Dog-Friendly Winter Travel in Vancouver
With fresh air, quiet trails, and not-too-chilly temperatures, winter is a great time to travel to Vancouver with your dog. Well-behaved on-leash dogs are welcome at parks, beaches, trails, attractions, restaurants, and hotels across the city. Mix and match our recommendations to create a custom dog-friendly winter itinerary.
Dog Parks and Beaches
There are lots of dog-friendly parks around the city. Use the City of Vancouver's Dogs in Parks page to find one near you. Here are a few of our favourites.
Cooper's Park
Your dog can run and play without leaving downtown. Cooper's Park in Yaletown has a large grassy off-leash area next to the Cambie Street Bridge. The location on the False Creek Seawall has great views of the water.
Hadden Park
If you want to take your dog off-leash, Hadden Park is a great spot. It's in between Kits Beach and Vanier Park near the Vancouver Maritime Museum. The off-leash area includes the grassy area in front of the museum and the nearby sandy beach.
Spanish Banks Beach
The long stretch of Spanish Banks Beach on the west side of Vancouver has incredible views of the city and the North Shore Mountains. Dogs must be on-leash on the waterfront pathway, but there is a large off-leash area and beach at the west end of the park.
Dog-Friendly Walks and Hikes
Seawall
The 28-kilometre-long Vancouver Seawall is the world's longest uninterrupted waterfront path. It wraps around downtown, Stanley Park, and False Creek, then heads west towards Point Grey. There are incredible views around every corner, so it's a great spot for an on-leash dog walk.
Stanley Park
The forested trails of Stanley Park in downtown Vancouver are a great place to experience some of Vancouver's signature coastal rainforest. Use the park map to plan your route. Popular destinations include Beaver Lake and the big trees along Tatlow Walk. You'll need a leash for all trails in the park.
Pacific Spirit Regional Park
You can explore 55 kilometres of tree-lined trails at Pacific Spirit Regional Park on the west side of Vancouver. There are a mix of leash-required and leash-optional trails to choose from.
Snowy Dog-Friendly Adventures
Mount Seymour Snowshoe Trails
Mount Seymour Ski Resort has a great beginner-friendly network of marked snowshoe trails that wind through the snowy old-growth forest past frozen ponds. On-leash dogs are welcome.
Dog Mountain
The aptly named Dog Mountain is a popular spot for on-leash dog-friendly 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. Heads up: If you visit on weekends you will need a free day-use vehicle pass, which you can get online two days in advance.
Whistler Olympic Park
You can cross-country ski or snowshoe with your dog at Whistler Olympic Park a few hours north of Vancouver. Explore 12 kilometres of off-leash trails with the purchase of a dog ticket.
Dog-Friendly Attractions
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Take in the vertiginous views from Capilano Suspension Bridge with your pup. On-leash dogs are allowed on the bridge, Cliffwalk, Treetops Adventure, and most other park attractions.
False Creek Ferry and Aquabus
One of the best ways to see Vancouver is from the water. Take a cruise around False Creek on the Aquabus or False Creek Ferries. You can use them to get between popular attractions like Granville Island, Yaletown, Science World, and the Olympic Village, or just stay onboard for the entire route to enjoy the scenery. On-leash dogs are welcome on all vessels.
Big Dog Energy Comedy Show
Dogs aren't just allowed, they are encouraged at the Big Dog Energy Comedy Show. There are several events each month around the city. Each one features both local and touring comedians performing at a dog-friendly venue.
Dog-Friendly Patios
Uncle Abe's
Uncle Abe's on Main Street in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood is one of the most dog-friendly restaurants in Vancouver. Their covered and heated patio is open year-round and welcomes well-behaved dogs. Stop in during happy hour for great drink specials.
Superflux Beer Company
Head to Superflux Beer Company in East Vancouver to enjoy one of their signature IPAs. Dogs are welcome on their covered patio. The dog theme continues with their weekday Hot Dog Happy Hour special that includes a feature hot dog and a beer.
Dog-Friendly Hotels
Many of Vancouver's hotels welcome dogs and have pet-friendly suites. Inquire about pet policies and amenities when booking.
Some hotels like the Paradox, the Pinnacle, and the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver provide dog beds and bowls for food and water for all four-legged guests. The Fairmont even has two Canine Ambassadors on staff, labradors Ella and Elly.