Deep Cove Pier

Deep Cove is a beautiful seaside village at the far eastern edge of North Vancouver. It’s a wonderful place for walks, hikes, kayaking and paddle boarding.

In this article you’ll find the following information about the following topics:

The Village of Deep Cove | What to do in the Area? | Events at Deep Cove | Tips and Advice | Other Information

Deep Cove in North Vancouver

Home to some of North Vancouver’s and the entire Lower Mainland’s most expensive real estate, Deep Cove is as picturesque as a West Coast village can get. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better place to kayak or paddle board, or simply enjoy the views.

There are a couple of nice parks along the waterfront which on Friday evenings in the summer play host to free live music concerts. The sheltered bay is perfect for photos and boating, and kayak, paddle board and canoe rentals are available during the warmer season. Boating of any kind in Deep Cove is highly recommended.

The Village of Deep Cove

The village’s “downtown” consists primarily of a single street lined with restaurants, an ice cream parlor or two, coffee shops, unique boutiques and galleries.

The Arm’s Reach Bistro in particular offers great food with nice views. The Raven is the local neighbourhood pub which is famous for its pizza. It also boasts the largest selection of craft beer on the North Shore, and is located at 1052 Deep Cove Road, so not actually in the heart of the village itself. Trust us – their pizza is really good!

Deep Cove’s sandy beach is small, but nice for swimming. A paved pathway runs all along the water in town, with Deep Cove’s pier and the marina in the middle.

Slightly to the north of the shops and restaurants is Panorama Park, with a picnic shelter, large grassy lawns on a hill and a popular children’s play area. It’s here at Panorama Park that events sometimes take place, including Summer Concerts and the Deep Cove Polar Plunge.

To the south is the kayak and paddle board rental shop and then more parkland.

Row of Kayaks in Deep Cove — Kayaks in Deep Cove

What to do in the Area?

Interested in going for a hike? Then head up the hill on the Baden Powell Trail, starting just up from the street by Panorama Park. It’s about a 45-minute hike one way (depending on how fast you go), meanders through beautiful forest trails and ends up at the Quarry Rock clifftop overlooking the surrounding area.

Deep Cove is one of several little villages we recommend as some of Vancouver’s Best Places.

If you like community theatre, a nice place to check out is Deep Cove Theatre. It’s a small 130-seat venue that puts on some really good plays every once in a while. Its address is 4360 Gallant Avenue.

If you like Deep Cove, other similar places you might enjoy include Horseshoe Bay (terminal for BC Ferries), Fort Langley (a national historic site), White Rock (an ocean-side resort community) and Steveston Village (a historic fishing village). Bowen Island is also a beautiful, rural seaside destination.

View from Quarry Rock — View of Deep Cove from Quarry Rock

Events at Deep Cove

Deep Cove is host to a number of interesting events each year, including the following:

Penguin Plunge – a New Year’s swim outdoors in the frigid waters takes place every January 1st in the early afternoon. About 300 participants take part each year, with many of them in costumes.
Summer Concerts at Panorama Park – free live outdoor concerts take place in the village on Friday evenings in the summer. (Similar concerts are offered elsewhere in North Vancouver on the same day as well, including in Lynn Valley and Edgemont Village.)
Carol Ships Shoreline Celebration – a winter holiday event with a community bonfire, music and boats with Christmas lights in December.

Deep Cove Marina in Winter — Deep Cove in Winter

Tips and Advice

Below are some suggestions to help you make the most out of your visit to Deep Cove.

TIP #1: With its peaceful waters, Deep Cove is one of the best places anywhere for kayaking and paddle boarding. Treat yourself and rent a boat on a sunny day – you won’t be disappointed.

TIP #2: If you’re heading to Deep Cove in the summer on one of the free evening concert nights, get there early as parking even on non-event days can be challenging if the weather is nice.

TIP #3: If there are no parking spaces available right at Panorama Park (on the left as you drive down through the village), then continue down the main street toward the water and turn right as you come to the end. There is a small parking lot soon after, another one up the hill, and then miscellaneous places along the sides of the roads.

TIP #4: When looking for parking, as you go further away from the village’s “downtown” just be sure not to park anywhere with a “residents only” sign or you’ll likely get towed or ticketed.

TIP #5: A famous place to get a treat in Deep Cove is Honey Doughnuts & Goodies which is located at 4373 Gallant Avenue.