A walking/cycling/rollerblading/skateboarding or jogging circumnavigation of False Creek can start at either the Main Street-Science World Skytrain station, on the east-west Expo Line, or along the north-south Canada Line at the Yaletown-Roundhouse station. The name of the Olympic Village station is a bit of a misdirect name-wise as it's situated a fair distance away, west of the Cambie Bridge on W. 2nd Ave.
For the purpose of this website we'll start at the Main Street-Science World Skytrain Station, the oldest station on the system. This station is one spoke in Vancouver's transportation hub which includes Translink bus routes along Main Street and Pacific Central Station's rail and intercity coach (bus) services. Pacific Central Station's rail services are Amtrak, Via Rail, and the Rocky Mountaineer and its intercity coach services are Ebus, and Pacific Coach Lines (Warning: Viral Link 2020 & 2021).
Parking for cars can be found in this ($10/day) Impark parking lot on Walter Hardwick Avenue within nearby Athlete's Village.
Factoid: The False Creek Trail, closely following a very old native-built trail, was opened in 1860 between New Westminster and False Creek. Today's Kingsway follows its route fairly closely. - A Brief History of Greater Vancouver
To get to False Creek from this Skytrain station cross Quebec Street (west) to Science World (aka The Golf Ball). It's a highly visible destination in itself. Science World rests in the middle of Creekside Park. The black sculpture in the foreground known as The Solar Bike Tree. It sits at the confluence of three major cycle paths and up to 15 different bikes can be parked under it at once - 3 of which can be hung from the tree trunk. Solar panels store energy for motion detector activated lights. It replaced a conventional street light.
A short distance to the left (south), along the seawall, can be found the nearest dock, and eastern terminus, for both the Aquabus and False Creek Ferries. These small water taxis criss-cross False Creek to provide short cuts around the waterway as well as a quick return back to this Skytrain station at any time. Aquabus, seen in the photo, is large enough to accommodate bicycles.
It has largely gone unreported that a significant number of stick-ups occur in vicinity of Science World.
One of the perpetrators caught in the act!
Evidently, from just the right photographic angle, it looks as if the subject is holding the Science World sphere up between their hands.
Some people are stronger than others.
A circumnavigation of False Creek could go either clockwise or counter clockwise. This website will go counter clockwise from Science World along the north side first.
Looking (heading) north, with Creekside Park in the foreground, that's BC Place Stadium, home of the B.C. Lions, in the middle. Therein can also be found the BC Sports Hall of Fame. The smaller domed structure on the right with the blue signage, is Rogers Arena, home of the Vancouver Canucks. Concord Place comprises the lower lying buildings in front of Rogers Area. In front of this is found the Seaside Bicycle Route which is a shared pedestrian walkway.
Concord Place is a staging area for various outdoor events like the 2014 Electric Vehicle (EV) event shown in the background behind the fountain taking place on the Concord grounds.
The Seaside Bicycle Route leads to the Plaza of Nations buildings.
The glass structure on the left was The Edgewater Casino when these photos were taken in 2014. The grey buildings on the right/centre are the Plaza of Nations offices. (In 2014 some of the Plaza's tenants included the nightclubs; Gossip and BLVD 22 and was also the home of Pacific Boulevard Marina which hosted several charter boats.
One of those was the Queen of Diamonds for those times when rowing just won't do.
This shady wooded pathway is found just on the other (west) side of the Plaza of Nations area.
The first public park on the north side is Cooper's Park. It features a playground, skateboard park, ample open lawn and...
...this pair of push-button dog watering stations.
The painted blue stripes at the base of the Cambie bridge pilings are a work of art titled A False Creek which, in part, foreshadows the anticipated rise of the water due to global warming.
This all-weather playground is sheltered by the bridge.
West of the Cambie Street
Bridge there's
a shoreline sculpture known as
the Time Top in the style of a 1940's
space ship, encrusted with
crustaceans.
Along Marinaside Crescent the seawall comes closest to downtown/Yaletown city streets. Along the street can still be found Reckless Bike Rentals, even as the Provence Marinaside Restaurant, TWB (The Wine Bar), Hurricane Grill, and Bojangles Cafe have moved on. Along here can also be found a sculptural installation titled Lookout.
This sculpture at Davie Street and Marinaside Crescent is called Street Light.
Just around the corner from there you might still find...
...an artwork installation titled Welcome to the Land of Light.
The seawall view approaching David Lam Park
Everything Good about Everything Good
Brush With Illumination represents a calligraphy brush that dips into the ink well of false creek at high tide. It transmits (air and water) environmental information to a land based computer which creates calligraphy-like drawings.
Continue this False Creek Tour on page 2