For anyone who appreciates nature and the natural world, living in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland is a dream come true. For busy families whose weekends are often spent driving between swimming lessons, soccer and hockey games all over town, the opportunities to appreciate and enjoy that natural world don’t come along as often as we might hope.
Lighthouse Park is a hidden jewel. In 1792, Captain George Vancouver charted and named the land where Lighthouse Park sits. He called the promontory Point Atkinson, the name it still retains today. The existing lighthouse was built in 1912 and serves as a landmark that can be viewed from several vantage points within the Park, and from the water as well.
The hike from the parking lot to the Lighthouse is an easy 10-minutes, or a 5-minute run downhill with my children. The Park is home to an awe-inspiring and fragile old growth forest. It’s worth stopping to examine old stumps and admire the size of the Douglas fir and red cedar tree trunks. We are all amazed to realize that all of Vancouver was once covered by such giant and majestic trees.
When we visit Lighthouse Park, we like to stay a while, so we pack a picnic and choose among some of our favourite picnic spots at the park. One of the best is found near the base of the Lighthouse itself. We set up our picnic area on the massive boulders and enjoy the spectacular view of Burrard Inlet, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island. The kids are always fascinated by the ocean traffic of kayaks, sailboats, ferries and cargo ships, and get a thrill when a sailor returns a wave.
If we and the kids can wait a little longer for our lunch, we continue hiking westward and break at one of the viewpoints overlooking Howe Sound and Bowen Island. Some locations have benches, but the boulders are also an inviting choice. There are several trail options to make your way back to the parking lot, and many of them are uphill and can be strenuous if you’re not used to it.
A visit to Lighthouse Park offers a chance to take a break from our busy lives. There is so much wonderful nature to enjoy and explore that the opportunity to slow down and smell the sea air and forest is a thing to savour. Just like a delicious picnic.
[Directions: Lighthouse Park is easily accessible by car off of Marine Drive, via Beacon Lane in West Vancouver. Travel westward along Marine Drive; the road begins to narrow and become more windy after the neighbourhoods of Ambleside and Dundarave. There is a wooden sign marking the Park turn-off onto Beacon Lane; continue down through a residential area until you reach the Park's parking lot. Be prepared for a variety of trail conditions and temperature changes by the ocean where it can be windy.]
