Queen Elizabeth Park

Queen Elizabeth Park occupies Little Mountain, the highest point in the City of Vancouver, at 4600 Cambie St in British Columbia. The park combines manicured gardens with some of the widest views in the city, looking north over the downtown skyline to the North Shore mountains. Its main features include the Quarry Garden, a sunken garden created from former basalt quarries, the Bloedel Conservatory, a domed tropical and desert plant house with free-flying birds, and the Dancing Waters fountain nearby. Cherry trees bloom in April, and ornamental plantings follow through summer and autumn, with rhododendrons and roses adding colour. Paths link the lookout plaza with the arboretum, and sports facilities such as tennis courts, a pitch-and-putt course and disc golf are scattered around the grounds. A visit usually lasts one to two hours, a little longer if the conservatory is included. The best photo angle is from the lookout plaza at the summit looking toward downtown, and the Quarry Garden is most attractive in the soft light of late afternoon. The park is busiest on sunny weekends in spring and summer, and wedding photographers often use the gardens, so weekday mornings are calmer. Entry to the park is free; only the Bloedel Conservatory charges admission. The Canada Line to King Edward Station is about a 10-minute walk uphill, and bus 15 along Cambie Street also stops nearby. Paid parking is available at the summit, but spaces fill quickly on fine days. Visitors can combine the park with VanDusen Botanical Garden, which lies a short bus ride to the west.