Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Are Gems (Even if Not Hidden)

Crippen Regional Park Sign along Boardwalk

Metro Vancouver Regional Parks are among the best-maintained parks I’ve been to and offer unique experiences, diverse ecosystems, and areas to explore. I know that many people rediscovered or discovered the regional park system for the first time over the last 6 years or so.

A friend of mine made it a mission to visit every publicly accessible regional park, and they accomplished that goal.

The Regional District publishes an annual report on the parks system, and I want to highlight some of the work done in 2025.

The Regional District completed a restoration of Imperial Trail in Pacific Spirit Regional Park, opened a new three-kilometre regional greenway in Campbell Valley Regional Park, and opened Widgeon Marsh Regional Park to public access. The Regional District added 3.5 hectares to its parks system by expanding Widgeon Marsh Regional Park and Widgeon Marsh.

There were 14.7 million visits to regional parks and greenways in 2025, which is significantly higher than pre-2020 levels.

Annual visit to Metro Vancouver Regional District Parks from 2005 to 2025. Select the chart to enlarge.

Lynn Headwaters Regional Park and Crippen Regional Park on Bowen Island received a record number of visitors in 2025. While it is great that people enjoy our parks, it can also create localized capacity challenges, such as on Bowen Island, which is only accessible by BC Ferries or private boat.

The following table shows the number of visits to each park/greenway in 2025.

Park Name 2025 Visits
ƛéxətəm Regional Park 386,900
Pacific Spirit Regional Park 3,888,800
Boundary Bay Regional Park 1,148,200
Capilano River Regional Park 1,097,000
tәmtәmíxʷtәn/Belcarra Regional Park 927,500
Campbell Valley Regional Park 887,600
Derby Reach Regional Park 881,700
Tynehead Regional Park 604,600
Lynn Headwaters Regional Park 578,400
Grouse Mountain Regional Park 545,300
Kanaka Creek Regional Park 528,000
Aldergrove Regional Park 464,600
Crippen Regional Park 429,400
Burnaby Lake Regional Park 422,900
Deas Island Regional Park 362,800
Brunette-Fraser Regional Greenway 292,300
Iona Beach Regional Park 287,900
Pitt River Regional Greenway 229,700
Brae Island Regional Park 227,900
Minnekhada Regional Park 188,900
Surrey Bend Regional Park 130,800
Delta South Surrey Regional Greenway 63,200
Seymour River Regional Greenway 53,600
Glen Valley Regional Park 49,700
Barnston Island Regional Park 11,500

For more information, please check out the 2025 Regional Parks Annual Report.

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