--- title: "Bays in Vancouver: 10 Spots From English Bay to Deep Cove" url: https://33travels.com/bays-in-vancouver/ author: "Tomas Herrera" published: 2026-10-19 updated: 2026-10-19 place: "World" --- # Bays in Vancouver: 10 Spots From English Bay to Deep Cove Ask ten locals which bays Vancouver has and you’ll get ten different lists, because “bay” here means two things. Inside the city, it mostly means the sandy shoreline on English Bay and its neighbours. Across Burrard Inlet, on the North Shore, it means villages like Horseshoe Bay and Deep Cove. (And no, Vancouver Bay on Jervis Inlet isn’t one of them. It’s a tiny settlement about 100 km up the coast, reachable only by boat or floatplane.) This guide covers both groups: ten bays and beaches, sorted by where they are, with the practical details most lists skip. ## Table of contents - [TLDR: which bay should you pick?](#tldr-which-bay-should-you-pick) - [Bays inside the city](#bays-inside-the-city) - [Bays in Greater Vancouver](#bays-in-greater-vancouver) - [Comparison table](#comparison-table) - [Practical tips for visiting Vancouver’s bays](#practical-tips-for-visiting-vancouvers-bays) ## TLDR: which bay should you pick? - **Sunsets and fireworks:** English Bay. - **Families with small kids:** Kitsilano Beach (pool, playground, lifeguards) or Locarno. - **Dogs:** Spanish Banks or Jericho, which have off-leash areas. Check the signs for current boundaries. - **Windsurfing and sailing:** Jericho. - **Ferry day trip:** Horseshoe Bay. - **Snorkelling and diving:** Whytecliff. - **A hike with a view and a doughnut:** Deep Cove. - **Walking between several at once:** the Seawall, from English Bay west to Spanish Banks. ## Bays inside the city These six sit along English Bay and Burrard Inlet. Most are linked by the Seawall, so you can walk or cycle from one to the next. ### 1. English Bay ![A serene city skyline along the coast during twilight with warm pink hues.](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/city-beach.jpeg) English Bay is the one everyone means. It’s the curve of sand at the foot of Denman Street, where the West End meets Stanley Park, with a line of freighters anchored offshore waiting for berths. The [UVic BC Genesis](https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/english_bay.html) project covers its history as a historic gathering place for the city. It’s best known for two things: the Inukshuk at the water’s edge, and the Celebration of Light fireworks competition, which fills the beach every summer. If you want a seat, arrive hours early. On a normal evening it’s easier. Bring a coffee and watch the sun go down behind the ships. - **Best for:** sunsets, fireworks, people-watching - **Swimming:** yes, with lifeguards in summer - **Dogs:** not on the beach itself - **Getting there:** walkable from downtown; street parking is scarce, so take transit or bike - **Best season:** June to September ### 2. Kitsilano Beach ![Exciting beach volleyball match with players midair diving for the ball on a sunny day.](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/beach-volleyball.jpeg) Kits Beach is the busy one. It’s on the south side of English Bay, with volleyball courts, a playground, a snack bar and Kitsilano Pool, a heated saltwater pool about 137 metres long. It’s a social beach. Expect a crowd on any sunny weekend and a strong view of the downtown towers across the water. - **Best for:** families, volleyball, a heated-pool alternative to cold ocean water - **Swimming:** yes, with lifeguards in summer - **Dogs:** restricted on the beach - **Getting there:** several bus routes; parking fills early on warm days - **Best season:** July and August ### 3. Jericho Beach Jericho is the sailor’s beach. The Jericho Sailing Centre runs lessons and rentals, and the shallow water and steady westerlies attract windsurfers and kiteboarders. Behind the beach, Jericho Park has ponds, trails and room to spread out. - **Best for:** windsurfing, sailing, a quieter picnic - **Swimming:** yes, though the bay is shallow and often breezy - **Dogs:** off-leash areas exist in the park; check posted boundaries - **Getting there:** parking lots by the sailing centre; bus service along 4th Avenue - **Best season:** summer for sailing, spring and fall for walking ### 4. Locarno Beach Locarno sits between Jericho and Spanish Banks and gets fewer visitors than either. Driftwood logs line the sand, which gives it a rougher, more natural look. It’s a good middle option if Kits is packed and you still want a beach day with volleyball and a concession stand nearby. - **Best for:** relaxed days, driftwood, beach volleyball - **Swimming:** yes, with summer lifeguards - **Dogs:** limited; read the signs - **Getting there:** small lots along Northwest Marine Drive - **Best season:** summer ### 5. Spanish Banks ![Expansive sandy beach at low tide under a dramatic cloudy sky, showcasing nature's beauty.](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/low-tide.jpeg) Spanish Banks is the tidal one. At low tide the water retreats a long way, leaving flats that you can walk across and warm pools that are good for toddlers. The beach is split into three sections (East, West and Extension), and the western stretches are quieter and better for dogs. Check the tide timing before you go: at high tide the beach is narrow, and at the lowest tides it can feel like the sea has left. Tide tables are published by [Fisheries and Oceans Canada](https://www.tides.gc.ca). - **Best for:** low-tide walks, dogs, kite flying, long views of the North Shore mountains - **Swimming:** best at mid to high tide; the water is shallow at low tide - **Dogs:** off-leash zones exist on the west end - **Getting there:** free-ish lots along Northwest Marine Drive, packed in July and August - **Best season:** summer, and low-tide mornings in spring ### 6. Burrard Inlet shoreline (Coal Harbour and Stanley Park) This one isn’t a single beach. It’s the stretch of Burrard Inlet shoreline that runs from Coal Harbour past Stanley Park, where the Seawall hugs the water and the views swap beach sand for floatplanes, marinas and the Lions Gate Bridge. You won’t swim here, but you will walk, and it’s the best free introduction to Vancouver’s water. - **Best for:** walks, cycling, floatplane watching - **Swimming:** not recommended along this section - **Dogs:** on-leash only on the Seawall - **Getting there:** SkyTrain to Waterfront, then walk - **Best season:** year-round ## Bays in Greater Vancouver These four are across Burrard Inlet in West Vancouver and North Vancouver. You’ll need a bus, a car or a long bike ride. ### 7. Ambleside ![Beautiful summer day at Sellin Pier, with stunning seaside architecture in Mecklenburg, Germany.](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/seaside-pier.jpeg) Ambleside is West Vancouver’s main beach, tucked beside the Capilano River mouth. It has a long sandy beach, a walking path, a dog off-leash area at the western end and a small town centre of cafés on Marine Drive. Dundarave Pier, a short walk west, is the spot for evening strolls and for watching the sun set. - **Best for:** families, dogs, a low-key day with a café lunch - **Swimming:** yes, with summer lifeguards - **Dogs:** off-leash area on the west side - **Getting there:** Marine Drive buses from downtown; parking is easier than at city beaches - **Best season:** summer ### 8. Horseshoe Bay ![Stunning view of Sydney Harbour Bridge with ferries at Circular Quay on a sunny day.](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ferry-terminal.jpeg) Horseshoe Bay is a village on a small, round harbour, and it’s mostly a ferry story. BC Ferries sails from here to Nanaimo’s Departure Bay, to Bowen Island and to Langdale on the Sunshine Coast. If you’re not on a boat, you can still spend a good hour here: fish and chips, a small park, gulls everywhere and mountains behind. Transit makes this easy, with the 250 bus running from downtown. - **Best for:** ferry day trips, a casual lunch, watching boats - **Swimming:** not really; it’s a working harbour - **Dogs:** on leash in the village - **Getting there:** the 250 from downtown, or Highway 1 - **Best season:** spring to fall ### 9. Whytecliff Park Whytecliff is the diving one. It sits just a few minutes from Horseshoe Bay and holds Whyte Islet, which you can reach on foot across a gravel bar at low tide. The surrounding waters are a marine protected area, and the cold, clear conditions make it one of the best dive spots near Vancouver. Even without a tank, you can sit on the rocks and watch the divers surface. - **Best for:** scuba diving, snorkelling, tide-pool curiosity - **Swimming:** possible but cold; it’s mainly for divers - **Dogs:** on leash - **Getting there:** drive or take the bus, then walk; the park lot is small - **Best season:** summer for visitors, year-round for divers ### 10. Deep Cove ![Kayakers exploring the turquoise waters of Calanques National Park in France on a sunny day.](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/kayak-cove.jpeg) Deep Cove is at the head of Indian Arm in North Vancouver, and it looks like a lake town that wandered to the sea. Kayaks and paddleboards are the main attraction, and the harbour is calm enough for beginners. The Quarry Rock hike (about 3.8 km round trip) starts nearby and ends at a lookout over the cove. Then you get a doughnut. This is the order locals do it in. - **Best for:** paddling, hiking, a half-day escape - **Swimming:** yes, in the cove, though the water is cool - **Dogs:** allowed in some areas, on leash - **Getting there:** the 211 bus from Phibbs Exchange, or drive; parking on weekends is a fight - **Best season:** summer for paddling, any dry day for the hike ## Comparison table | Bay | Area | Best for | Swimming | Dogs | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | English Bay | Vancouver | Sunsets, fireworks | Yes | No | | Kitsilano Beach | Vancouver | Families, volleyball | Yes | Restricted | | Jericho Beach | Vancouver | Sailing, windsurfing | Yes | Park off-leash | | Locarno Beach | Vancouver | Quiet days | Yes | Limited | | Spanish Banks | Vancouver | Low tide, dogs | Mid to high tide | West end off-leash | | Burrard Inlet shoreline | Vancouver | Walking, cycling | No | On-leash | | Ambleside | West Vancouver | Families, dogs | Yes | Off-leash area | | Horseshoe Bay | West Vancouver | Ferries | No | On-leash | | Whytecliff Park | West Vancouver | Diving | Cold | On-leash | | Deep Cove | North Vancouver | Paddling, hiking | Yes, cool | Some areas | ## Practical tips for visiting Vancouver’s bays **Park early or don’t drive.** On hot weekends, lots at Kits, Spanish Banks and Deep Cove fill by late morning. Transit or a bike saves the argument. **Check water quality.** City beaches are monitored through the summer, and [Vancouver Coastal Health](https://www.vch.ca) posts swim advisories, which often follow heavy rain. The [City of Vancouver beaches page](https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/beaches.aspx) lists lifeguard seasons and facilities. **Read the tide.** It changes everything at Spanish Banks and Whytecliff. Check the tide tables before you set out. **Use the Seawall.** The path links English Bay, Kits, Jericho, Locarno and Spanish Banks, so you can walk or cycle a whole string of bays in one day and stop wherever the sand looks best. You can start at Stanley Park and keep going west. **Bring layers.** The water stays cold, even in August, and the wind comes off the inlet in the evenings.