Vancouver’s best rose garden

It had been a long time since I’d ventured to Vancouver’s UBC endowment lands, but because there was a break in the rain, and a sunny day promised mid-week, I headed to the place of my first employment when I arrived in Canada two decades ago.

Whytecliff Park

At 124 ha, this park was the largest in West Vancouver. I hiked down to the stony beach where Whyte Islet drew me like a sleepwalker. I stumbled over the rocky stretch towards the boulder. Empty diarrhetic shellfish lay scattered between rocks in their thousands.

Point Atkinson Lighthouse

On a perfect summer day, we hiked through Point Atkinson Park to the lighthouse. Usually, the lighthouse was closed off to the public, but on this and about four other days that summer, this locked off area was open to those who registered with the guides to celebrate Canada’s 150^th.

Cypress Falls

West Vancouver’s Cypress Falls was not as spectacular as many waterfalls, but what was surprising was that there were several falls tumbling over boulders along Cypress Creek.

Cypress Falls Park Hiking Trail

From the car park, the West Vancouver trail led to a t-junction with no sign to indicate which way to go. I decided to head up hill over an up and down path that wound its way amongst brambles and rocks. The trail appeared as if the undergrowth hadn’t been cleared since the previous summer because in places branches hid the path so I couldn’t see where I trod.