Seawall

Location

Along the waterfront, Coal Harbour (Burrard Inlet) via Stanley Park & False Creek to Kitsilano Beach

About the Seawall

The seawall refers to the 22km (13.7 miles) walking, jogging, cycling and inline skating path that lines Vancouver's waterfront from the convention centre on Burrard Inlet (Coal Harbour), around Stanley Park and False Creek, past Granville Island and ending at Kitsilano Beach Park. It is the most popular recreational facility in Vancouver and is on the "to do" lists of many visitors.

The seawall is managed by the Vancouver Park Board together with City of Vancouver Engineering Services.

• Stanley Park section: 8.8km
• Coal Harbour section: 2.2km
• English Bay to Kitsilano Beach: 11km

The seawall is divided into two sections, one for walkers and joggers (closest to the water) and another for cyclists and inline skaters (inside path). Signs indicate use and warn of congested areas: Bikes must be walked in three areas in Stanley Park due to congestion.

• Travel is two-way (except in Stanley Park) - stay to the right to allow room for users going in the other direction
• In Stanley Park cycling and inline skating is one-way between Georgia Street (Kilometre 0) and Second Beach concession (Kilometre 8). Bikes and skaters must travel in a counterclockwise direction only.
• Use caution on sunny summer days when the seawall is particularly busy
• Allow 2-3 hours to walk or 1 hour to cycle the Stanley Park section
• On shared paths cyclists and inline skaters must yield to pedestrians

Public washrooms, concessions and other amenities are available in parks and at community centres. Visit each park and centre's webpage for a list of available amenities and hours of operation. The seawall passes through 16 parks and past four community centres and nine concessions (most seasonal).

Parks:

Community Centres:

Food and Drink:

History

Construction of the seawall began in Stanley Park in 1917 with much of its incremental progress was overseen by Park Board master stone mason James Cunningham from the late 1920s until his retirement some 35 years later. A plaque commemorating Cunningham's work can be seen in the rock face above the wall at Siwash Rock. The truth is that many full and part-time staffers, along with relief workers in the 'dirty thirties' and 'defaulters' serving punishment time, put back-breaking hours into a project originally conceived to hold back erosion.

On September 21, 1980 the entire seawall loop around Stanley Park was declared officially completed with the final paving between Third Beach and Second Beach. Since 1980 the seawall has been extended outside of Stanley Park.

In 2010/2011, two portions of the seawall, Stanley Park (near Second Beach) and English Bay (near Sunset Beach) were renewed to address ongoing concerns with erosion. With deep foundations and renewed surfacing, the new seawall is built to withstand the tides for many years to come.

Related Links

• City of Vancouver bikeways