Lighthouse Park occupies a dramatic stretch of coastline at the western edge of West Vancouver, where the forest meets the open waters of Howe Sound. The park protects one of the last pockets of old growth forest in the area, with towering Douglas fir, western red cedar, and hemlock rising above a network of quiet walking trails. The air carries the scent of salt and evergreen, and the landscape shifts constantly between shaded forest and open rock ledges overlooking the water.

The park’s centrepiece is the historic Point Atkinson Lighthouse, first established in the late nineteenth century to guide ships entering Burrard Inlet. The current lighthouse tower, completed in 1914, still stands above the rocky shoreline, its white structure visible from both land and sea. Though access to the lighthouse grounds themselves is restricted, the surrounding viewpoints offer clear sightlines toward the tower and across the Strait of Georgia.

Trails wind gently through the forest before opening onto the park’s rocky headlands. Juniper Point, Shore Pine Point, and Eagle Point each provide different perspectives along the coastline. From these granite outcrops, the view stretches across Howe Sound toward Bowen Island and the distant coastal mountains. Waves break against the rocks below, and seabirds circle the cliffs above the water.

Unlike many North Shore destinations, Lighthouse Park offers relatively easy terrain. The paths are wide and well established, making them suitable for slow walks rather than strenuous hikes. Visitors move between forest shade and ocean viewpoints, often pausing on the rocks to watch passing boats or the shifting light across the water.

The contrast between dense coastal forest and open shoreline gives Lighthouse Park its character. One moment the trail passes beneath centuries old trees; the next it emerges onto sunlit granite overlooking the Pacific.