in Vancouver? Sure, at Third Seashore!

Bought your bathing go well with on? Be a part of the numerous cyclists biking Stanley Park who cease to chill off for a swim at Third Seashore.

The logs are helpful for resting in opposition to within the sand.

Washrooms and a concession stand are tucked up behind the seaside.

If we’re visiting Vancouver on a scorching summer season day, you may discover us swimming right here – the water is calm and surprisingly heat!

Visiting Victoria in summer season? Chill at the perfect swimming seashores in Victoria

English Bay

The sundial sculpture is likely one of the sights in English Bay (together with the seaside!)

Proceed bicycling round Stanley Park and also you attain English Bay.

It’s a beautiful seaside space in Vancouver’s downtown, on the sting of Stanley Park.

When the thermometer rises, sun-starved Vancouverites love to hang around right here on the big swaths of grassy garden and sandy seaside.

Burrard Bridge

The Artwork Deco-style Burrard Bridge is one in all three bridges crossing False Creek

After English Bay, you come to the north finish of Burrard Bridge.

From right here, the gap round False Creek to Granville Island, one other star attraction for Vancouver guests, is about 4.7 miles (7.6 km).

Yaletown

With tons of stylish eating places and hip bars and nightspots, Yaletown is the fashionable place to dwell

On the north facet of False Creek in downtown Vancouver, Yaletown was as soon as an industrial space filled with warehouses and railyards.

However that was again earlier than Vancouver morphed into the cool metropolis it’s at present.

The warehouses have now been transformed into funky residential lofts, and a slew of ultra-modern, high-rise condos have since been constructed.

You’ll discover lots of Vancouver’s finest eating places in Yaletown – Cioppino’s, Blue Water Café, The Flying Pig – together with swanky hipster bars and nightspots.

Science World

Get your creativeness sparking at Science World (probably the greatest indoor locations to go to on a wet day)

It appears like a large golf ball.

However Science World is definitely a geodesic dome, constructed for Expo 86 (when Vancouver hosted an enormous World Truthful).

And it’s a really attention-grabbing place – a non-profit science middle with tons of hands-on, interactive shows and the world’s largest OMNIMAX dome theater display.

When our son was nonetheless a baby, the three of us spent many a contented winter day at Science World studying concerning the human physique (do you have to drink your personal pee?), puzzling over illusions and usually having geeky enjoyable.

You’re most likely not going to cease right here in your bike experience – however Science World is certainly value visiting in Vancouver (particularly in case you have youngsters and it occurs to be raining).

Granville Island

The Granville Island market

Hey, you made it to Granville Island!

Like Stanley Park, it’s one in all Vancouver’s hottest customer sights, and a thriving buying and leisure hub for locals as effectively.

Canada Geese like hanging out within the parks round Granville Island too

Dwelling to artwork studios, boutique retailers, eating places, a dwell theater, craft breweries and colourful floating houses, Granville Island is anchored by the large Public Market.

We by no means tire of searching its cheese stalls, bakeries, deli counters, and recent fruit, veggie and flower stands.

What to eat? There are such a lot of scrumptious meals within the Public Market

Biking Stanley Park through the Vancouver Marathon

Very often, the Stanley Park bike route is closed for a couple of hours for varied occasions.

The day we took many of those images, we couldn’t instantly begin biking Stanley Park because the BMO Vancouver Marathon was ending up. (Forbes Journey Information referred to as the Vancouver Marathon one of many 12 high marathons value touring for.)

Some marathon runners wore foolish costumes or humorous hats

However what enjoyable it was to observe and cheer on the final of the 16,500+ runners from over 60 nations! Some have been wearing costumes as they jogged (and limped) towards the end line.

As soon as we got the “all clear” by marathon organizers, we have been in a position to begin our Stanley Park bike experience on the Vancouver Seawall.

Stanley Park biking: Sensible ideas

How lengthy does it take to bike round Stanley Park?

You’ll be able to comfortably pedal the Stanley Park Seawall (together with picture stops) in 2 hours.

Enable up to 4 hours for biking Stanley Park and across the False Creek waterfront to Granville Island (extra for those who cease for a leisurely lunch or swim alongside the best way).

Insider tip
To chop your return time significantly, Aquabus Ferries can take you and your bicycle from Granville Island throughout False Creek to the Hornby Road touchdown close to Burrard Bridge.

Lower than biking all the best way again? Minimize your return time by taking the AquaBus throughout False Creek

Bear in mind

Stanley Park is likely one of the hottest Vancouver sights.

Bicycling round Stanley Park subsequently will get very busy on heat sunny weekends and in summer season.

Bicycling Stanley Park could be very widespread in summer season

You’ll should share the path with hundreds of different folks all desirous to get pleasure from precisely what you wish to do.

So watch out and go sluggish – you don’t wish to mow down a pedestrian!

It’s finest for those who go very first thing within the morning in the summertime – or make it a late afternoon or early night experience.

Vancouver has lengthy days of sunshine in the summertime, when it’s nonetheless mild previous 8:00 pm – and the Stanley Park bike rental retailers keep open late.

How large is Stanley Park?

Stanley Park spreads out over 1,000 acres in downtown Vancouver.

It’s about one-fifth bigger than New York’s Central Park and options seashores, historic totems, a lagoon, tennis courts, quite a few strolling and bicycle trails – and lots of cool locations to benefit from the lovely surroundings.

How lengthy is the Stanley Park Seawall?

The Stanley Park Seawall is a well-liked pathway for walkers, runners and cyclists. It extends roughly 5.5 miles (9 kilometers) across the park’s perimeter.

What number of miles of trails are in Stanley Park?

Stanley Park has almost 17 miles (27 km) of trails winding by the inside forest and across the Seawall.

Is Vancouver’s Stanley Park open all day?

Stanley Park is open year-round.

Like most Vancouver parks, it’s “formally” open each day from 6 am to 10 pm (until there’s a discover in any other case), however you possibly can often enter and exit anytime of the day or night time. The washrooms are open from daybreak to nightfall.

Do you must pay to get into Stanley Park?

No. Stanley Park is free. (However you must pay for parking and to get into the Vancouver Aquarium).

Extra info on Vancouver, Canada

The place to remain in Vancouver?

We love the Fairmont Pacific Rim for a luxurious keep overlooking the Coal Harbour waterfront. (And you may stroll from right here alongside the waterfront to Stanley Park.)

We’ve additionally stayed on the beautiful Wedgewood Lodge & Spa. A 5-star boutique lodge, it has elegant suites with marble loos.

Fascinated with mountaineering or strolling across the Vancouver Seawall?

Then learn this on Tourism Vancouver’s web site.

Final phrases on renting bikes in Stanley Park

Bicycling across the Stanley Park Seawall is one thing you possibly can’t miss when visiting Vancouver.

With unbelievable views in all places you look, it’s not simply biking, it’s a bicycle experience that turns the odd into extraordinary!

Our high journey ideas and sources
Listed below are our favourite journey sources:
Motels: Reserving.com is nice for scoring a “wow” lodge – or a minimum of an honest one. (We particularly like their versatile cancellation coverage!)
Trip houses, condos and leases: We want and use Vrbo (Trip Leases by Proprietor).
Excursions: For the perfect native meals, strolling and different guided excursions plus skip-the-line tickets to sights, try GetYourGuide and Viator.
Automobile rental: Renting a automotive is commonly probably the greatest methods to discover off the overwhelmed path. Uncover Automobiles searches automotive rental firms so that you get the perfect charges.
Journey insurance coverage: SafetyWing is designed for frequent vacationers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical bills, misplaced checked baggage, journey interruption and extra.
Vaccines and meds: We observe CDC journey tips to see what medicines and vaccines are wanted for journeys. You may get vaccines at your pharmacy, journey medical clinic or physician’s workplace.
Journey gear: See our journey store to search out the perfect baggage, equipment and different journey gear. (We advise these cozy journey sandals for metropolis strolling, the seaside and kicking about.)
Want extra assist planning your journey? Try our journey ideas and sources information for airline reserving ideas, methods to save cash, the best way to discover nice motels and different loopy helpful journey planning data.
Pssst! For those who make a reserving or buy by our web site, we could earn a small fee (for gratis to you). Thanks!

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Photograph credit: 1, 2, 6, 14, 21 to 23, 25, 28 to 32, 34, 36 to 38 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase

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