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While there are plenty of parks in Metro Vancouver for you to enjoy, it’s best to do your research ahead of time and know what to expect when it comes to crowds and parking.
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Looking to get outdoors? So is everyone else in Metro Vancouver.
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There’s no shortage of parks, both big and small, across B.C.’s South Coast where you can enjoy a hike or a day trip with the family.
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Many are accessible by transit, but others are more easily reached by vehicle. Looking for a dog-friendly park or a spot with a swimming hole? That’s available too.
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But with Metro’s population well over three million, it can be a challenge to enjoy some of the most popular local parks without having to fight for a parking spot or share the trails with crowds.
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According to Metro’s latest data, three of the region’s top five, most popular parks had more than a million visitors last year, with Pacific Spirit Regional Park in the top spot with nearly 3.9 million visits in 2025.
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Sunrise
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1. Pacific Spirit Regional Park: 3,888,800 visits.
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2. Boundary Bay Regional Park: 1,148,200 visits.
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3. Capilano River Regional Park: 1,097,000 visits.
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4. tәmtәmíxʷtәn/Belcarra Regional Park: 927,500 visits.
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5. Campbell Valley Regional Park: 887,600 visits
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In recent years, the Metro authority has implemented paid parking or seasonal parking fees to more closely manage crowd flow and parking access at some of its top destinations.
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Here’s what you need to know about visiting some of the region’s most popular parks:
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Pacific Spirit Regional Park
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Open April 7 to June 1 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; June 2 to Sept. 7 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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Where is Pacific Spirit Regional Park and how do I get there?
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The park is on the west side of Vancouver, close to the University of B.C.’s Point Grey campus. It’s accessible by all forms of transportation, including public transit.
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If visiting by bus, your best bet is to take the No. 84 or 44 out to the UBC campus and follow signs toward the park’s many trailheads.
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What’s the parking situation at Pacific Spirit Regional Park?
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Depending on where you want to enter the park, there’s a plethora of paid parking lots and garages at the Point Grey campus where you can ditch the vehicle and pay using Honk Mobile. The parking spots closest to the park are:
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• Stadium Lot at East Mall and 16th: $4.50 an hour to a daily max of $11; open daily.
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• Botanical Gardens near the UBC Botanical Gardens: $2.25 an hour to a daily max of $7; open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Otherwise, there is a small, unattended, free parking lot at 16th Avenue, about 400 metres west of Blanca Street, that allows two hours of parking and where you can find electric vehicle chargers as well.
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What should I know about Pacific Spirit Regional Park?
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The park is very popular for dog-walking, and there has been conflict between trail-users with and without dogs. As a result, the Metro authority introduced new signs and trail designations earlier this year, with some trails allowing off-leash use and others requiring strict-leash rules or even no dogs allowed.
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Boundary Bay Regional Park
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Open April 7 to June 1 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; June 2 to Aug. 24 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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Where is Boundary Bay Regional Park and how do I get there?
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Boundary Bay Regional Park is in Tsawwassen, close to the ferry terminal and Point Roberts. It’s not easy to get to but it’s beautiful and close to Centennial Beach.
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You can get there by transit taking the No. 609, 619 or 601 buses from central Ladner and disembarking at Centennial Beach.
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What’s the parking situation at Boundary Bay Regional Park?
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There are several lots where you can park at Boundary Bay Regional Park, scattered throughout the area. You can also check the Boundary Regional Park website online to see a real-time update of parking lot capacity. While it won’t tell you which lots have space, it does give a percentage that indicates how full their lots are before you drive out.
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See the list below and click the lot name for an exact Google Maps drop pin to help navigate.
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• Boundary Bay Parking Lot North at Beach Grove Road/Boundary Bay Road and 12th Avenue.
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• Centennial Beach Parking Lot, near the beach.
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• Sports Courts, near the tennis courts and beach.
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• Dyke Trail and 72nd Street, near the trail access.
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• Delta Heritage Air Park, near the trail access.
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• Mud Bay Park.
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Capilano River Regional Park
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Open from April 7 to June 1 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; June 2 to Aug. 24 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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Where is Capilano River Regional Park and how do I get there?
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Capilano River Regional Park is in North Vancouver, a short drive or bus ride from downtown Vancouver.
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To get there by public transit, make your way to Lonsdale Quay and from there, hop on the No. 236 that will deposit you right in the park.
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What’s the parking situation at Capilano River Regional Park?
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While there is parking, it can fill quickly on busy weekends and through the summer due to its popularity; it’s near the Grouse Grind and the Capilano Suspension Bridge, so it makes for a popular day trip.
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Parking at Capilano River Regional Park is free for cars, however, commercial tour buses and limousines are required to pay for parking. Rates are $21 a vehicle per day for vehicles with 11 seats or less; $32 a day for vehicles with 12 to 24 seats; and $53.50 a day for vehicles with 25 or more seats.
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If I like Capilano River Regional Park, where else should I go?
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If you find Capilano River Regional Park too crowded, consider visiting Crippen Regional Park or Kanaka Creek.
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Crippen Regional Park is on Bowen Island, a 30-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay. It’s easily accessible by foot from the Snug Cove ferry terminal if you decide to leave your car at Horseshoe Bay, or could easily be tacked onto a Bowen Island day trip.
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Kanaka Creek Regional Park keeps you on the mainland; it’s in Maple Ridge. You can hike, fish, canoe and kayak, or check out the fish hatchery as well.
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tәmtәmíxʷtәn/Belcarra Regional Park
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Open April 7 to Sept. 7 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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Where is tәmtәmíxʷtәn/Belcarra Regional Park and how do I get there?
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tәmtәmíxʷtәn/Belcarra Regional Park is near Sasamat Lake and includes popular White Pine Beach. There’s hiking, cycling, fishing, canoeing and designated fire pits available.
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To get there by transit from Inlet Centre SkyTrain Station, take the No. 182 or the 184 bus.
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What’s the parking situation at tәmtәmíxʷtәn/Belcarra Regional Park?
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Be very careful when you park here. In the past, the parking lot at White Pine Beach has featured fights and congestion, prompting the implementation of seasonal paid parking from April 1 to Sept. 30.
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Parking is prohibited along Bedwell Bay Road near Sasamat Lake and restrictions are enforced by the villages of Belcarra and Anmore, with ticketing and towing in effect.
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The parking lot and overflow parking costs $3.25 an hour up to a daily maximum of $18.50, with fees in effect from 10 a.m. to park closing, though parking before 10 a.m. is free. (Parking is often full by 10 a.m.)
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Why does tәmtәmíxʷtәn/Belcarra Regional Park have two names and how do I pronounce it?
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The park is on the site of the largest of the Tsleil-Waututh’s ancestral villages, primarily used as a winter village. Over time and through colonization, tәmtәmíxʷtәn became known as Belcarra.
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In October 2021, a renaming ceremony was held to return the park to its original name of tәmtәmíxʷtәn, which translates to “the biggest place for all the people” in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language.
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Campbell Valley Regional Park
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Open April 7 to June 1 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.; June 2 to Aug. 24 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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Where is Campbell Valley Regional Park and how do I get there?
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Campbell Valley Regional Park is in Langley and, while accessible by public transit, you’ll want to make sure you trip-plan for the correct entrance into the park. Google Maps will point you to the main parking lot on the southern side of the park where there are no transit options available.
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Instead, take the No. 563 or No. 561 to the Perimeter Trailhead near 200th Street and 20th Avenue.
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What’s the parking situation at Campbell Valley Regional Park?
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A free parking lot is available at 8th Avenue, just east of 204th Street.
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If I like Campbell Valley Regional Park, where else should I go?
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If Campbell Valley is crowded, you can always head up the road to Aldergrove Regional Park, which offers many of the same amenities.
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When are the least crowded times at Metro regional parks?
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While the Metro authority doesn’t have available data for peak visit periods, there are a few general rules to keep in mind when deciding when to visit for optimal enjoyment.
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• The popularity of Metro’s top-four, most visited parks is due to their proximity to water. So if you’re not looking to dip your feet in the water, perhaps try your luck at a park that doesn’t have water access.
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• Weekends are always busier than weekdays, so consider visiting on a weekday if your schedule allows.
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• Summer days at tәmtәmíxʷtәn/Belcarra Regional Park and Boundary Bay are almost always busy, though the evenings are much better.
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• If you’re visiting a non-beach park on a weekend, consider early morning or evening visits that are less crowded than midday visits.
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