Lighthouse Park Loop

Lighthouse Park is a Metro Vancouver regional park at 4902 Beacon Ln in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, protecting old-growth Douglas fir forest and a granite shoreline leading to the Point Atkinson Lighthouse. Visitors can reach it by taking bus 250 or 255 toward Horseshoe Bay and walking the rest, while the small parking lot fills on sunny weekends. Entry is free. The connecting trails total about 5 to 6 km with roughly 80 m of elevation gain, so the loop is easy and typically takes one to two hours. Surfaces are packed dirt, exposed roots and smooth granite bluffs, and the forest canopy provides substantial shade, though the rock sections near the water are open to sun and wind. Some of the Douglas firs are several hundred years old, which makes the forest an unusual survivor in the Vancouver area. Key landmarks include the Point Atkinson Lighthouse, the Arbutus Trail, the Valley of the Giants and numerous viewpoints toward Burrard Inlet, English Bay and the downtown skyline. The bluffs are steep and slick in wet weather, so visitors should stay on marked trails and keep back from the edge. A common route follows the main path to the lighthouse, loops back along the shoreline, then returns through the old-growth section, and shorter out-and-back walks to the lighthouse are possible. Drinking water and shelter are not available on the trails, but nearby Horseshoe Bay has cafes. Dogs must be leashed. The park is popular for sunset views, and visitors planning an evening visit should allow daylight for the return walk.