Walks and Views

A waterfront park at the foot of 13th Street with a sandy beach, a duck pond, a playground and a skate park, and the start of the West Vancouver seawall that runs west toward Dundarave. It has some of the closest views of the Lions Gate Bridge and Stanley Park. Free, a District of West Vancouver park, lovely for a walk any time of year.

A prairie park on the southeast edge of Calgary set in Canada's largest man made wetland, with trails, viewing decks, a natural playground, a community orchard, public art and mountain views. The Environmental Education Centre, which stands on stilts over the water, is open Wednesday to Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the park is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Free. No dogs, and bring bug spray in summer.

A wild natural area of about 237 hectares where the Elbow River winds into the Glenmore Reservoir, forming Calgary's only river delta. Trails and the Barry Erskine Bridge lead through forest, meadows and wetlands rich in birds, beavers and deer, and connect to North and South Glenmore parks. Open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Free, a City of Calgary park.

A big wetland park around Burnaby Lake, the largest lake in the heart of the city, with a flat gravel trail of about 10 km that circles the water, boardwalks and quiet side paths. It is a great place to spot herons, ducks, beavers and turtles, all year round. Free, a Metro Vancouver regional park.

Walk across the top of the Cleveland Dam for a big view of Capilano Lake and the North Shore mountains, then follow forest trails down the Capilano Canyon past the salmon hatchery. One of Metro Vancouver's oldest regional parks, open all year with picnic areas. Free to enter, a Metro Vancouver regional park (not the paid suspension bridge further down the road). Stay out of the river: water can rise quickly when the dam releases water.

A large waterfront park at the southwest tip of Richmond, a short walk from Steveston Village, with a sandy, log strewn beach, rolling lawns for picnics and kite flying, and the Kuno Garden, a Japanese style memorial garden. It is one of the best places in Richmond to watch the sunset over the Salish Sea and the Gulf Islands, and the cherry trees bloom here in April. Free, a City of Richmond park.

A hilltop park in the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area with sweeping views over Burrard Inlet, the North Shore mountains and Vancouver. Kamui Mintara, the Playground of the Gods, is a group of tall carved wooden sculptures from Burnaby's Japanese sister city Kushiro, and the Centennial Rose Garden blooms nearby in summer. Paved paths, picnic spots, a playground and 28 km of trails. Free, a City of Burnaby park.

A big green park around Deer Lake in the heart of Burnaby, with easy walking trails that circle the lake and link the beach area, the Burnaby Art Gallery grounds, the Shadbolt Centre and heritage homes. Watch for blue herons, turtles and beavers along the shore, with the Metrotown towers rising beyond the water. Open from dawn to dusk all year. Free, a City of Burnaby park.

One of the only lakes inside the city of Vancouver, set in the large John Hendry Park, with a small sandy beach, playground, picnic lawns and marshes full of birds. The easy walk around the lake is 1.2 km and takes 15 to 25 minutes. Open year round. Free, a Vancouver Park Board park.

A quiet, naturally sandy beach at Ferguson Point on the west side of Stanley Park, sheltered by tall trees from the noise of the city. Driftwood logs make perfect seats for picnics and for watching the sun set over the ocean. Reach it on foot or by bike along the Seawall. Free, a City of Vancouver park beach.

A natural park on the bluff above the Bow River with one of the best views of the downtown Calgary skyline, especially at sunset and at night when the towers light up. A stairway with a viewing platform runs down the bluff toward the river and Prince's Island Park, so it also makes a good stair workout. Open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Free, a City of Calgary park.

A large wild park in a valley along the Bow River in southwest Calgary, with picnic areas, river pathways and the Douglas Fir Trail, a forest walk through a rare stand of old growth Douglas firs, some more than 400 years old. Lawrey Gardens, a natural area by the river, is part of the park. Open year round from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Free, a City of Calgary park with no fees.