Lighthouse Park is an extraordinarily little know piece of paradise, so close to to Vancouver as to see its tall buildings, yet immersed into a dramatically beautiful coastal rainforest. A wonderful network of trails winds throughout massive Douglas-fir trees and Western Red Cedars as well as golden Arbutus trees stretching toward the ocean.
Beautiful, deep forest park- Circle route with side trails
- Nice rock outcrops to explore
- Amazing views of Vancouver
- Sensational sunsets
- Beautiful, huge trees
- Very family friendly
- Very dog friendly
- Perfect place to relax in the sun
Very busy on summer weekends
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Mt Hanover Mt Harvey Mt Seymour Mt Strachan Mystery Lake Pacific Spirit 
Rice Lake St Mark's Stanley Park The Lions Unnecessary
It is surprisingly convenient on the drive from Vancouver to Whistler. The detour will only add an hour to your trip but the drive alone is well worth doing. Marine Drive runs parallel to the Sea to Sky Highway to or from Whistler, and is a wonderfully beautiful ocean hugging road that is alive with the beauty of Vancouver. If you are driving to Whistler from downtown Vancouver, finding Marine Drive is easy. After you cross the Lions Gate Bridge, continue straight as if going to Whistler(Highway 99) and you will almost immediately be on Marine Drive. Instead of making the right turn to keep on 99, continue straight as you will be on your way to Lighthouse Park via the very scenic Marine Drive. Wildly overgrown with all kinds of plants and trees, the narrow, Marine Drive hugs the coast in the midst of this evidently wealthy part of Vancouver. You will have amazing views across to Vancouver as you drive this beautiful road. After stopping at Lighthouse Park, Marine Drive continues parallel to the Sea to Sky for a few kilometres before signs show you where to rejoin Highway 99 to Whistler. The driveways you pass are windy and steep, and alarmingly close to the road. Oncoming cars you pass slow down, Marine Drive is that narrow. You are now in the real Vancouver. The houses are old and beautifully immersed in the deep, dark rainforest that once blanketed the land where skyscrapers of the city now stand.
This is where you can look across to the high rise building crammed metropolis of Vancouver and feel in another world. Quiet, serene, immersed in deep forest, and contrast beautifully to the beauty across the water. Lighthouse Park is located at a beautiful piece of land in the edge of this. Lighthouse Park is a beautiful Vancouver park, nestled inside a wonderful example of British Columbia's coastal rainforest. The trees are huge, the forest thick and the ocean views are amazing. Rain or shine, this park is a must see on any drive between Vancouver and Whistler. Marine Drive is another aspect that makes this a beautiful detour. This part of Vancouver is a great representation of Vancouver. Deep forest, beautiful ocean and rugged coastline.
The first lighthouse was built at Point Atkinson in 1874. The land around it that was to become Lighthouse Park was set aside to provide a dark backdrop for the new lighthouse. The lighthouse you now see was built in 1912. During World War II, search lights and gun emplacements were installed at Point Atkinson to watch over Burrard Inlet. Some buildings from that ere remain along with interesting photos depicting the area during that time.
Over 5 kilometres of trails wind through the forest and to various ocean views. Even on a busy, sunny day, you can often find an quite rocky outcrop far from the noise of the big city. The rocky shoreline has several amazing, flat and ocean smoothed areas to stretch out in the sun. Vancouver and the Lions Gate Bridge way off in the distance and enormous tankers sit in Burrard Inlet. Sailboats, fishing boats and motor boats silently cruise by, their motors drowned out by the crashing waves just below you.
The trails are easy and wide paths with excellent directional signs at each junction. If you want to get straight to the ocean, the Juniper Point Trail is a good start. 5 minutes from the parking lot and you find yourself on a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean. If you would rather head straight for the lighthouse, then Beacon Lane is the most direct route. It is actually a wide, gravel access road and takes you directly to the lighthouse, washrooms, the WWII buildings as well as plenty of huge, sunny rocky outcrops to explore.
Discover Lighthouse Park at HikeInVan.com
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