Love LoLo: Urban Train-ing

This is a beautiful run in the urban, industrial sense. The Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood is the oldest in North Vancouver, B.C.[known as LoLo] and contains an eccentric mix of heritage buildings, funky restaurants, a waterfront market, offices and working shipyards.

Lonsdale Avenue begins at the northern shore of Coal Harbour and goes up hill all the way to the mountains.

Start the run at the corner of Lonsdale and Esplanade, at the new Pier Hotel. Run down toward the water, behind the hotel where the original dock yards have been refurbished and made pedestrian friendly. You will pass by the partial hull of the ship Victory, the yellow yard crane and vintage trucks and rail spurs. Carry on out onto the pier and take in the views of the harbour across to downtown Vancouver.

Turn around and run back along the dock, the Washington group shipyard will be on your right, and follow the Victory Ship Way back up to Esplanade and head east. Esplanade merges to the right to becomes Low Level Road. You can run safely along the bike lane going with the traffic.

Right beside you will be rail cars lining the tracks that service the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool terminals above you.

The train cars are embellished with some incrediblly creative and colourful graffiti, so you can enjoy an al fresco gallery as you run.

What is really cool is when the trains are being shunted and are travelling along the track- you can do your speed work by running with the train and try and keep up.

At the lights at Third Street, turn around and head back on the same bike lane then merge onto Esplanade again until you get to the Pier Hotel.

Run Stats

Distance: 6 kilometres
Elevation: Flat except for slope at start

of Lower Level Road by the trains
Surface: paved road

Apres Run Refreshments

Bean Around the World:

156-123 Carrie Cates Court

Lonsdale Quay

Waves

93 Lonsdale Avenue (at 1st Street)

Copyright 2012 Kelly W all rights reserved