Prospect Point
5601 Stanley Park Drive, Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Colombia, V6G 3E2
Overlooking the Burrard Inlet at the northernmost edge of Vancouver’s Stanley Park, Prospect Point promises views of the Lions Gate Bridge and the North Shore Mountains. Though it’s home to a restaurant and a historic lighthouse, the big draw is the expansive panoramas. On rare occasions, orcas can be seen swimming through the waters.
The basics
This scenic viewpoint is a popular stop-off for sightseeing tours of Vancouver, including hop-on hop-off bus tours, which pull up here and at several other key sights within the park, such as the Brockton Point totem poles, the Vancouver Aquarium, and Second Beach. The viewpoint is home to the historic Prospect Point Lighthouse, which was erected after the SS Beaver steamship ran into the rocks here in 1882. The current lighthouse building is not the original, but a later version that was built in 1948. The scenic viewpoint is a popular stop-off for visitors touring the park. After exploring on foot or by bike, Prospect Point’s bar terrace makes an appealing place to sit and enjoy a cold beer or some food.
Things to know before you go
- There are public restrooms, a restaurant, an ice-cream stand, and a gift shop at Prospect Point.
- Beware the brazen raccoons at Prospect Point, who will attempt to steal any food left unattended—even momentarily. *Cyclists and skaters must follow the seawall at Stanley Park in a counter-clockwise direction; plan your route accordingly.
How to get there
Prospect Point is set above the seawall, just off Stanley Park Drive, making it easily accessible by car. There is parking, but space is limited and it fills quickly during the summer, so it’s better to come on foot, by bike, or by bus. TransLink’s #19 bus service stops are nearby.
When to get there
Summer is the best time to visit Prospect Point, as you can see cruise liners sailing past and into port. Time your visit to catch the sunset over the water, and see the lights of Lions’ Gate Bridge twinkling.
Trails Near Prospect Point
From the lookout at Prospect Point, there is a short but steep path down to the seawall, the paved route along the waterfront. A trail leading west from the Prospect Point parking lot connects Prospect Point to Siwash Rock, a tree-topped rock outcropping. Trails leading south across from the Prospect Point parking lot weave through the park’s interior forest.
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