The well-signed route is a safe and separated pathway with lots to discover along the way.
We’ve describe the route as you travel eastbound from Horseshoe Bay, after going through the Districts of West Vancouver and North Vancouver.
Waterfront Section
- You’ll enter the City on the south side of West 1st and Mackay, going up a gradual slop to the impressive Harbourside West Overpass, a 280-metre long bridge for walking, cycling and wheeled users.
- Kings Mill Walk Park is the next part of the trail, heading south and then east along with waterfront, with spectacular views. The Harbourside development is underway nearby.
- At the Bewicke section of the Spirit Trail the entrance features a large welcoming gateway of red hands, welcoming visitors as they enter the Squamish Nation (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw) – learn more in the Public Art section below.
- The Trail continues along the waterfront through the Squamish Nation's Mosquito Creek Marina. You can’t miss the stunning public art installation called Gateway to Ancient Wisdom, a contemporary stainless steel and red cedar sculpture that represents the concept of "entering traditional territory", at the eastern edge of the Squamish Nation land.
- Waterfront Park is the next section, with an open green space, more public art, and Goldsworthy Pier.
- After leaving the park, you’ll zigzag through the Lonsdale Quay area via Carrie Cates Court, passing the SeaBus terminal.
- Explore The Shipyards as you travel east – go to the end of Burrard Dry Dock Pier for views of downtown Vancouver.
Esplanade/Brewery District Section
- This section of the Spirit Trail exits The Shipyards area by St Georges, where it follows the south side of Esplanade to St Andrews.
- The trail crosses Esplanade at a signalized intersection and continues east along a boulevard area between Esplanade and Low Level Road.
- At St Patricks, the trail is located away from the roadway as it continues to St Davids. At St Davids, the trail heads north to 2nd Street, then east to Moodyville Park.
Wooded/Ravine Section
- At Moodyville Park there are a few trail options available. The Ravine Connector is a pedestrian-only trail accessed via St Davids which runs through the Moodyville ravine area. This pedestrian trail consists of stairs, a bridge, and a suspension bridge and isn't wheelchair accessible. The Ravine Connection rejoins the Spirit Trail in Moodyville Park.
- The impressive 3rd Street Overpass continues the Trail from Moodyville to Heywood Street.
- This section of the Spirit Trial enhances the connection between upper and lower neighbourhoods in the eastern portion of the City, providing a gentle, accessible grade transition from Heywood Avenue to Gladstone Avenue.
- The trail continues along Cotton Road, before turning into Lynnmouth Park at MEC, then over Lynn Creek into the District of North Vancouver.
Extensive community consultation occurred throughout 2007, and in July 2008 the City of North Vancouver Spirit Trail alignment and conceptual design was endorsed by City Council. The City's portion of the Spirit Trail was completed in July of 2018.
Key features and guiding principles of the City’s Spirit Trail:
- Waterfront oriented
- Ecological corridor
- Unique identity
- Accessible to all
- Forms a linear park
- Separate from traffic
Spirit Trail Partnerships
The North Shore Spirit Trail has received significant support from the federal and provincial governments, North Shore municipalities and local First Nations.
The City of North Vancouver received the following grants to assist in the realization of the Spirit Trail:
- Harbourside West Overpass - $2.6 million through the federal and provincial governments
- Bewicke Section - $750,000 through the provincial government
- Lonsdale Quay Section - $275,000 through the provincial government and TransLink
- Waterfront Escarpment / Moodyville Park Section - $980,000 through the provincial government
- Squamish Nation /Mosquito Creek Marina - $400,000 BikeBC grant through the provincial government
In 2007, the City signed a Trail Partnering Agreement with the Squamish Nation to facilitate the joint design, planning, financing, and construction of a waterfront greenway. This greenway, now known as the Squamish Nation Waterfront Greenway, was completed and officially opened in February 2009. The City and Squamish Nation continue to collaborate on the Spirit Trail project and in May 2014 amended the 2007 Agreement to allow for a Spirit Trail connection along the waterfront from Bewicke to the existing Squamish Nation Waterfront Greenway.
Awards for the Spirit Trail
Consulting Engineers of British Columbia (CEBC)
Received an Award of Excellence for the Harbourside West Overpass in the Transportation category - March 2012
Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Regional Honour Award
Received a regional honour award from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects for their planning and analysis work done for the City's portion of the Spirit Trail - February 2009
Design Excellence Award of Merit
Received a prestigious national design award for their conceptual design and implementation plan for the City's portion of the North Shore Spirit Trail - February 2009
The most recognizable art of the Spirit Trail is the logo itself. The Spirit Trail’s logo, named Shewalh Stelmexw (Sha-woth Stol-molth) – Squamish for ‘People’s Path’, is representative of the connections the trail creates between various communities and their natural surroundings.
The simple hand-drawn strokes of the logo merge human traits with the distinctive outlines of a North Shore landscape in a style that references the stone carvings of our Native ancestors. The logo is a tribute to the collaborative efforts of the Squamish Nation, the City of North Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, the District of West Vancouver.
Art on the City's Spirit Trail
There's a wide variety of public art to explore on the Spirit Trail – view all public art on the NVRC Public Art Collection map.
Travelling from the City's western boundary of the Spirit Trail to the eastern side, you'll find the following public art:
Birdhouse Forest 2 | Location: Kings Mill Walk Park
15 eclectic birdhouses created by community artists from a variety of materials
We Hold Our Hands Up to You – Wa chet ḵ'ayáchtntumi | Location: at Bewicke
Red gateway with upright hands, welcoming trail users to the traditional Squamish village lands
Fisher Family Totem | Location: near Mosquito Creek Marina
Carved Indigenous cedar pole depicting a bear, eagle and whale, in honour of the late Frank Rivers Sr.
Spirit Trail Benches | Location: near Mosquito Creek Marina
Series of carved bronze plaques of various Indigenous Squamish legends, embedded in trailside benches
Transformation in Earth & Stone | Location: near Mosquito Creek Marina
Community art project of etched and carved stones, connected to First Nations legends
Gateway to Ancient Wisdom | Location: near Mosquito Creek Marina
Stainless steel and red cedar Indigenous sculpture, representing entering traditional territory
Male & Female Welcome Figures | Location: near Mosquito Creek Marina
Carved Indigenous grandmother and grandfather as part of the Trans Canada Trail
Cathedral | Location: Waterfront Park
Large sculpture of steel beams which echo the North Shore mountains
Harubang | Location: Waterfront Park
A guardian and boundary-marking sculpture which was a gift from South Korea
GroundWaterSeaLevel | Location: near Lonsdale Quay transit loop
Five large metal pipes, with digital light displays showing actual climate conditions in the immediate area
Pier Big Drawer | Location: The Shipyards near Tap & Barrel
Marking the original entrance to the Burrard Shipyards where workers punched their time cards
Joe Bustemente Trumpet | Location: The Shipyards beside Pier 7 Restaurant
Commemorating the one-armed Chilean mariner who trumpeted warnings to ships' captains
Blanketing the City V: (Rescue) (Aftermath) (Wealth of the Land) | Location: Burrard Dry Dock Pier
Referencing the village of Eslha7an's assistance to Vancouver's historical fire and post-fire resurgence
Essential Elements | Location: south side of Esplanade near St Patricks
A series of pole-top painted sculptures relating to the old logging town of Moodyville
Queensbury Tree Frog | Location: Moodyville Park
Giant carved ancient cedar stump sculpture, originally located at Queensbury Elementary
Site Memories: Murmuring Crows | Location: Moodyville Park area
Crows and corresponding text sand-blasted onto boulders, sharing crow mythology
The Masts | Location: Moodyville Park, Queensbury & 3rd
Posts meant to evoke ships' masts and flags that were found at the nearby Moodyville docks
Swale | Location: Brooksbank & Main, by MEC
A canoe with many oars and a single canoeist, capturing our hopes for a new generation