Trans Canada Trail: New Brighton Park - Kensington Park

The Trans Canada Trail: New Brighton Park – Kensington Park route runs right through East Vancouver, linking the waterfront at New Brighton Park with the green lawns and views from Kensington Park. At 12.4 km return with only 181 m of gain and a high point around 129 m, it’s an easy city walk that still feels like you covered some ground. Expect about three hours at a relaxed pace, with lots of chances to stop and look around.

Leaving New Brighton Park, you get water and North Shore mountain views almost the whole way, mixed with industrial scenery from the nearby refinery and port. The path itself is mostly flat with a few gentle uphill stretches as you work your way toward Kensington Park, and it’s popular with cyclists, walkers, and dog owners, so it feels like a very “real” Vancouver corridor. It’s not a wilderness escape, but as an urban stretch of the Trans Canada Trail in Vancouver, it does a good job of connecting shoreline, neighbourhoods, and park space.

Right now, hikers report that the bridge at the start near New Brighton Park is closed, so be ready to detour and pay attention to signage. Parts of the route feel rough around the edges, with graffiti, some trash, and fast cyclists who often don’t use bells, so keep your head up and your dog leashed. The Trans Canada Trail: New Brighton Park – Kensington Park section is open year-round and stays walkable in most weather, but it’s more enjoyable on a clear day when the mountain and water views make up for the urban noise and industrial backdrop.