Route: False Creek, Vancouver
Area: British Columbia, Canada
Date of walk: 26th September 2024
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly and James
Distance: 7.0 miles
Ascent: 300 feet
Weather: Grey skies and light rain at times
Vancouver is the most populous city in British Columbia with over 650,000 inhabitants. It is ranked as one of the most liveable cities in Canada and in the world. Our son James is working here at the moment and the purpose of our trip to Canada was to spend some time with him. Today’s route was decided by James, who would be our unpaid tour guide for the day
We parked near the Olympic Village (the walk could be started from anywhere along the route, and anyone following it could just as easily arrive by bus, taxi or metro). The route map is only a general guide and shouldn’t be slavishly followed as there are an infinite number of diversions and alternatives along the way
The skies were grey and overcast, with some light rain, as we made our way towards the impressive skyline of the city, passing by “The Birds”, a pair of giant sparrow sculptures created by local artist Myfanwy MacLeod. We arrived at False Creek and set off on our circuit in an anti-clockwise direction. BC Place Stadium and the dome of Science World dominated the view on this part of the walk. After rounding a corner we passed under Cambie Street Bridge and walked past a succession of small parks before taking an Aquabus across False Creek to Granville Island
We then visited Granville Island Market, a busy indoor market featuring a fascinating assortment of colourful food and artisan products. This was the far point of the walk, and from here we walked along the other side of False Creek, enjoying views of the towering skyscrapers of Vancouver along the way
Despite the poor weather, it had been a wonderful city walk
Click on the icon below for the route map
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The start of our circuit of False Creek Vancouver as we walk past a pair of giant sparrows, The Birds, by local artist Myfanwy MacLeod
We enter into the Olympic Village, once an industrial site
The BC Place Stadium beyond the Plaza of Nations Dock
The Science World dome
Science World again
Modern architecture of Vancouver - the PARQ building
The Arc
We walk under Cambie Bridge
We continue to follow the path around False Creek...
The side nearest the creek is reserved for pedestrians, the other side is for cyclists
The Grace building
We pass through David Lam Park...
Granville Street Bridge ahead
We walk through another park, George Wainborn Park
We walk beneath Granville Street Bridge, pausing to look up to the Spinning Chandelier, a public artwork by Rodney Graham
Burrard Street Bridge. We will walk as far as the bridge then double back to cross False Creek via the Aquabus
Floral displays under Burrard Street Bridge...
Beyond Burrard Street Bridge lies the Pacific Ocean
The amazing design of Vancouver House
The design is based on a triangle that rises from the ground and gradually transitions into a rectangle as it ascends to the top
An ingenious and elegant way to overcome the restrictions of the plot size
Another gem, Leslie House, known as the little yellow house, dwarfed by the neighbouring skyscrapers
After that short and entertaining diversion we return to Granville Street Bridge and catch the Aquabus to Granville Island
The Aquabus plies its trade around False Creek and stops at various places every 15 minutes
After a short journey we alight on Granville Island (which was an island until 1950 but is no longer)
We wander through Granville Island Public Market, a fascinating place and worth a visit in its own right
We leave the market and, since the island is no longer an island, we are able to walk off it and continue our circuit of False Creek
Passing under Granville Street Bridge as we leave Granville Island
We walk through Sutcliffe Park
Views of the Vancouver skyline as we continue around False Creek...
The circuit of False Creek is completed and from here we retrace our steps back to the car
