Spanish Banks off-leash dog park and beach is one of the most beautiful parks in the city. With stunning views of the North Shore Mountains, downtown Vancouver and the harbor, it has everything you could want.
The off-leash area of the park runs about a half kilometer along the shoreline and features an unfenced grass field and a sandy beach.
If you happen to be there when the tide is low, you can head down onto the flats and play in the tidal pools or walk out the water line. Be prepared for a long walk – the water recedes so far that it feels like you can walk half way across the harbor to West Vancouver. Check out our post about our day exploring Spanish Banks at Low Tide.
One challenge with this park is a lack of fencing. The grassy area is alongside a parking lot can be dangerous if your dog runs into the parking lot or the road.
The signage of the off-leash area needs improvement. It is next to the walking path at either end of the off-leash area but there is none in the parking lots. People frequently pull into these parking lots and setup a picnic on the grass and are quite offended when off-leash dogs crash their party. Dog owners have to apologize and explain that they’ve chosen a really bad place for a picnic which can result in some heated exchanges.