Your Spring 2023 Vancouver Outdoors Bucket List

March 20, 2023

8 min read

Person reaching up to touch pink cherry blossoms on a tree in a park with other people walking in the background.

Vancouver is resplendent in spring as the flowers bloom and the winter’s grey skies give way to sunshine. It’s a great time to be outside. Here are 15 Vancouver outdoor activities you should try in spring 2023.

See the Cherry Blossoms

Did you know that Vancouver has over 40,000 cherry trees? Each year, the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the season with walking tours and other events. Use our guide to find the best places to take cherry blossom photos. You can also bike to cherry blossoms.

Pink cherry blossoms in foreground with city buildings and snow-capped mountains in the background.

Go Spring Skiing or Snowboarding

It might be spring in the city, but it’s still winter in the mountains. Grouse Mountain, Mount Seymour, and Cypress Mountain on the North Shore are usually open until the end of March or early April, but if the snow lingers, they may be open even longer. Whistler Blackcomb plans to stay open until May 22, 2023.

Four people in ski gear on a snowy slope with a city and water body in the background, one person demonstrating skiing posture.

Visit a Farmers’ Market

Warmer weather signals the return of Vancouver’s farmers’ markets. Browse through the stalls to find locally grown produce, baked goods, and prepared foods like jams and beverages. Most markets re-open in April and May.

Fresh vegetables including cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, radishes, beets, green onions, and leafy greens displayed on a market table.

Go on a Bike Ride

With warmer weather, it’s the perfect time to go for a spin around the city. The Stanley Park seawall is the city’s best-known bike route (and perhaps its most beautiful), but there are tons of other places for easy bike rides around Vancouver, and lots of car-free places to bike.

Two people walking with bicycles near a waterfront with seaplanes and mountains in the background.

Explore the Urban Wilderness

Vancouver is home to dozens of parks that make great nature escapes from the hustle and bustle of the city. In the spring we recommend Capilano River Regional Park, Pacific Spirit Regional Park, and Lighthouse Park. Or dig into our Park of the Month archives to discover even more urban wilderness parks.

Lighthouse with red top on rocky coastline overlooking calm sea under a partly cloudy sky.

Go Whale Watching

Whale watching season in Vancouver runs from March to October. You can spot killer whales (also known as orcas) as well as humpback, grey, and minke whales. You also have a good chance of seeing seals, sea lions, river otters, porpoises, eagles, and lots of water birds.

A yellow whale-watching boat named Prince of Whales with passengers observing orcas swimming in calm ocean water.

Visit a Garden

Vancouver is home to over twenty gorgeous gardens that are spectacular in spring. From sprawling show gardens to community-oriented rose gardens, there’s something for everyone. Use our guide to Vancouver’s gardens to find one near you.

Two people crouching and pointing at yellow and purple flowers in a garden with trees and a small wooden structure in the background.

Take a Hike

While snow lingers on the peaks, Vancouverites are busy hiking on the lower slopes. Some of our spring picks include Seymour River and Lynn Creek Loop, Cypress Falls, and Cascade Falls. Or use lists of spring hikes or rainy day hikes to pick a trail. And read our list of tips for safe spring hiking to ensure you are prepared before you go.

Three people standing on a suspension bridge in a forest near a tall waterfall flowing into a turquoise pool.

Go Forest Bathing

Forest bathing is a form of Japanese nature meditation that involves sitting or slowly walking in nature while being mindful of what you see, hear, smell, and touch. Scientific research shows that spending time forest bathing can lower stress, increase mood, and reduce fatigue. Use our list of the best forest bathing spots around Vancouver to try it out.

Close-up of green pine tree branches with a blurred forest background.

Take Incredible Spring Photos

Vancouver is a colourful place in the spring. Flowers bloom in gardens and parks all over the city. Use our guide to Vancouver’s most Instagrammable spring locations to find gorgeous photo spots.

Three people walking on a flower-petal-covered path surrounded by blooming trees and green bushes in a park.

Brave the Capilano Suspension Bridge

The Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver is particularly impressive in the spring when rain and snowmelt swell the Capilano River. Walk 230 feet above the raging waters on the famous bridge, stroll through the treetops on elevated platforms, and peer into the canyon on the Cliffwalk.

People walking on a curved suspension bridge above a forested river gorge with dense green trees.

Get Out on the Water

On a sunny day, the best views in Vancouver are from the water. Rent a kayak or paddleboard and explore the shoreline. Or head farther afield with a boat rental or tour. If you want a low-effort adventure, a ride on the Aquabus or False Creek Ferry is a fun way to experience the waters of False Creek.

Three people kayaking on calm water with a city skyline in the background during daylight.

Try Bird-Watching

Spring is prime bird-watching time as the birds return to Vancouver from their winter homes or migrate through on their way further north. It’s also nesting season, so it’s a great time to spot mating pairs building and guarding their nests. Use our list of the best beginner birding spots near Vancouver to get started.

View of a calm lake with trees on both sides, seen through a wooden frame opening.

Walk, Bike or Skate the Seawall

Doing a lap of the seawall around Stanley Park is one of Vancouver’s signature activities. Bring your bikes or inline skates for a lap, or just head out for a walk. Spring is a great time to hit the seawall since the flowers are blooming and it’s not as crowded as in summer.

Rock formation with a small tree on top in water near a curved pathway with people walking and biking, surrounded by cliffs and trees.

Watch Grouse Mountain’s Grizzly Bears Emerge from Hibernation

Each winter, Grouse Mountain’s resident grizzly bears hibernate from November to April. Orphaned as cubs, these rescued bears decide when they will wake up from their winter slumber, so the exact date is a surprise each year, but if you are lucky enough to be visiting Grouse Mountain that day, you will get to watch them frolic in the snow as they emerge from the den. And if you can’t be there in person, you can watch the action on Grouse Mountain’s bear den cameras.