THE DARK SECRETS OF STANLEY PARK TOUR
BEFORE THE PARK WAS A DESTINATION, IT WAS A BATTLEGROUND
THE DARK SECRETS OF STANLEY PARK TOUR
BEFORE THE PARK WAS A DESTINATION, IT WAS A BATTLEGROUND
Discover the jaw-dropping beauty – and sinister stories – of Stanley Park. Behind those majestic forests, picturesque gardens, and stunning beaches lies a history of forced evictions, buried treasure, shocking crime scenes, and the macabre tale of Deadman’s Island.
BOOK YOUR TOUR
KEY INFORMATION
RETURNS MAY 2025
PRIVATE TOURS AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND
TOUR RUNS 1.5 – 2 HOURS
AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE TOURS
$33 ADULTS
$30 YOUTH AND SENIORS
MEET AT THE WHALE STATUE OUTSIDE THE VANCOUVER AQUARIUM – 845 AVISON WAY
ON THIS WALKING TOUR YOU’LL DISCOVER…
Buried treasure
Dark forested trails
First Nations heroes
Historic totem poles
Bizarre public art work
Notorious crime scenes
The tale of Portuguese Joe
Secrets of Deadman’s Island
The best views in the entire park
The tale of a community that fought back
Strangeness beneath the famous seawall
And more!
BOOK YOUR TOUR
*IMPORTANT*
This tour only runs once a week and regularly sells out. To get your preferred date and avoid missing out, we highly recommend you book as soon as possible.
FLEXIBLE CANCELLATION POLICY
You can cancel your experience for a full refund up to 24 hours before your tour start time. Less than 24 hours before the start of your tour, you can receive a full credit for future use. No questions asked! Prices exclude fees and taxes.
TESTIMONIALS FROM TRIPADVISOR
GEM OF A PARK – GEM OF A TOUR
“Bravo Forbidden Vancouver!! I live in Vancouver. I have walked in/around Stanley Park literally hundreds of times. I learned SO MUCH on this tour!!! Hundreds of years of history that has been all but lost in the hustle and bustle of this fast growing city.”
– KAREN Z, VIA TRIPADVISOR
ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL
“Rowan was our friendly, fearless, animated and exceptional walking tour guide for the Secrets of Stanley Park. He engaged all of us and really made for a memorable time for our group of friends. I won’t give away the highlights… you just need to do the tour!”
– MATTHEW F, VIA TRIPADVISOR
OUR AWARDS
WINNER TRIP ADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE 2012 – 2024
WINNER LONELY PLANET “TOP CHOICE” 2024
WINNER CITY OF VANCOUVER HERITAGE MEDAL OF HONOUR
WINNER MUST DO CANADA FEATURED EXPERIENCES 2024
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What do I need to bring?
There’s plenty of shade in the park under the giant trees, but do bring sunscreen, hat, and a bottle of water on hotter days. We recommend you bring a jacket and sturdy footwear during the cooler months. Umbrellas help if it’s raining!
You’ll definitely want your smartphone charged so you can take photos of the incredible scenery and sites!
Is it suitable for children?
We carefully crafted this experience to suit the interests and preferences of adults, making it an ideal choice for teenagers seeking engaging and thought-provoking content. We’ve also found children aged 10 and up can greatly enjoy the tour. We don’t recommend the tour for children younger than ten.
How much walking is involved?
The tour is a leisurely stroll through the park on even ground. There’s a gentle hill near the start and a small staircase toward the end. Total distance covered is about 2 km, or 1.5 miles.
Does my guide accept gratuities?
Absolutely! Our guides accept cash or cards (via a portable Square device). If you enjoyed your guide’s performance then a tip is greatly appreciated.
Where does the tour start and end?
The tour starts and ends beside the whale fountain, directly outside the entrance to the Vancouver Aquarium.
Can I get to the start point on transit?
You can! The #19 bus goes from downtown to Stanley Park. Alight at the final stop in the park and the Aquarium is an easy 5-10 minute walk.
Hot tip: Use Translink’s online trip planner for options.
Can't I just wander around the park by myself?
You can, and Stanley Park is a beautiful place to go for a stroll on your own or with friends. But you’ll miss out on learning the remarkable human history of the park. Take the Dark Secrets of Stanley Park Tour and we promise you’ll never see the park the same way again!
Can I buy my ticket cheaper on another site?
We guarantee our website has the lowest prices for our walking tours. Beware reseller sites that display their prices in $USD to appear cheaper than they really are.
Do I qualify for a senior or youth ticket?
Anyone aged 65 or older qualifies for a seniors ticket.
If you’re 18 or younger, or a full-time student of any age with valid photo ID, you qualify for a youth ticket.
What are the Terms and Conditions?
All minors must be accompanied by an adult.
We do not permit guests on the tour who are, or appear to be, intoxicated. Guests who are intoxicated or disorderly will be asked to leave the tour and no refund will be issued.
While the tour is not strenuous, walking is involved and guests will be on their feet for the duration of the tour. Guests are responsible for making sure they are able to complete the tour.
You and your party knowingly and freely assume all the risks with participating in this experience. We are not responsible for illness or injury of guests during a tour. By participating in this experience you release and hold harmless Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours with respect to any injury, disability, death, or loss or damage to person or property whether cause by the negligence of Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours or otherwise.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Sadly, because of an unavoidable staircase this walking tour is not wheelchair accessible. Please note our other walking tours are all wheelchair accessible though.
Can I park near the start point?
There is a large parking lot at the Vancouver Aquarium, where the tour meets. Be aware that in the summer the only spaces available in the lot may be a 5-10 minute walk from the start point, so do aim to arrive 20 minutes early.
Is there a bathroom break?
There are bathrooms at the totem poles, around the halfway mark of the tour.
Can I bring my dog?
I’m afraid we don’t permit dogs on our walking tours, as it might make other guests uncomfortable. Service dogs are OK though.
MEET OUR DARK SECRETS OF STANLEY PARK WALKING TOUR GUIDES
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
When you buy a ticket for this walking tour, two percent of the ticket cost goes to support the Indian Residential School Survivors Society. The IRSSS was established in 1994 and its mission is to provide physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual growth, development, and healing through culturally-based values and guiding principles for the survivors, families, and communities of Canada’s residential school system.
AS FEATURED ON
TOUR DESCRIPTION
THE DARK SECRETS OF STANLEY PARK
Stanley Park. It’s almost 1,000 acres of pristine wilderness. Half a million trees including giants hundreds of years old. Eagles soar overhead while salmon, seals and even the occasional whale swim in the surrounding waters. It’s the city of Vancouver’s greatest treasure.
But there’s more to this park than incredible scenery. It’s also been home to crime, riots, persecution, political intrigue, class warfare, logging, hunting, disease, military installations, remarkable public art, ecological catastrophes, secret construction mega-projects, poetry, scandal, and murder.
So take the Dark Secrets of Stanley Park Tour with Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours — you’ll roam the trails, seawall, sights, and sounds of one of the world’s great urban retreats.
BOOK YOUR TOUR
EXPLORE STANLEY PARK’S HISTORY
The story of Stanley Park extends back deep into the past. The park was created in the 1880s thanks to a backroom deal between the Canadian Pacific Railway and the federal government. Thwarted in their plan to build a railway line through the city’s western peninsula, the CPR figured the next best thing was to request the government make the land into a park. That way no one could build homes on the land that would rival the railway company’s great land holdings nearby in the West End.
But caught in the crossfire of one of Vancouver’s biggest and most secretive real estate deals were the residents who made the land their home. The village of X̱wáýx̱way had been home to Salish people for thousands of years. Other residents lived at Brockton Point and dotted elsewhere along the shoreline. Their plight and the courageous battle many residents fought to stay in their homes is not acknowledged by any memorial or plaque today. We’re honoured to share the real story of Stanley Park’s history on the Dark Secrets of Stanley Park Tour.
MEETING PLACE
Tours start and end at the whale statue outside the Vancouver Aquarium – 845 Avison Way
Book your Dark Secrets of Stanley Park Tour today
BOOK YOUR TOUR