The Best Urban Hikes to Find Cherry Blossoms in Vancouver
Cherry blossom season is a truly magical time in Vancouver. The city is famous for its breathtaking displays of these delicate pink blooms from late March to early April, often coinciding with the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. Since these bright buds are more commonly found in city streets and parks than along traditional hiking trails, there’s no better time for an urban hike.
To help you make the most of the season, we’ve rounded up the best spots in and around the city for an unforgettable cherry blossom adventure. For these urban hikes, swap your hiking poles for your camera. Here are five must-see locations, plus one ultimate full-day adventure if you’re up for the challenge.
Stanley Park Seawall
Distance: 1.4 km
Start here: The Japanese Canadian War Memorial
The short loop from the Rose Garden to the Japanese Canadian War Memorial and back is perfect for cherry blossom viewing. Vancouver’s first cherry blossom trees were donated by the Japanese, making this historical landmark the ideal place to begin your cherry blossom journey.
Located on the south side of Lumbermens’ Arch Picnic Area, near the back of the Vancouver Aquarium, the Japanese Canadian War Memorial has some of the best cherry blossoms in the park, including an arch of flowering cherry blossoms. Instead of looping back, continue through the park to Lost Lagoon to see more cherry blossom trees. Both routes are approximately 1.4 kilometres.
Yaletown
Distance: 1.7-2.9 km
Start here: Sunset Beach Park
Yaletown has several places for stunning cherry blossom tree sightings. Begin your Yaletown tour at Sunset Beach Park, where you’ll find plenty of cherry blossom trees. If you stand on the park side and snap your photos looking towards the water, you’ll capture the Burrard Street Bridge in the background. Continue along the seawall to David Lam Park, one of the most concentrated areas of cherry blossom trees in the city.
For a longer urban hike, follow the seawall past a picturesque row of cherry blossom trees across from Quayside Marina, then finish at Beatty Walk, a charming pathway lined with blossoms on both sides. When in full bloom, they create a tunnel-like effect of pink blossoms overhead.
Arbutus Greenway
Distance: 8.5 km
Start here: Granville Island (near Fir Street and W 6th Avenue)
While often overlooked when it comes to cherry blossom locations, the Arbutus Greenway is home to a variety of cherry blossom trees. Stretching from Granville Island to the Fraser River in South Vancouver, it offers a scenic urban escape. It is accessible at multiple points along the route, making it easy to enjoy a section or walk the full length.
In the spring, sections of the pathway come alive with delicate cherry blossoms, creating a picturesque route for walkers and cyclists. This former railway corridor provides a peaceful setting to enjoy the beauty of cherry blossoms away from the city’s busiest spots. The best cherry blossoms are typically found in the Kerrisdale and Shaughnessy sections.
VanDusen Botanical Garden
Distance: 2-3 km
Start here: Livingston Lake
A leisurely walk through the garden’s trails allows you to enjoy cherry blossoms along with thousands of other spring flowers. There are close to 100 cherry trees in VanDusen Botanical Garden, including 24 different types.
Key places in the gardens to find cherry blossoms include the path leading up to the Great Lawn, the Cherry Grove and the Haiku Rock, which is the headquarters for Vancouver’s Cherry Blossom Festival. This year’s festival takes place from March 26 to April 28.
Pacific Spirit Regional Park
Distance: 10 km or more (various loops)
Start here: Near UBC, with multiple access points
If you’re looking for more of a challenge, head to Pacific Spirit Regional Park. Here, you can have the best of both worlds by combining an urban cherry blossom stroll with a trail run or long hike through the park’s vast network of paths.
While this forested park is known for its towering trees, spring brings cherry blossoms to streets near UBC, including the Lower Mall and Regent College. Start with a blossom-filled warm-up stroll around UBC’s Lower Mall before tackling a long-distance forest run or hike.
Seaside Greenway
Distance: 28 km
Start here: Vancouver Convention Centre
For the ultimate cherry blossom adventure, tackle the world’s longest uninterrupted pathway. This full-day journey begins at the Vancouver Convention Centre and ends at Spanish Banks Park. You’ll spot your first cherry blossom trees along the Coal Harbour Seawall. Continue around Stanley Park, adding an optional 1.4-kilometre loop from the Lumbermens’ Arch to the Rose Garden.
Continue along the seawall, past Sunset Beach and David Lam Park, admiring the cherry blossom trees scattered along your route to its finale at Kitsilano Beach.
These urban hikes offer the perfect blend of exploration and scenery, proving that adventure isn’t limited to mountain trails. Whether you’re chasing peak blooms or simply looking for a new way to experience the city, now is the time to lace up your walking shoes, breathe in the fresh spring air and take in nature’s short-lived spectacle before it fades for another year.
