West Vancouver keeps the beach in reach

Capilano River flows to the Burrard Inlet

The Lions Gate Bridge and Stanley Park

If you like the feel of sand in your toes, the ocean wind on your face, and the smells of seaweed and sunscreen, then you won't want to miss a visit to these wonderful water front parks in West Vancouver. I recently checked out a very accessible stretch of beachfront trail stretching from where the Capilano River flows into the Burrard Inlet and travelling west along the north shore of English Bay to what was Vancouver's first cottage getaway, Dundarave Village.

There are a few ways to connect with Ambleside Park where the trail begins. This stretch of trail in Ambleside is paved and runs 1.2 km along sandy beach shoreline from the railway bridge crossing at the Capilano River mouth to 13th St. You can find accessible parking throughout this 24 hectare park. There is a par 3 accessible golf course; however, the clubhouse has no accessible washrooms. Throughout the park there are natural and artificial turf playing fields, BBQs, pavilions, picnic tables, very accessible washrooms with automatic doors, and an accessible beach area. Unfortunately this park and the others I traversed on this trip are not as accessible when it comes to children's play areas. They have many barriers and no adaptive equipment.

Accessible beach

As usual I rely on transit to make my way http://www.translink.ca/ . If you are driving, head west from the Lions Gate Bridge and find the park two blocks back of Marine Drive. You can also park in the Park Royal mall's far south west parking lot near Taylor Way and walk approximately 500 meters towards the ocean to meet the Capilino Pacific Trail head. The route I am taking heads west from there. In a future post I hope to travel sections of the Capilino Pacific Trail as it runs from Capilano Lake in Mount Seymour  following the river on its 6 km journey to the sea. The trail  I travel on today consists of  pavement, boardwalk, and packed gravel.

The way to Dundarave passes through several parks, beaches and grass areas, and includes the Centennial Sea Walk. Along the way there are numerous places to sit, shade areas, fields, beaches, piers and boardwalks.  Washrooms are frequent and fantastically accessible with automatic doors. The three major parks along the way are Ambleside, John Lawson and Dundarave.

Boardwalk wheel chair beach access points were provided consistently along the way. The route could use more way finding with information on the distances to the next park, etc. The next stop after a brief journey along Belvue Ave to the foot of 17th St brings me to John Lawson Park. This area of Belvue Ave is a hub of artist studios, music and theatre. It also hosts a farmer's market on the first Sunday of each month with a second Sunday the following week added in the month of August. The park itself offers accessible pathways, more great washrooms, picnic area, BBQs, small pavilion, swimming beach and fishing pier.

Crabbing is the most popular  form of fishing off of this pier and the District of West Vancouver has even provided a bait chopping area replete with a sink. If you decide to cast your net, don't forget to get a licence from the DFO (See post "Surrey's Green Timbers Park has reel allure" ) and be sure to follow the catch yield rules.

Just after John Lawson is a beachfront boardwalk and hard pack gravelly stretch with more art studios. If you want to avoid the bumps (I think most chair users won't be unduly uncomfortable with these) on this path, return to the park entrance at Bellvue Ave and the foot of 17th St which is the beginning of the Centennial Sea Walk. 

The Sea Walk Garden at the foot of 19th St is a beautiful little nook just off the pathway. You can find little quiet areas to listen to the babble of Lawson's Stream as it trickles to the vast Pacific Ocean. The stream is an important salmon and trout habitat. If you have the time and can resist the distracting views of English Bay and passing water craft from around the globe heading to the Port of Vancouver, stop and play a game of chess .

The home stretch, assuming you don't need to turn around and head back to your car, is the beginning of the Centennial Sea Walk. Although this beautifully flat paved pathway travels for 1.7 km, once you are on it in your chair, the only way off is forward or back due to the rising ground just north of this man-made seawall. In fact, at Dundarave there will be a fairly steep exit to parking lots or buses.

The Centennial Walk was opened in 1968 to commemorate Canada's 100th birthday and offers beautiful views of  Vancouver from Stanley Park to UBC. Lots of little shade rest areas, art, benches, and star sightings make this trip seem a short one.

 Dundarave Park has both a pier and a fantastic accessible beach walk. There is parking and the best vehicle access would be at the foot of 25th St. You can also find parking along both sides of the rail tracks along Bellvue Ave. The park has an accessible gazebo, more of those washrooms with the automatic doors, and a concession stand that offers unusual but delicious fare for a beach side concession: Triple A organically certified Alberta beef.

Wheelchair boardwalk to the high tide level

Dundarave Pier

The Village of Dundarave has historic roots and was named by Rusell Macnaughten, a professor of Greek at UBC in the early 1900s, as homage to the famous Scottish castle. The irony was not likely lost on him that the Gaelic word translates to "two oars in the water".  Before the construction of the Lions Gate Bridge in 1939 and a connecting main road to Marine Drive in 1913, Vancouver's gentry would row over from English Bay's south side.

The Beach House at Dundarave pier: yummy

Lovely beach

View from the end of the pier

The higher up the bigger the king

Uphill from Dundarave Park is the town centre. Along Marine Way you will find a quaint shopping district with speciality food and wine stores. On Saturdays from April to October, check out the farmer's market. Don't be surprised to bump into Bono, Robin Williams, or permanent residents Sarah McLaughlin, Anne Heche, Goldie Hawn, and Kurt Russell, for if Vancouver is Hollywood North, West Vancouver is its Beverly Hills.