CRAB Park at Portside Vancouver

CRAB Park at Portside: Downtown Vancouver's Hidden Beach

Category: Beaches & Parks | Area: Downtown Eastside, near Gastown | Cost: Free | Best for: Harbour views, quiet picnics, dog owners, photography

CRAB Park at Portside is the only waterfront green space in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, tucked between the port and Canada Place. Behind the railway tracks you find lawns, a sand-and-gravel beach on Burrard Inlet and some of the best close-up views of the harbour, the SeaBus and the North Shore mountains in the city.

Where Is CRAB Park?

The park is at the north foot of Main Street, at 101 East Waterfront Road. You reach it over the overpass that crosses the railway tracks, a short walk from Gastown and Waterfront Station.

A Bit of History

The park exists because of local residents. In the early 1980s a Downtown Eastside group called Create a Real Available Beach (CRAB) campaigned for public waterfront access. The park opened in 1987 as Portside Park on land leased from the port, and the Park Board renamed it CRAB Park at Portside in 2004 to honour the campaign.

Things to See and Do

Watch the Harbour

Container ships, tugboats, float planes and the SeaBus pass right in front of the beach, with Grouse Mountain and the Lions behind.

See the Memorials and Public Art

The park includes a Komagata Maru mosaic, a memorial stone for missing and murdered women, a garden from Vancouver's sister city Yokohama and Indigenous artworks.

Play and Splash

A renewed playground and splash pad feature sea-creature artwork by artists from local Nations and urban Indigenous communities.

Bring Your Dog

The park has a dog off-leash area on its east side.

Getting There

On foot: Walk from Gastown or Waterfront Station and cross the Main Street overpass.

By car: Parking near the park is limited.

Good to Know

• CRAB Park is not a designated swimming beach and has no lifeguards, given the busy port next door.
• Washrooms (Portland Loos) and a drinking fountain are on site.
• Conditions in the park can vary, so visit in daylight and stay aware of your surroundings.

Best Time to Visit

Sunny mornings and golden hour give the best light for photos of the mountains and harbour.

More Beaches Nearby

For swimming beaches, head to English Bay Beach or Second Beach in the West End, or east to New Brighton Park. See every option in our guide to the best beaches in Vancouver and Metro Vancouver.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does CRAB stand for?

Create a Real Available Beach, the name of the community campaign that led to the park.

Can you swim at CRAB Park?

It is not a designated swimming beach and has no lifeguards, so swimming is not recommended.

Are dogs allowed at CRAB Park?

Yes, in the off-leash area on the east side of the park.

Photo: Portside Park Pier (106705075) by Jeff Macleod, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.