Spanish Banks

One of the nicest beaches near Kitsilano. I saw people parasailing, cherry blossom in the sandy beach, and walking trail along the beach. It’s beautiful and relaxing.

I love coming here. Its a great place with free parking spot. Yes free parking spot. Secondly its in my hood.
Love coming here to play volleyball. Or just come to watch the sunset.

I love this beach. It’s my favorite dog park in Vancouver because it’s significantly larger than most/​all of them, has porta-​potties for us humans, and is off leash throughout and has both grass and beach for my dog to enjoy.
I love the vastness of this place. My dog likes it more when the tide is out and she can romp around — she tires out much quicker this way!
Only negatives about this location that stops it from being 5 stars for me:
1. There’s quite a few cyclists and the paths are shared. Some zip by and are frustrated with off leash dogs (it is an off leash dog park…) and also pedestrians. So it can be quite dangerous if your dog likes to roam and doesn’t move when cyclists zip by.
2. There is quite a bit of dog crap around. There are some owners who simply don’t pay attention to their dogs when they crap so they don’t pick up (because they don’t know when it happens). Or there’s some owners who don’t believe they should pick up dog poop. In any case, there’s a bit of dog poop around so be careful where you step (it’s on the beach, in the rocks, on the grass, on the paths… everywhere).
3. Pissy picnickers who hate dogs. I don’t understand why they choose this part of the beach to use when there’s the entire strip of them that are not dog friendly (aka no dogs allowed on beaches and/​or dogs have to be on leash). I’ve heard so many picnickers who don’t have dogs complain about how many dogs there are, why they aren’t on leash and why they shouldn’t be there in the first place. So don’t be surprised when you encounter these people there because they seem to think they don’t get enough beach as is…*rolls eyes*.

To me, this is what makes Vancouver so special. I love Kitsilano and wish I could afford living there…
Such a nice long beach with lots of people, shallow water, big lawn makes for perfect pic-nics.The atmosphere just is amazing. This is «cool Vancouver».
I can’t wait for summer to be back but this beach also makes for a nice stroll during the rare winter clear days.

I am rating this beach on a jogging location for those of us who dislike asphalt and value our knees. And this place is the PITS! Would rather a concrete sidewalk than here. Cigarette and pot smokers blowing their crap in your face. I choked more than once. Come on people, can you at least take it off the trail? A million charcoal BBQs bellowing nasty smoke and worst is the dusty trail. Can the city not tamp it down some? The ground is too soft but doesn’t have to be. Its like running in a gravel pit. And its not a little area, its from one end to the other… DUST everywhere. And if you are a biker, just forget that any pedestrians know what bike lanes are.
I’ll stick to less populated and polluted forest trails from now on. As a place to go do other things people have mentioned… I’ll give 3 stars… only for the free parking and the stunning views. Kits beach and English bay fail to compare for the view I admit.. But at least I don’t feel like I’m gonna puke when I go to those places. This place could be the best on the mainland if they could put better rules in place. Instead, its the toilet beach worth a few pictures and 5 minutes of your time.

This part is not as beautiful as the rest, however, it is less busy during the week than the other areas. It is such a relaxing place to walk, hang with a friend and enjoy the rarity that is the few days of sun that we get in a year.

A beautiful beach with spectacular view!
This is a great summer spot for bikers, joggers, swimmers, dog lovers (pet friendly) and more! There are volley ball set ups on the beach. If you’re not into sports at all and just want to sun bathe like seals on rocks you can comfortably do so as grass is just as easy to find as sand.
What’s this beach also good for? BBQs, pot lucks, tribal meetings and more. Do be aware of beeeees. Some of them are very much into Chinese food.
Parking spots are plenty but during the summer months parking situation can get tricky.
Women’s bathroom condition is not too bad. Do expect slippery floors and low toilet paper.
Sand castle anyone?

Sunny Sunday, this beach is less crazy than Kits or English Bay.
This is where you send the lanterns in the air to celebrate end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
Beach Vollyball nets are setup permanently here, I always see someone playing.
Nice walking trails for humans and animals.
Doesn’t matter the temperature, you will see people walking around, riding their bikes and having picnics here.
On Sundays mornings, you will often see car guys hanging out and showing off their pride and joy or start a cruise around, sometimes they also do that on Friday Nights.
Lovely views, this is one of the nicer beaches in the city.

I’m not sure how anyone could rate this less than 5-​stars. When the weather is good and the tide is out, this place is special, indeed.
Great views of downtown.
What I’m really dying to know is, how fast does the edge drop off? Because it seems like you could walk right out to where the ships are sailing by.

This is the summer that just won’t quit!
Like many Vancouverites, I came to the beach for some fine beach weather. The sun was shining, everyone was in good spirits, and there was a crystal clear view of the ocean and mountains.
I love walking way out during low tide. It’s such a cool Vancouver experience. I’ve lived here eight years and I never get tired of wading through the water and looking out at the view of Vancouver, the beach, ocean and mountains. The view alone deserves five stars.
Some other activities at Spanish Banks that deserve five stars: skim boarding during low tide, playing volleyball just before sunset, watching the sunset, and walking forever along the shore anytime of day.
Cheers to the best summer ever!

Today’s Spanish Banks Low Tide Walk will likely be my last of this Summer Season. Arrived at the Beach at the mean low tide in the early afternoon. After crossing the rocky beach, I wadded though muddy flats to the exposed sandy banks. Which show wonderful repeating patterns of both the tide and currents. Watching skim borders getting in there last rides of summer. I followed the main sandbar until the current of the low time and high tide converge. It was day of full of blue Sky’s and only a modest wind. Scanning the landscape I will try to remember this near prefect weather to give me some balance when fall returns shortly. A lone lifeguard was in his boat closing down his summer assignment. As I walk back to shore in ankle deep water seeing crabs below my feet showing me their claws protecting there small bit of sand. There is No need to leave Vancouver for a labour day Vacation when you can go low tide walking on Spanish Banks.

This right here is one of the reasons why there are few places like Vancouver.
Parking here is absolutely horrendous during the summer months, so try to carpool if you can. There is a ton of parking. Just that there are 2 tons of people.
The beach technically starts where the «bend» is on NW Marine Drive, and continues westward. The «eastward» portion is actually Locarno Beach.
So what’s great here? The geography. There’s a path running the length of the beach, with grass on one side, and sand/​ocean on the other. There is also an area for volleyball nets. Great area for BBQs. Of course, the entire Vancouver population knows this too.
My only complaints? Waaaaay too many people. The entire beach is a war zone. Some more parking (any way to expand the lots?) would be nice as well. Yes that would lead to even more people, but right now people are parking all over the place, including the grass, sand, and gutters.
Oh yeah, the washrooms are absolutely disgusting. Hold your breath before using the facilities.

Who doesn’t love the beach? We are so lucky to be surrounded by beautiful beaches, trust me I know I’m from Winnipeg. One of the reasons why I moved here. (million reasons but this is one) I love Spanish Banks because it’s not as crazy busy as Kits or English bay. And you get an awesome view of the skyline of Vancovuer and the mountains. And its free parking!
My favorite time is to come on a week day early afternoon…

A hot gorgeous labour day weekend in Vancouver is not complete for me unless I visit UBC’s Cecil Greene Park and Spanish Banks. Difficult to park here today because of the holiday. A great place for Volleyball, strolling, watching the boats go by, looking at the mountains and staring at the profile of Vancouver. This has not changed since I was a little boy here.
Spanish Banks needs a review in Espanol:
Un fin de semana magnífico en Vancouver no es completo para mí a menos que visite a parque de Cecil Greene en Universidad de B.C. y playa de Spanish Banks. Difícil parquear aquí hoy debido a el día de fiesta. Un gran lugar para el voleibol, dando un paseo, mirando los barcos pasa, mirando las montañas y mirando fijamente el perfil de Vancouver. Esto no ha cambiado desde que era un niño pequeño aquí.
.or in my bad French:
Un week-​end il fait chaud à Vancouver n’est pas complet pour moi à moins que je visite parc de Cecil Greene et Spanish Banks. Difficile à se garer ici aujourd’hui en raison des vacances. Un grand endroit pour le volleyball, flânant, observant les bateaux vont près, regardant les montagnes et regardant fixement le profil de Vancouver. Ceci n’a pas changé depuis que j’étais un petit garçon ici.

The fish at the Spanish Banks concession is a fried formerly frozen triangle and has an overwhelming fishy taste. So sad. Couldn’t force myself to finish one piece. The onion rings are a bad choice too, but the fries are real and worthy of the beach.
The beach itself is one of the most beautiful places in Vancouver, especially at low tide when you can walk forever on the sand flats, then turn around and feel you are right in the middle of the bay.

BBW. Big Beautiful Water paradise. What’s there not to love?
Ample free parking (except perfect summer days), bbq pits, fishing pier, running/​walking paths, and one of the best views of Vancouver’s skyline, this is the beach to be.
Impress your lover (or lover to be), induce meat comas to your friends & family with your bbq mastery or sweat buckets spiking your volleyball. Whatever your beach mission is, Spanish Banks is won’t let you down.

Best dog beach in Vancouver. Owners are pretty good about picking up messes. Dogs there are usually very friendly. Lot’s of room to lay in the sun/​shade or take a jog with your pup. Low tide there is awesome! You can pretty much run out into what seems like the middle of the ocean.
A clean and amazing place!

Went to the off leash dog section of Spanish Banks over the weekend. It was one of the most relaxing days I’ve had with my husband and dog in a long time.
I absolutely love this dog beach because it just gives dogs and dog owners a chance to not worry. The dogs can dig in the sand and swim in the ocean to their heart’s content. Owners don’t have to feel like their dog will offend anyone if the dog approaches other people.
There was plenty of parking spots and space for you to stretch out on the beach. The only thing to keep in mind for you humans is that the washroom is quite a far walk. We can’t do what the dogs do. Don’t even think about it!

Everyone loves this beach.
Kids playing in the sand and digging for clams when it’s low tide.
Lovers going for a stroll, holding hands.
Families and people out for BBQ’s and sunworshipers.
Even car clubs will come here and show off their fancy 4 wheeled wares for others to see.
And Joggers who jog for the view as well as the exercise.
Great place. great beach. Lets hope for a great summer!

AHHHH… so incredibly beautiful!!!
This body of water is located slightly off the beaten path… fairly secluded…
and upon stepping into it. you’re greeted with large pieces of logs just sitting around… very random… the waters and the city in the distance.
The only thing I would’ve preferred was if it were less windy (nothing that I could really do…) and those huge shipping boats weren’t sitting off in the distance obstructing views of the island.