March 6, 2012: City Night View of Downtown Vancouver Waterfront Coal Harbour from Highview Lookout of Cypress Provincial Park. A few iconic architectures can be recognized: Stanley Park, Lions Gate Bridge, Pan Pacific Hotel (Canada Place), Vancouver Convention Centre, Harbour Centre Revolving Restaurant, and Shaw Tower Vancouver (the highrise with a long vertical blue-to-green neon line).
The easiest spot to see aerial views of Downtown Vancouver is from Cypress Provincial Park lookout points (Highview and Quarry Lookouts). Check map below for driving direction.
March 6, 2012: The same shot taken during day time. Vancouver tallest building—Living Shangri-La—is clearly visible.
Vancouver Tallest buildings
| # | Name | Height m/ft | Floors | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Living Shangri-La | 201 / 659 | 62 | 2008 |
| 2 | Harbour Centre | 168.6 / 533 | 45 | 1977 |
| 3 | One Wall Centre | 150 / 491 | 48 | 2001 |
| 4 | Shaw Tower | 149 / 489 | 41 | 2004 |
| 5 | Royal Centre | 141 / 464 | 37 | 1973 |
March 6, 2012: Aerial view of Vancouver City from Highview Lookout of Cypress Bowl
March 6, 2012: Vancouver Skyline seen from Quarry Lookout Point
Map
Exact location is indicated by Green Arrow on the following map below. From the city of Vancouver, access is by crossing the Lions Gate Bridge to the Upper Levels Highway (aka, combined Trans-Canada Highway 1 and 99) via Taylor Way in West Vancouver. Take exit #8 off highway to enter Cypress Bowl Road. There are two lookouts points: Highview Lookout (at the 2nd sharp turn) and Quarry Lookout (at the 3rd sharp turn). Parking is free at both sites. The Highview area is mainly a lookout over Vancouver, Fraser Valley and the south end of Vancouver Island. Highview picnic area has a small grassy area and six (6) picnic tables; Quarry has a large grassy area with eleven (11) picnic tables.
Cypress Provincial Park: park site | park map in pdf
Read Sea to Sky Highway Scenic Route for nearby attractions.
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