Trip 278 - May 31, 2023 (Wednesday)

Whytecliff Park Visit

West Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) BC

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Whytecliff Park Location: Horseshoe Bay area of West Vancouver, at the western end of Highway 1, approximately 20 km from downtown Vancouver.

Liked: Excellent cliff views and ocean vistas. A large green lawn. Several available activities. Passing BC Ferries.

Of Note: Steep unbarricaded drop-offs at the cliffs area, fairly frequent noise from low-flying single engine airplanes, parking spots can get filled up quickly on a busy day, fishing and crabbing is prohibited in the park, disturbing marine mammals may result in a $500,000 fine. Climbing a popular large rock is a bit strenuous, and going down is quite steep for about 20 meters – hiking boots are recommended.

Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Backroad Mapbook (2019 edition) Whytecliff Park Approximate Coordinates: Page 11 (North Vancouver) A6.

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Whytecliff Park is located in West Vancouver - Horseshoe Bay, at the end of Marine Drive, not too far from Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal. It's a fairly small park which has everything for a very fine outing - a large green lawn for a picnic, a gazebo (in case it rains or the sun is too hot), a few swings and slides, two tennis courts, and even a small food shack. In addition, there is a rather compact beach, but the highlight of the park is a spectacular cliff walk with great views of Bowen Island and Queen Charlotte Channel with all the passing boats and ferries.

The serenity of the place is not infrequently disturbed by loud low flying single engine airplanes. Also, Whytecliff Park is likely to be packed on busy weekends, so come early to get a parking spot. Furthermore, watch out for steep unbarricaded drop-offs when walking on top of the cliffs, and also if you decide to visit an impressive large rock sitting in the ocean and connected to the beach by a stony path. The said rock is quite popular, but it does have a steep stretch of about 20 meters long, so hiking boots might prove very handy, especially since the path from the beach, which is about 100 meters long, is full or rocks, large and small.

32. While on the cliff walk, watch out for steep unbarricaded drop-offs. It's not a very long path, less than 100 meters, broken into smaller paths like this one.

West Vancouver Whytecliff Park

33. There are several benches along the path.

View from Whytecliff Park West Vancouver BC

34. The views are impressive indeed. In the middle-left of the photo below is a large rock we are going to climb a bit later. In the far middle-right is a small Whyte Islet.

Whytecliff Park View

35. There is even a picnic table on top of the cliffs.

Picnic Table Whytecliff Park

36. To get to that large rock, we returned to the parking lot, and there is a path behind a yellow gate close to the food shack.

Whytecliff Park - Horseshoe Bay - West Vancouver - British Columbia - Canada

37. This short path leads to a beach and provides access to the rock.

Whytecliff Park

38. Have a spare $500,000? Go disturb a seal.

Do Not Disturb Marine Mammals Sign

39. The beach is to the right, and a stony path to the rock is to the left.

Whytecliff Park British Columbia

40. Here is the beach.

Whytecliff Park Beach

41. And here are two park visitors who entertained themselves by trying to hit the other person's stone in the air.

Whytecliff Park Visitors

42. A fine view to the right.

West Vancouver Whytecliff Park

43. Off to the rock we go.

Large Rock at Whytecliff Park

44. One more look to the right.

Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver BC Canada

45. Here comes the rock.

Whytecliff Park

46. It's quite steep for the first 20 meters or so at the bottom. Here's how it looks on the way down. Hiking boots would be very useful here, especially if the surface would be wet, let alone icy.