This panorama shows the open, grassy area behind the Spanish Bank Beaches on the southern shores of English Bay in Vancouver. The area is popular with dog walkers as there is a 'dogs off leash' section. Virtual tour taken in June 2012.

Spanish Banks Beach Park - Vancouver visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Spanish Banks Beach Park' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from British Columbia.

The Spanish Banks Beaches on the southern shores of English Bay in Vancouver are backed by an open grassy area, popular for exercising dogs. The Seaside Bicycle route also runs through the park next to Northwest Marine Drive. The beaches lie between Locarno Beach (Jericho Park) and University of British Columbia. From them are great views over to the West End and Stanley Park on the northern side of English Bay, and beyond across the Burrard Inlet to Northern Vancouver.

The beaches here were named after Spanish explorers by Captain Richards of the HMS Plumper during his survey of the Burrard Inlet in 1859 following a meeting between the English and Spanish here in 1792. There are three beaches here, known as Spanish Bank West, Spanish Bank East and Spanish Bank Extension beaches. They all allow BBQs, have lifeguards between Victoria Day and Labour Day and (at time of writing in June 2012) have free parking. The beaches are popular with skimboarding, windsurfing and kitesurfing as the waters are quite shallow. At low tide, vast flats are exposed.

Behind the beaches, across Northwest Marine Drive, the Spanish Trail hiking trail heads up into the Pacific Spirit Regional Park. Also nearby is the Museum of Anthropology, one of the top tourist attractions in Vancouver.

Bus: Spanish Banks Loop (C19)