Discover Lighthouse Park: An Underrated Gem in BC

Your TL;DR Guide to Exploring British Columbia

TL;DR: West Vancouver’s Lighthouse Park is a beautiful coastal destination with hiking, stunning scenery, and peaceful perches. Stop by for a brief walk through this historic spot to see the lighthouse. Or, check out the sunset with some lovely harbor views. Expect to pay for parking. The park is open year-round.

I have had Lighthouse Park saved as a “place to visit” for about a year.

Well, one day, after visiting some other spots in North Vancouver, we decided to venture over to West Vancouver. And what followed was an unexpectedly wonderful (and spontaneous) adventure along the coast.

So if you’re looking for other things to do in Vancouver, read on for one of the most peaceful and beautiful spots – Lighthouse Park.

What is Lighthouse Park and What Makes it Special?

Located in a residential community, Lighthouse Park is a fairly unassuming section of land hidden behind homes and small roads. However, once you step foot beyond the parking lot, you’re greeted by vast coastal B.C. beauty.

Founded in 1792, this “park” is a registered historic site with over 190 acres of land along the harbor. Made of deep green rainforests, peaceful trails, and stunning coastal views, the true star of the park is its namesake lighthouse.

The Point Atkinson Lighthouse first came into existence in 1874 – it was then known by a different name – as gift from the Canadian government to B.C. when it officially joined the nation’s borders.

Today’s lighthouse was built in 1912. And, in addition to being an iconic and recognizable coastal feature, it also was used during World War II.

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The Logistics

At a Glance:

Address: 4902 Beacon Ln, West Vancouver, BC V7W 1K5, Canada

Parking: Paid (metered)

Entrance Fee/Reservation: None Required

Hours: 7AM-10PM year-round

Best for: Casual hiking, sight-seeing, and photography

4902 Beacon Ln, West Vancouver, BC, Canada

Parking for Lighthouse Parking

There is a paved lot located just at the trailhead entrance on Beacon Lane. The lot is on the smaller side and can fill up during holidays or weekends – so plan accordingly if you’re visiting during the busy season. The park is also a popular place to check-out the sunset, so it will begin to get crowded closer to sundown.

I stopped by about an hour before dusk during the week and had no issue finding a spot. If things do fill up, others have said it’s easy enough to drive around the neighborhood to find decent street parking.

Parking, like much of B.C., is paid via app. Signs are posted everywhere, though, so it isn’t hard to figure out – just look for the signs!

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What to Do at the Park

Lighthouse park is actually a series of trails around the Burrard Inlet. The most common one is a fairly straight path from the end of the parking lot to the lighthouse viewpoint. When you park, there is an informational sign that shows other trails you can check-out.

I personally have taken a few of the viewpoint trails along the coast, but there are plenty of other things to explore in the area.

Finding the Lighthouse

The trail is straightforward (as in you pretty much walk straight forward), but things are quiet enough that I did doubt if I was going in the right direction a couple of times. So, if you’re like me and want to have a few signs along the way that you are on the right track, read on for some landmarks to guide you – and know the trail is pretty short.

For the most part, you take the trail that leads straight in the direction of the harbor. Along the way, you’ll see a few informational signs about the area’s biodiversity and history.

Eventually on our walk, when everything was incredibly still, we came across a few cabins, built during World War II. Walking in between the cabins, just past the Munday House (to the right), we quickly came to the “Lighthouse Park” gate. From there, a few steps and we were at the viewpoint.

Little note: You can’t actually get to the lighthouse – just a small viewpoint with a plaque explaining the lighthouse’s significance.

Hiking in the Rainforest

Even with a full parking lot, the vast rainforest felt empty. Wide trails and trees abounding, the air was several degrees cooler than out in the nearby neighborhood.

I didn’t get to explore the area as much as I’d like outside of the main trail to get to the lighthouse and a few offshoots but it was stunning and peaceful – the perfect place to catch a few snaps. Seriously, though, I’m absolutely enchanted with how some of these photos turned out.

Best views of the Coast

After checking out the lighthouse, we backtracked a bit to the cabins and then took the left trails leading to more coastal views. The terrain became a little less smooth and more and more rocks began appearing. Within a few minutes, we stepped into a clearing made of smooth, large rocks.

STUNNING – that’s the word that came to mind when I first stepped out onto the rocky ledges to view Howe Sound. Bright, white rocks, deep gem-hued waters, and ships in the distance – I felt as though the great poet Lord Byron could have been inspired by these same views.

There were small groups of people lounging to view the sunset – one person was even chilling with a seagull.

But it still felt very isolated (in a good way) and was no where near overcrowded.

The sun was most definitely intense, though, so my sunglasses played a vital role. It was somewhat reminiscent of San Diego’s Sunset Cliffs – but much more remote.

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Since it’s open year-round, Lighthouse Park is the perfect place to visit on your next trip to British Columbia. With serene views, crisp air, and some fantastic trails, it certainly is on my list!

What are your favorite outdoor spots in British Colombia?