Best Running Routes on the Vancouver Seawall

If you run in Vancouver, you've probably logged at least a few kilometres on the Seawall. It's flat, it's scenic, and it links together most of the city's best running along the water. We spend a lot of time out here ourselves, our HQ and our Tuesday run club, VCR, both live right on it, so here's how we'd break it up depending on the run you're after.

Stanley Park Loop, for the Classic Long Run

The Stanley Park section is the one most people picture. It's a fully flat loop with water on one side almost the entire way and mountain views across the harbour, plus enough distance to make it a solid long-run staple without doubling back on yourself. Runs this long are exactly where a clean refuel afterward earns its keep, we always have SURGE waiting for us when we get back.

Coal Harbour to Yaletown, for an Easy Recovery Jog

This stretch is more urban, running past the marina into Yaletown's waterfront. It's well-lit, shorter, and usually busy with other people, which makes it a good option for an easy day or a solo run early or late. It's also a short detour from The Grind, so if you're out this way, swing by for one of the city's best smoothies before you head home.

False Creek Loop, for Something Social

The False Creek section connects Yaletown, Granville Island, and Kitsilano in one loop. Run groups like it because it's easy to split into shorter out-and-backs when people in the group are training different distances. If your group is looking for a regular meet-up, this is one of the perfect spots to do so. 

Kits Beach to The Grind, for a Run With a Reason to Stop

This one's our favourite for an obvious reason: it ends where we do. Our Tuesday evening run club, VCR meets at The Grind at 5:45pm for a 5K along the Seawall, casual and open to any pace, with SURGE waiting at the finish. We like to run to Kits Beach and back, or towards Second Beach and back.

One Tip, Whichever Section You Pick

The full Seawall runs close to 28 kilometres end to end, so pick your stretch based on the day you're training for rather than trying to do all of it at once. And whichever section you run, having something easy to refuel with afterward makes the habit easier to keep,  that's the whole idea behind SURGE.

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