Dog-Friendly Winter Travel in Vancouver

With fresh air, quieter trails and mild coastal temperatures, winter is a great time to plan a Vancouver pet friendly getaway with your four-legged friend. Well-behaved, on-leash dogs are welcome at many Vancouver beaches, parks, trails, attractions, patios and hotels across the city, making it easy to enjoy a pet friendly winter trip in Vancouver without leaving your pup behind.

Dog-Friendly Walks and Hikes

From waterfront paths to forested trails, there’s no shortage of dog-friendly winter things to do in Vancouver.

Seawall

The world's longest uninterrupted waterfront path, the 28-kilometre-long Vancouver Seawall wraps around downtown, Stanley Park and False Creek, then heads all the way west towards Point Grey. With incredible views twisting around every corner, a long on-leash dog walk doesn’t get much more ideal than this one.

Stanley Park

The forested trails of Stanley Park in downtown Vancouver offer a classic taste of the city’s coastal rainforest. Use the park map to plan your route, with popular stops like Beaver Lake and the towering trees along Tatlow Walk to choose from. Leashes are required on all trails in the park, but the scenery more than makes up for it.

Pacific Spirit Regional Park

On Vancouver’s west side, Pacific Spirit Regional Park offers 55 kilometres of winding trails through lush, old-growth forest. With a mix of leash-required and leash-optional routes, it’s a favourite spot for local dogs (and their humans) who like their winter walks shaded by towering trees.

Snowy Dog-Friendly Adventures

Just beyond the city opens up a world of dog-friendly winter adventures where paws meet powder.

Mount Seymour Snowshoe Trails

Looking to lean into the winter spirit? Mount Seymour Ski Resort offers a beginner-friendly network of marked snowshoe trails that wind through snow-dusted old-growth forest and pass frozen ponds. With on-leash dogs welcome, it’s an easy winter outing for both two and four-legged explorers.

Dog Mountain

The aptly named Dog Mountain is a popular spot for on-leash hikes in the summer and snowshoe trips in the winter. This intermediate-rated trail is in Mount Seymour Provincial Park and shares a parking area with the Mount Seymour Ski Resort, making it a convenient go-to for snowy adventures with your pup.

Heads up: during peak winter season, holidays and on weekends, you’ll need a free day-use vehicle pass, which you can reserve online two days in advance.

Cypress Park

Within Cypress Park are several BC Parks backcountry routes with stunning views, where on-leash dogs are welcome. Bowen Lookout is a popular 1.5-hour option leading to a scenic viewpoint overlooking Howe Sound. For more of a challenge, Black Mountain trail climbs alongside the ski runs before looping past small alpine lakes, or Hollyburn Mountain is a longer, more demanding snowshoe that brings you and your pup to striking views of the city.

A free backcountry access pass is required for all three routes and can be picked up at Black Mountain Lodge near the ski area. Dogs are not permitted on the resort-operated groomed ski runs or snowshoe trails.

Dog-Friendly Attractions

Who says sightseeing is just for humans? Vancouver has a range of pet-friendly attractions that welcome well-behaved dogs along for the fun.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Take in the vertiginous views from Capilano Suspension Bridge with your pup by your side. On-leash dogs are welcome on the bridge, Cliffwalk, Treetops Adventure and most other park attractions, making it one of Vancouver’s most memorable dog-friendly sites.

False Creek Ferry and Aquabus

Vancouver is surrounded by water, so one of the best ways to see the city? From it.

Take a cruise around False Creek on the Aquabus or False Creek Ferries, both of which allow on-leash dogs on all vessels. You can use them to get between popular attractions like Granville Island, Yaletown, Science World and Olympic Village, or just stay onboard for the entire route and enjoy the scenery.

Dog-Friendly Patios

Well-behaved dogs are welcome at a growing number of patios across Vancouver, many of them heated and open year-round. These are a couple of local favourites.

Uncle Abe's

One of the most dog-friendly patios in town, Uncle Abe’s is a laid-back Mount Pleasant neighbourhood bar that’s as welcoming to pups as it is people. Their covered and heated patio is open year-round and welcomes well-behaved dogs, meaning you can hang out year-round with your furry sidekick. The vibe is unpretentious and social. Locals drift in for happy hour, and dogs enjoy treats and plenty of pats while they mingle.

Superflux Beer Company

Head over to Superflux Beer Company in East Vancouver to enjoy one of their renowned IPAs and other craft brews with your pup by your side. Dogs are welcome on their year-round covered patio, and the dog love continues with a specialty “Brat Dog” and “Mac Dog” on the menu.

Where to Stay with Your Dog

Vancouver offers a wide range of pet friendly accommodations, making it easy to plan a winter getaway that doesn’t require leaving your dog behind. From boutique hotels like the Hotel Le Soleil to well-known luxury stays like the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (which even has two Canine Ambassadors on staff, labradors Ella and Elly), plenty of properties welcome four-legged guests and offer thoughtful amenities like dog beds, food and water bowls.

Whether you’re looking to stay near the seawall or close to forested parks, you won’t be lacking in pet friendly hotels in Vancouver to choose from. Just make sure to always inquire about pet policies and amenities when booking.