There’s nothing nicer on a sunny Vancouver day than biking Stanley Park – it’s one of those Canadian bucket list things to do!
But don’t stop there.
The Stanley Park bike route continues around the Seawall to Granville Island and beyond.
Conveniently-located Stanley Park bike rentals make it easy to get in the saddle and go for a ride.
So hop on a bicycle and let the good times roll!
Contents: Bicycling and bike rentals in Stanley Park, Vancouver
5 Best Stanley Park bike rentals
Guided Stanley Park bike tours
Sights on your Seawall and Stanley Park cycle ride
5 Best Vancouver Stanley Park bike rentals
There are no actual bike rentals in Stanley Park.
But there are plenty of bike rentals near Stanley Park.
The Stanley Park bike rental shops are located on and around Denman Street (in the West End of Vancouver), which is just a hop and a skip away from Stanley Park.
The following are the five most convenient Stanley Park and Seawall bike rental shops. (We’ve rented from most of them.)
Note: All prices are in CAD. (So if you’re visiting from the U.S., everything will be a lot cheaper for you!)
1) Spokes Bicycle Rentals
Spokes Bicycle Rentals is the biggest and most prominent bike rental near Stanley Park.
It’s also the closest bike rental to the park (at the corner of Denman and Georgia Streets).
Spokes offers a large selection of cruiser bikes with different speeds (1-speed and 7-speed), plus mountain, city, tandem and children’s bikes.
All very new and clean, their bicycles are some of the best Stanley Park bike rentals. And they offer great service.
Spokes bike rental rates
At the same time, Spokes Bike Rental is probably the most expensive of the Vancouver Seawall bike rentals.
Starting at $8.57 an hour for an adult bike, their hourly rate is more expensive than some of the other shops listed here (like Freedom Bikes, #5 below).
However, if you’re short on time and can only do a quick Stanley Park cycle, Spokes is a great option, as their location is so convenient. (And the cost difference is really quite negligible.)
See here for Spokes’ rental rates.
Minimum rental time
You can rent for just one hour (with an extra charge for each additional 15 minutes).
Hours
When we have longer daylight hours in the summer, the shop stays open later, until 9:00 pm in late spring and summer.
Spokes Bike Rentals: Website
Location: 1798 W. Georgia St (see on map)
2) Yes Cycle Tours and Bicycle Rentals
Yes Cycle is another great Stanley Park bike rental shop.
They also offer guided Stanley Park bike tours (3 hours long), leaving at 9:30 am.
You’ll see the totem poles, Brockton Point Lighthouse, Lost Lagoon, Beaver Lake and the beaches (all of which we cover further down in the section on the sights you see when cycling Stanley Park).
Bike rental rates
Their regular bikes are all the same rate (except for kids’ bikes), no matter the style. (E-bikes are more expensive, of course.)
The first hour is $9 an hour, but then the rate drops for every additional hour.
Bikes come with a basket, lock and helmet. There’s a $15 charge to keep the bike overnight.
See here for Yes Cycle’s bicycle rental rates (scroll down to the end).
Minimum rental time
You have the option of renting for just one hour.
Hours
Yes Cycle is open until 9:00 pm in late spring and summer.
Yes Cycle Bike Rental: Website
Location: 687 Denman St. (see on map)
3) Jo-E Cycles
Walk a block further up Denman Street away from Spokes and Yes Cycle, and you come to Jo-E Cycles.
They offer comfort bikes, MTB bikes, cruiser (step-through) styles and electric bikes, as well as tandem bicycles.
And they rent bike trailers for toddlers.
On our most recent visit to Vancouver, we rented from the friendly staff at Jo-E. The 21-speed bikes were great with some shock absorption (though a bit used-looking).
If you want an easy ride, Jo-E also rents e-bicycles, capable of going 18+ miles (30 km) to 62+ miles (100 km) without recharging.
(After riding e-bikes on our Seine River cruise in France, we bought e-bikes for ourselves back home. Love them!)
Bike rental rates
Their rate for a half day is one of the best (cheapest) per hour, as it allows you to take out a bike for up to 5 hours for $24 total. See Jo-E’s regular bicycyle rental rates.
They have great rates on electric bike rentals too. See their e-bike rental rates.
To rent an e-bike, you have have to leave a pre-authorized amount of $250 on your credit card (to protect against damage, etc.)
Minimum rental time
There’s no minimum rental – rent only for an hour if you wish.
Hours
In high summer, Jo-E Cycles is open Monday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. But their hours change seasonally, depending on the daylight.
Joe-E Bike Rentals Stanley Park: Website
Location: 768 Denman Street (see on map)
4) Bikes and Blades
This bike rental shop has been in the business for more than 25 years.
Bikes and Blades support the local market by offering Canadian-made bicycles and roller blades for rent.
Choices include regular bikes, e-bikes, tandem bikes, bicycles for children and bike trailers to tow kids.
Bike rental rates
Helmets, locks and baskets are included in the rates.
Overnight charges apply if you don’t return the bike before closing time.
See here for complete rental rates.
Minimum rental time
Bikes and Blades has a minimum charge of 2 hours. After the 2 hours are up, they charge you for every 15 minutes.
Hours
Opening hours vary, depending on the season and daylight.
Bikes and Blades: Website
Location: 718 Denman Street (see on map)
5) Freedom Bikes
This is one of the cheapest Stanley Park cycle rental outfits close to the park.
(It’s also one of the cheapest Vancouver bike rental places, period.)
Their bikes are still good quality, though.
They have men’s cruiser bikes, ladies’ cruiser bicycles (check out the hot pink color!) and tandem bikes.
If you’d like to try a different way to explore Stanley Park, they also rent out E-scooters.
Stanley Park bike rental price
At Freedom Bikes, you can rent an adult bike for just $7 an hour. Kids’ bikes are just $6 an hour.
A helmet, lock and basket are included in the rates.
(E-scooters go for $25 an hour.)
Minimum rental time
You only need to rent for a 1-hour minimum. And if you’re only gone for 90 minutes, there’s a 90-minute rate too ($10.50).
For a quick ride, this is one of the best places for bicycle rentals in Vancouver.
Hours
Freedom Bikes are open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm in the peak months. (Hours could change when it rains.)
Freedom Bike Rentals: Website
Location: 730 Denman St. (see on map)
Guided Stanley Park bike tours
We’re all about going out and exploring on our own.
But we also know that guided tours are lots of fun when traveling. (You can learn so much when you have a local guide, right?)
Here’s an awesome 3-hour guided Stanley Park bike tour that’s worth checking out.
You’ll ride all around the Seawall and along forest trails through the park too.
It’s a great way to learn about Vancouver’s history as a logging center, the Coastal First Nations, the wildlife and the park’s rainforest and totem poles.
The group size is limited to 12 people. And both beginner and experienced riders are sure to love this tour.
Or maybe you’d like this longer 5-hour Vancouver bicycle tour?
Also top-rated, it includes cycling Stanley Park, a stop at Granville Island for lunch (on your own) and returning via Chinatown. The group size is limited to 9 people.
About Stanley Park, Vancouver
Visiting Stanley Park is one of the best things to do in Vancouver, British Columbia, in summer (if not year-round).
And move over Central Park! Stanley Park is bigger than you.
And dare we say it, more beautiful? Conde Nast Traveler named Stanley Park one of the best city parks in the world.
We have to thank Vancouver’s original city planners for preserving this 1,000-acre tract of forest as parkland right in the heart of downtown Vancouver.
Want to gape at a half-million trees that are hundreds of years old? This is your place.
During our many Stanley Park visits over the years we lived in Vancouver, we’ve fed robins and songbirds from our hands.
We’ve marveled at huge pink and purple blooms in the beautiful rhodo garden, spied great blue herons nesting in trees and watched the antics of octopi and beluga whales in the Vancouver Aquarium.
We’ve laughed at curious raccoons and sprightly squirrels crossing the walking paths, and lost track of time gazing at Canada geese watching over their goslings by Lost Lagoon.
Walking, jogging, roller-blading and biking Stanley Park
There are many ways to see and enjoy Vancouver’s Stanley Park.
You can drive – and even take a horse-drawn carriage tour – around the park.
Or you can walk, jog, roller-blade or bicycle Stanley Park – going around the Vancouver Seawall, which is 5.5 miles (almost 9 km) long.
There’s another beautiful park in Vancouver: Get your flower fix at Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Garden (the rhodos are gorgeous in spring!)
Stanley Park map
Stanley Park bike trail
There are two lanes
The Stanley Park Seawall is divided into two clearly marked paths – one for walkers and runners (closest to the water), and one for bicyclists and roller-bladers.
To avoid accidents, stay in the bicycle lane.
One-way direction
The Stanley Park bike path is one-way only.
It goes counter-clockwise. From Coal Harbor, it goes to Brockton Point, past the Burrard Inlet, then around to English Bay (see the direction arrows on the map above).
Stanley Park bike route
Many people enjoy just biking Stanley Park. But the Seawall actually extends much further.
After you pop out from Stanley Park at English Bay, you can continue along Beach Avenue and all the way around False Creek (an inlet from English Bay) to Granville Island.
You might even want to go a little further to Kitsilano Beach (next to Vanier Park).
The full Vancouver Seawall bike ride is 13.5 miles (22 km) one way, from the Vancouver Convention Center to Kitsilano Beach.
(The red biking path shown above, from the Coal Harbor side in Stanley park to Granville Island, underneath Granville Street, is slightly shorter.)
Outside of Stanley Park, you can bicycle on the path in both directions, so you can bicycle back to your bike rental shop on Denman Street.
What do you see when you bicycle Stanley Park?
The following are just some of the sights that catch your attention when biking Stanley Park to Granville Island.
Vancouver Rowing Club
Being almost surrounded by water, Vancouverites are pretty passionate about all water sports, including rowing.
One of the first sights you see as you start your Stanley Park bike ride is the Vancouver Rowing Club, still going strong after more than 125 years.
Stanley Park totem poles
You’ll next see a collection of historic totem poles to your left in the park’s Brockton Point.
One of the most significant collection of totems in the world, they’re intricately carved and beautiful pieces of First Nations’ art.
Some date back to the 1880s, and each tells a unique story or legend from several indigenous cultures.
Originally, Stanley Park had four totems, brought over from Alert Bay (on northeast Vancouver Island). But over time, more poles were added to the collection.
Some of the older poles were also moved to museums to protect them from the weather, and replicas were carved to replace them.
There are now nine totems standing tall in Stanley Park, and they’re apparently the most visited tourist attraction in British Columbia.
Harry Jerome statue
You can’t miss the 9-foot bronze sculpture of Canadian track and field runner, Harry Jerome (1940 – 1982).
He’s leaning forward, as if he might vault right off the pedestal.
A Vancouver athlete, Harry set a total of seven world records and won gold medals in the 1966 Commonwealth and 1967 Pan American Games.
In 2001, he was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame.
Brockton Point Lighthouse
Built in 1914, the Brockton Point Lighthouse was busy in the days of old – alerting ships to potential collisions and warning them of impending storms.
It was decommissioned as a lighthouse in 2005, and now serves as one of Stanley Park’s best viewpoints.
We always stop here to look out at Burrard Inlet (which separates downtown Vancouver from Vancouver’s North Shore) and the Lions Gate Bridge.
Girl in a Wetsuit
No, she’s not a mermaid.
“Girl in a Wetsuit” (with flippers on her feet and her mask pushed up on her forehead) is a life-size bronze sculpture of a scuba diver sitting on a granite rock in the water.
The creator who sculpted her in 1972 was inspired by the fact that scuba diving was becoming quite popular in Vancouver at the time.
Lions Gate Bridge
You’ll cycle right underneath the Lions Gate Bridge, a suspension bridge that connects the city of Vancouver with Vancouver’s North Shore communities.
Third Beach
Got your bathing suit on? Join the many cyclists biking Stanley Park who stop to cool off for a swim at Third Beach.
The logs are handy for resting against in the sand.
Washrooms and a concession stand are tucked up behind the beach.
If we’re visiting Vancouver on a hot summer day, you might find us swimming here – the water is calm and surprisingly warm!
Visiting Victoria in summer? Chill at the best swimming beaches in Victoria
English Bay
Continue bicycling around Stanley Park and you reach English Bay.
It’s a gorgeous beach area in Vancouver’s downtown, on the edge of Stanley Park.
When the thermometer rises, sun-starved Vancouverites love to hang out here on the large swaths of grassy lawn and sandy beach.
Burrard Bridge
After English Bay, you come to the north end of Burrard Bridge.
From here, the distance around False Creek to Granville Island, another star attraction for Vancouver visitors, is about 4.7 miles (7.6 km).
Yaletown
On the north side of False Creek in downtown Vancouver, Yaletown was once an industrial area full of warehouses and railyards.
But that was back before Vancouver morphed into the cool city it is today.
The warehouses have now been converted into funky residential lofts, and a slew of ultra-modern, high-rise condos have since been built.
You’ll find many of Vancouver’s best restaurants in Yaletown – Cioppino’s, Blue Water Café, The Flying Pig – along with swanky hipster bars and nightspots.
Science World
It looks like a giant golf ball.
But Science World is actually a geodesic dome, built for Expo 86 (when Vancouver hosted a huge World Fair).
And it’s a very interesting place – a non-profit science center with tons of hands-on, interactive displays and the world’s largest OMNIMAX dome theater screen.
When our son was still a child, the three of us spent many a happy winter day at Science World learning about the human body (should you drink your own pee?), puzzling over illusions and generally having geeky fun.
You’re probably not going to stop here on your bike ride – but Science World is definitely worth visiting in Vancouver (especially if you have kids and it happens to be raining).
Granville Island
Hey, you made it to Granville Island!
Like Stanley Park, it’s one of Vancouver’s most popular visitor attractions, and a thriving shopping and entertainment hub for locals as well.
Home to art studios, boutique shops, restaurants, a live theater, craft breweries and colorful floating homes, Granville Island is anchored by the huge Public Market.
We never tire of browsing its cheese stalls, bakeries, deli counters, and fresh fruit, veggie and flower stands.
Biking Stanley Park during the Vancouver Marathon
Very occasionally, the Stanley Park bike route is closed for a few hours for various events.
The day we took many of these photos, we couldn’t immediately start biking Stanley Park as the BMO Vancouver Marathon was finishing up. (Forbes Travel Guide called the Vancouver Marathon one of the 12 top marathons worth traveling for.)
But what fun it was to watch and cheer on the last of the 16,500+ runners from over 60 countries! Some were dressed in costumes as they jogged (and limped) toward the finish line.
Once we were given the “all clear” by marathon organizers, we were able to start our Stanley Park bike ride on the Vancouver Seawall.
Stanley Park biking: Practical tips
How long does it take to bike around Stanley Park?
You can comfortably pedal the Stanley Park Seawall (including photo stops) in 2 hours.
Allow up to 4 hours for biking Stanley Park and around the False Creek waterfront to Granville Island (more if you stop for a leisurely lunch or swim along the way).
Insider tip
To cut your return time considerably, Aquabus Ferries can take you and your bicycle from Granville Island across False Creek to the Hornby Street landing near Burrard Bridge.
Be aware
Stanley Park is one of the most popular Vancouver attractions.
Bicycling around Stanley Park therefore gets very busy on warm sunny weekends and in summer.
You’ll have to share the trail with thousands of other people all wanting to enjoy exactly what you want to do.
So be careful and go slow – you don’t want to mow down a pedestrian!
It’s best if you go first thing in the morning in the summer – or make it a late afternoon or early evening ride.
Vancouver has long days of sunshine in the summer, when it’s still light past 8:00 pm – and the Stanley Park bike rental shops stay open late.
Frequently asked questions about Stanley Park
How big is Stanley Park?
Stanley Park spreads out over 1,000 acres in downtown Vancouver.
It’s about one-fifth larger than New York’s Central Park and features beaches, historic totems, a lagoon, tennis courts, numerous walking and bicycle trails – and many cool places to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
How long is the Stanley Park Seawall?
The Stanley Park Seawall is a popular pathway for walkers, runners and cyclists. It extends approximately 5.5 miles (9 kilometers) around the park’s perimeter.
How many miles of trails are in Stanley Park?
Stanley Park has nearly 17 miles (27 km) of trails winding through the interior forest and around the Seawall.
Is Vancouver’s Stanley Park open all day?
Stanley Park is open year-round.
Like most Vancouver parks, it’s “officially” open daily from 6 am to 10 pm (unless there’s a notice otherwise), but you can usually enter and exit anytime of the day or night. The washrooms are open from dawn to dusk.
Do you have to pay to get into Stanley Park?
No. Stanley Park is free. (But you have to pay for parking and to get into the Vancouver Aquarium).
More information on Vancouver, Canada
Where to stay in Vancouver?
We love the Fairmont Pacific Rim for a luxury stay overlooking the Coal Harbour waterfront. (And you can walk from here along the waterfront to Stanley Park.)
We’ve also stayed at the lovely Wedgewood Hotel & Spa. A 5-star boutique hotel, it has elegant suites with marble bathrooms.
The Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier in North Vancouver is a great 4-star hotel (see our review) – you can easily get to downtown Vancouver by taking the SeaBus from the dock right by the Pinnacle Hotel.
See our review of the Pinnacle Hotel.
Interested in hiking or walking around the Vancouver Seawall?
Then read this on Tourism Vancouver’s website.
Last words on renting bikes in Stanley Park
Bicycling around the Stanley Park Seawall is something you can’t miss when visiting Vancouver.
With incredible views everywhere you look, it’s not just cycling, it’s a bicycle ride that turns the ordinary into extraordinary!
Experience more of British Columbia!
Parksville area: From swimming at warm shallow beaches to caving to spying the goats on the roof, you’ll love these crazy fun things to do in Parksville and Qualicum Beach.
Tofino: When the weather is wild and bad, head to Tofino for storm watching!
Telegraph Cove: Whale watching? Grizzly bear viewing? Hiking? You bet! Check out the best things to do in Telegraph Cove for adventure lovers.
Our top travel tips and resources
Here are our favorite travel resources:
Hotels: Booking.com is great for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one. (We especially like their flexible cancellation policy!)
Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out GetYourGuide and Viator.
Car rental: Renting a car is often one of the best ways to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the best rates.
Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more.
Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.
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Photo credits: 1, 2, 6, 14, 21 to 23, 25, 28 to 32, 34, 36 to 38 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase
About the authors
Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George Mucalov are the publishers of Sand In My Suitcase. Between them, they’ve traveled to all 7 continents. See About.
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Denise
Tuesday 30th of May 2023
Stanley Park by bike is really the best! I did a bike tour with an electric bike through Vancouver. It was truly the way to see everything!
Janice and George
Tuesday 30th of May 2023
Hey Denise! Thanks for writing in and letting us know. Vancouver is a very bicycle-friendly city, and an e-bike would certainly take you further than a traditional bike :-).
Dan
Monday 24th of June 2019
Thanks for putting together this page. Was thinking of biking around Stanley Park and this gives me some great ideas to look into.
However, I don't see a basic question addressed here. Where does one park their vehicle close enough to one of the suggested bike rental shops for 3-4 hours to go biking? Is there a public parking lot somewhere close by? Or preferably free street parking somewhere reasonably within walking distance? From looking at google maps, it seems that street parking around the area is only allowed for 1 hour or it requires having a parking permit.
Janice and George
Tuesday 25th of June 2019
Good question. Parking is difficult in Vancouver (and expensive if you find a parking lot). The city would really prefer you to bicycle or take public transportation. Having said that, we'd suggest you phone the bike shop in advance for information about what parking is available. For example, Yes Cycle has four free spots for their customers in an underground parking garage accessed from behind their bike shop. If all spots are taken, there's paid parking in that same big underground garage.
John
Thursday 16th of May 2019
Bayshore and denman bike shop is closed the business on denman st. jo-e cycles and bikes and blades are cheapest price. from local tour guide
Janice and George
Saturday 18th of May 2019
Thanks, John, for taking the time to write in and share this information! Denman Bike Shop has moved to Main Street. And yup Bayshore has closed :-). We'll update this article to include the new bike rental shops close to Stanley Park. Thanks again!
Mariko Margetson
Monday 14th of November 2016
This is great - I bike Vancouver all the time, such a great city to explore on two wheels, thanks for sharing!
Janice and George
Tuesday 15th of November 2016
Vancouver is a great bike city - and they're making more and more roads bike-friendly, which is great for people who like two-wheeling around!
Bret
Thursday 9th of June 2016
Stanley Park looks like a lovely place to go biking. The scenery is so beautiful there.
Janice and George
Thursday 9th of June 2016
It is - incredibly beautiful scenery! You'll have to visit Vancouver :-).