If you’re looking for a morning or afternoon activity, relatively close to Downtown Vancouver, Lighthouse Park should be on your list. As a designated historical site, it’s very popular with tourists, but the trails and views throughout make for an enjoyable wander.

The park itself is on the land and unceded territories of the Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nations. The park, originally known as Point Atkinson, was founded in 1792, having been “discovered” by Captain George Vancouver. However, this land was not discovered; it was always in existence, lived on and governed by the First Nations. And it’s beautiful.

Today, I’ll take you through the relatively easy steps involved in accessing this park via transit. As always, my starting point is Downtown Vancouver.

From Downtown Vancouver, the journey to the park will take about an hour between walking and riding the 250 bus, and depending on where you board. Make sure you board a 250 that is going to Horseshoe Bay, as the buses that go to Park Royal or West Bay-only will not get you far enough on the route to reach the park.

Once you’re on the 250, you’ll ride the bus for about 40 minutes, and exit when you reach the Westbound Marine Dr @ Beacon Lane stop. The stop prior to this is the Westbound Marine Dr @ The Dale. As mentioned in previous posts, if you’re afraid of missing the stop, just mention to the driver when boarding that you’re going to Lighthouse Park. The drivers on the TransLink buses are very helpful, and will often give a shout-out approaching the stop if they’ve been asked about it.

Once you hop off the bus, you just have to cross the street via the pedestrian crossing and follow Beacon Lane until you reach the park.

You’ll follow the same path back when you’re returning to Downtown Vancouver. You’ll board the 250 to Vancouver at the Eastbound Marine Dr @ Beacon Lane stop. Make sure to always check the return time options as you don’t want to get stranded.

Lighthouse Park:

Lighthouse Park is home to many trails, and you can easily spend a few hours exploring. Or if you just want to view the lighthouse itself, you can follow the Beacon Lane Trail. This trail will obviously not get you within touching distance of the lighthouse, as it’s not open to the public. However, you’ll have a closer view of the landmark, and gain a little knowledge about the current lighthouse that’s visible.

If you’re looking to do a bit more exploring, you can follow the many trails within the Douglas Fir tree forest or enjoy the beautiful seaside views. I recommend packing a lunch, and plopping yourself down on one of the rocks to experience the peaceful sounds of the sea lapping against the shore.

You really can’t beat the views on a clear day!

Some Tips from Me:

• Although the trails are relatively easy, make sure you wear appropriate shoes and bring any other essentials you may need (water, snacks).
• I’d recommend bug repellent in the spring/summer months, as the mosquitos can be relentless.
• There are washroom facilities available in the park, but be aware of their closing time.
• If you’re travelling to the park alone, always make sure to tell someone of your plans.
• Always check the return bus times. If you’re using your Compass card, make sure you have enough fare to complete the journey. Or else you’ll need exact change for the bus.

Thank you so much for reading. All photographs (unless stated otherwise), and opinions are my own. Please do let me know if I have fact-checked anything incorrectly, I’m always open to feedback and corrections.