Pacific Spirit Regional Park
Pacific Spirit Regional Park (PSRP) was established in 1989 as a natural forest preserve, originally part of the University Endowment Lands (UEL). Situated adjacent to the city of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia, the park is now an integral part of the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks system.
Covering 860 hectares, the park boasts a stunning foreshore, including the renowned “Wreck Beach,” and a dense, richly forested landscape. The foreshore stretches along the Point Grey Peninsula, from Burrard Inlet in the north to the Fraser River in the south, while the forest serves as a natural boundary between UBC and Vancouver.
The park features over 50 km of forest trails that cater to a variety of interests, including walkers (with or without dogs), runners, bicyclists, and horse riders. Along these trails are several notable landmarks, such as Camosun Bog, Wreck Beach, and the Lily of the Valley grove. The diverse trail network allows runners to tailor their routes to meet specific fitness and cardio goals. The foreshore is a favorite spot for naturalists and sun-seekers, while dog-walkers and bikers can explore the extensive network of forested paths. Each ecosystem within the park—beaches, streams, wetlands, forests, and meadows—offers unique habitats that support a diverse array of wildlife.
There are many places to enter the Park and several transportation options. Main entrances may be found at the former location of the Park Centre, on 16th Avenue, between Blanca and Wesbrook Mall, at 16th Ave. and Sasamat St., at Imperial Drive and 29th Ave., at 33rd and Camosun, on the south side of University Hill High School, along the west end of the University Golf Course, on Chancellor Blvd, between Blanca and Acadia. Reach the foreshore via the marked points along Marine Drive, west of the university.
Transport by walking, “sole power” and by bicycle is easy from the UEL/UBC area as well as the neighborhoods of Point Grey, Dunbar and Southlands. Public transit runs along four major routes with stops near park entrances: Southwest Marine Drive, 16th Avenue, Broadway/University Boulevard, and Fourth Avenue/Chancellor Boulevard. From the north, you can enter the Park from Spanish Banks on Northwest Marine Drive also accessible by bus. If you are driving, there is ample parking along 16th Ave., 29th and Imperial, Southwest Marine Drive, and the beaches at Spanish Banks.
The forest has many varieties of evergreen trees, including Cedar, Hemlock, Douglas Fir and Sitka Spruce. There are also deciduous trees, like Vine Maple, Big Leaf Maple, Red Alder and Bitter Cherry. Berry bushes are abundant, too: Salal, Salmonberry, Thimbleberry, and Elderberry. Many varieties typical of rain forest plants are abundant, including, ferns, mosses, lichens and mushrooms.
Birds and small animals are commonly heard or seen along the trails: Barred Owls, Bald Eagles, Chickadees, Warblers, Wrens, Woodpeckers and sea birds. You may also see smaller mammals, like Douglas Squirrels, Voles, Mice and larger ones, like Coyote, Skunk and Raccoon. Pacific West Coast amphibians such as Salamanders, Newts, Garter Snakes, and Tree Frogs are found in the wet areas of the Park.
With over a million visitors every year, Pacific Spirit Park sees a wide range of people, cultures, and interests. Of course, one thing we can all agree on is how beautiful this forest and foreshore are, so please keep these guidelines in mind to make everyone’s visit a memorable one:
- Obey all signs posted in the park.
- Stay on designated trails and respect all trail users.
- Respect posted visiting hours in the park. Generally, dawn-to-dusk.
- If you bring something into the park, take it out with you! There are garbage cans, and recycling units throughout the park.
- Keep dogs on leashes unless you are in a leash free zone.
- Yield the right-of-way to equestrians. Say hello so riders know you are there, and keep your dog close, quiet and under control as horses pass by.
- Do not remove animals or vegetation from the park!
- Do not feed or attempt to pet wild animals
- Wreck beach is a clothing optional beach. Please do not gawk and respect those who embrace nudism on the beach.
- Use earphones. If you do use a stereo system, respect other park users by keeping the volume low.
- Give lost and found items to RCMP (604-224-1322).
Wreck Beach and Foreshore
The Wreck Beach foreshore encompasses a sweep of beach around the tip of Point Grey. From Acadia Beach on the north side, with its sandy cliffs and rocky shores, to the the rich estuarine marshes to the south, the foreshore has many “personalities.” There are areas of quiet beauty, as around the environmentally-sensitive, urban salmon-bearing Booming Ground Creek within Musqueam Marsh. As a world famous clothing optional beach, Wreck Beach hosts a large population of park visitors in the summer months.
The southern area has been home to river otters, deer, coyotes, skunks, and other small mammals. Human activity such as dredging and interference with fresh water springs has greatly reduced the wildlife, though river otter have begun re-establishing themselves and are a treat when glimpsed by avid nature watchers. Mated pairs of Pileated woodpeckers, eagles and barred owls can be glimpsed along this magical foreshore beside the mouth of the Fraser River.
Summer visitors to the busy western point of the beach are sometimes treated to aerial acrobatics of parent eagles training their young to hunt seagulls right over the beach and cliffs. Seagulls do not succumb peaceably to becoming eagle meals and are extremely vocal as they attempt to outwit their predators.
From the Acadia section of Wreck Beach, one has a glorious view of Howe Sound and the downtown Vancouver cityscape just 15 minutes from this wilderness-like beach. Flocks of sea ducks, cormorants, and at low tide gulls and terns fish in the shallow waters. Surf smelt spawn in this area, which in turn attracts herons, kingfishers, eagles – as well as both legal and illegal human fishermen.
Camosun Bog
xʷməm̓qʷe:m (Camosun Bog) is located on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) nation. Camosun Bog is a unique and treasured ecosystem within Pacific Spirit Regional Park, offering a glimpse into a rare and ancient landscape. Nestled within the dense forest, the bog is a remnant of a once-extensive wetland that has existed for thousands of years. Covering a small but ecologically significant area, Camosun Bog is characterized by its distinctive plant life, including sphagnum moss, Labrador tea, and bog laurel, which thrive in the acidic, waterlogged conditions.
Visitors to Camosun Bog can experience a tranquil and otherworldly environment, where the delicate balance of nature is on full display. The bog is home to a variety of specialized wildlife, including insects, amphibians, and birds that have adapted to its unique habitat. Boardwalks allow visitors to explore the area without disturbing the sensitive ecosystem, providing an educational and immersive experience.
Conservation efforts by the Camosun Bog Restoration Group have played a crucial role in preserving Camosun Bog, ensuring that this fragile ecosystem continues to thrive for future generations to enjoy. It stands as a living testament to the park’s commitment to protecting the natural heritage of the region.
Park Information
June 4 to September 2
7:00 am – 10:00 pm
September 3 to 23
7:00 am – 8:00 pm
* Wreck Beach opens at 7:00 am and closes at sunset
For more information, including current fire risk and safety concerns, please visit metrovancouver.org.