Being in nature is highly valuable to the quality of life and challenges perceptions of our capabilities.
The home base of our hiking program is at Pacific Spirit Regional Park in Vancouver. This beautiful and peaceful location offers many different paths and trails to investigate. We explore Pacific Spirit Park using the TrailRider, an innovative wheelchair that supports access to remote and uneven terrain. With one wheel and a dedicated volunteer ‘Sherpa’ front and back, the TrailRider helps you cover any trail comfortably and safely. We also have a portable lift for convenient transfers.
Our equipment inventory now also includes the GRIT Freedom Chair. A cross between a mountain bike and a wheelchair, this lever-powered wheelchair (created by MIT engineers) allows you to independently navigate terrain that is inaccessible to typical wheelchairs.
Throughout the summer you can book sessions to take out the GRIT Freedom Chair (we have versions suitable for adults and children) and accompany someone who is using the TrailRider or you can do your own independent exploration of Pacific Spirit Park. People with limited upper body strength can be assisted as needed thanks to the GRIT’s push handles.
SCHEDULE:
Our Hiking Centre is open every day from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, starting Wednesday, May 21st and running until Friday, August 29th.
Weekday Hikes
Weekday hikes take place from Wednesday to Sunday at Pacific Spirit Park between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
Weekend Destination Hikes
Throughout the summer, we also offer hikes in other parks around Metro Vancouver. Check the schedule below for updates:
- Saturday, May 24th: Camosun Bog
- Sunday, May 25th: Spanish Banks
- Sunday, June 1st: Jericho Beach
- Saturday, June 7th: Stanley Park
- Sunday, June 8th: Pacific Spirit Park
- Saturday, June 14th: Lynn Headwaters North Shore
- Saturday, June 21st: Green Timbers
- Sunday, June 22nd: Burnaby Lake
- Saturday, June 28th: Tynehead Regional Park
- Sunday, June 29th: Spanish Banks
- Saturday, July 5th: Lighthouse Park
- Sunday, July 6th: Dog mountain
- Saturday, July 12th: Sunset Hike at Jericho Beach
- Sunday, July 13th: Tynehead Regional Park
- Saturday, July 19th: Stanley Park
- Saturday, July 26th: Burnaby Mountain to Rose Garden
- Sunday, July 27th: Rocky Point
- Saturday, August 2nd: Fishing at Rice Lake
- Sunday, August 3rd: Burns Bog
- Saturday, August 9th: Sunset Hike Jericho Beach
- Sunday, August 10th: Lynn Headwaters
- Saturday, August 16th: Lighthouse Park
- Saturday, August 23rd: Trottier Observatory
- Sunday, August 24th: Dog mountain
The Booking System opens on Thursday, May 15th at 9 AM. Follow us on social media or subscribe to our mailing list to stay informed about season updates.
Each summer, we also partner with the Adaptive Sailing Association of BC to offer children and youth the opportunity to explore nature through dedicated Kids’ Days.
Stay tuned for the dates of the 2025 Kids Days!
Want to go on an adventure with friends and family? TrailRiders are available to rent or buy. Learn More.
The Booking System opens May 15, 2025, at 9 AM, and the hiking season starts on May 21st.
COST: $10 per hike.
Kids 18 years old and under hike for free!
Registration opens soon – stay tuned!
Where to find us
Our hiking centre is located in the Pacific Spirit Regional Park (4915 W 16th Avenue).
The 1,885-acre park, on the University of BC Endowment Lands, is a beautiful, multi-purpose recreational area. To get there, head west along W 16th Ave. towards UBC. Look for a turn on the right, 400m after the Blanca St. intersection. (If you arrive at the UBC campus, you’ve missed it!) We are located alongside the Pacific Spirit Regional Park Centre. There are accessible washrooms and free parking.
If you are riding transit, the 25 Brentwood Stn/UBC and 33 29th Ave Stn/UBC stop within yards of the hiking centre.
Destination hikes – i.e. those to anywhere other than Pacific Spirit Park – begin from a suitable trailhead.
VOLUNTEER:
Can you help people with disabilities access beautiful British Columbia? If so, we’d love to hear from you.
Share your love of beautiful British Columbia and get to meet like-minded volunteers and clients.
The Disability Foundation and its affiliated societies comply with COVID-19 protocols as determined by the provincial health authorities (e.g., BC: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/covid-19). Our workers and volunteers will follow such protocols and must be vaccinated to work with and within our organizations (offices, program locations, and home visits), unless a medical exemption is in place. To protect our workers and volunteers, we expect our clients and partners to comply with COVID-19 health and safety regulations which means fully vaccinated unless there is a medical exemption.
Thank you for making everyone’s health and safety the top priority.