Stanley Park Cycling Tour: Seawall, Beaver Lake & Totems

Pedal past beavers and bald eagles while the kids stay fresh on trailers and Trail-a-Bikes

The Stanley Park Family Cycling Tour is a guided half-day bike ride through Vancouver's urban rainforest and seawall, designed for families with children from age 1 up. You ride along protected bike lanes and the Seawall Promenade—part of the world's longest uninterrupted seaside bike lane—stopping at the Girl in a Wetsuit statue, Totem Poles, Beaver Lake and Second Beach playground. Kids' trailers, Trail-a-Bikes and child seats are provided so every age can join without stress; the pace is easy, the group stays small, and ice cream is included at the Totem Poles.

Step-by-step itinerary

Family cycling tour of Stanley Park

• Pass Vancouver Art Gallery
• Ride along Seawall Promenade bike lane
• Pedal to bronze statues and Second Beach playground
• Cycle around park to Girl in a Wetsuit and Lions Gate Bridge
• Walk bikes through rainforest to beaver lodge
• See Indigenous artwork and enjoy treat at Totem Poles
• Pedal past Lost Lagoon and Coal Harbour waterfront
• Cruise under Convention Centre living roof

The Experience

The tour starts with a professional guide leading families along protected bike lanes into Stanley Park, where you'll ride the Seawall Promenade at a pace that keeps everyone comfortable. If your kids need help keeping up, child seats work for ages 1 and up, trailers carry younger riders, and Trail-a-Bikes let older kids pedal alongside without the worry of traffic. Helmets and bikes are provided, and the group stays small enough that stops happen whenever someone needs a break.

You'll pass the Vancouver Art Gallery on the way in, then spend the bulk of the ride discovering the park's landmarks: the Girl in a Wetsuit for photos, the Lions Gate Bridge and Brockton Lighthouse framing North Shore views, and the Totem Poles where you stop for ice cream and learn about Coast Salish history and the poles' significance. The guide shares stories about the park's logging past and the temperate rainforest that grew back, and you'll walk your bikes through the quieter trails to Beaver Lake—a hidden spot where an active beaver lodge sits beneath towering ancient trees and bald eagles sometimes nest overhead.

Second Beach playground gives the kids time to run and play with water views, and the route circles back along Lost Lagoon and the Coal Harbour waterfront, where seaplanes pass overhead. The final stretch cruises under the Convention Centre's six-acre living roof before you return. The whole ride takes four hours, luggage storage is free for the duration, and stickers go home with the kids. E-bikes are available for ages 16 and up if you want to upgrade, subject to availability.

What’s included

• Professional guide leading the whole group.
• bike and helmet for each rider.
• child seat for ages 1 and up, kids' trailer, or Trail-a-Bike depending on what suits your family.
• ice cream or similar treat at the Totem Poles.
• free luggage storage for the duration.
• sticker for the kids.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Cycle City Vancouver

Is this one for you?Book this if you're riding with kids ages 1+ and want a guide managing pace and stops so you can focus on your children rather than navigation; trailers are available if younger riders need support.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

39 verified traveler reviews

5 ★39

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can my one-year-old join this tour?

Yes—child seats are available for ages 1 and up, so your youngest can ride along safely while you pedal. Trailers and Trail-a-Bikes are also available if you prefer a different setup.

What is the Beaver Lake stop like?

Beaver Lake is a quiet, hidden spot inside Stanley Park where an active beaver lodge sits at the water's edge beneath old-growth trees. The guide walks the bikes through the temperate rainforest to reach it, and it's a favorite stop because wildlife—including bald eagles—is often spotted there.

How long is the tour and what does it include?

The tour runs four hours and includes the bike, helmet, child seat or trailer if you need one, a professional guide, ice cream at the Totem Poles, luggage storage for the duration, and a sticker for the kids.

Is this tour hard, or can families with young kids handle it?

The pace is easy and designed for families—you stop often so no one gets tired, and the route uses protected bike lanes and the flat Seawall Promenade rather than steep hills. It's suitable for all fitness levels.

What landmarks do we actually stop at?

You stop at Second Beach playground for the kids to play, the Totem Poles for ice cream and Indigenous history, Beaver Lake to look for wildlife, and you pass the Girl in a Wetsuit, Lions Gate Bridge and Brockton Lighthouse for photos along the way.

Is there public transit nearby if we need it?

Yes, public transportation options are available near the tour start and end points, so you can get to and from the meeting spot by bus or other transit if you prefer not to drive.