8 Best Playgrounds In North Vancouver

What do I like the most about the North Vancouver playgrounds? Their amazing location, usually accompanied by short and easy creekside trails in the temperate West Coast rainforest. If not that, then ocean views. Visiting a North Vancouver playground can be easily turned into a longer outdoors adventure. Moreover, rainforests are lush and colorful all year, so it was a joy to visit these parks on sunny winter days when many other parks were bare and colorless.

Just to give a balanced opinion: what do I like the least about the playgrounds in North Vancouver? The fact that I don’t live in North Vancouver, so I need to cross one of the two bridges over the bay, and they’re almost always congested. It turns a 15 minute drive into a 50 minute drive. The heavy traffic period is roughly from 8-11 am in the morning and from 3-8 pm in the evening on weekdays. (So yes, mostly all day.) But it gets congested on the weekends, as well, from late afternoon until the evening.

More fun with kids on the North Shore:

• 10 Kid-Friendly Parks In North Vancouver
• 16 Very Short, Toddler-Friendly Hiking Trails Near Vancouver
• Best West Vancouver Playgrounds By The Beach

Now let’s see the best playgrounds in North Vancouver – personally tested by me and my little boy.

Best North Vancouver playgrounds

Cates Park playground, a large one with a long beach

Cates Park is one of the best parks in North Vancouver for families, anyway. It has one of the biggest playgrounds, accompanied by a long beach, a boat launch, a few kilometers of walking trails and one of the largest parking lots in North Vancouver.

Let’s start with the playground, because Cates Park offers two playground areas: one for older kids and one for toddlers.

The larger playground has several climbing structures, monkey bars, spinners, spring riders and slides. The baby and toddler swings are located somewhat further from everything else, to make it safer. The toddler playground area somewhat mimics the other one, it has several climbing structures with slides, only it’s toddler-sized. There’s a single spring rider, just in case. What makes it so appealing is that little ones really have their own space and won’t be disturbed by older kids. But older toddlers can venture to the larger playground, too, my 2.5-year-old son enjoyed both of them.

toddler playground in Cates Park

There’s no sandbox, but who needs one when Cates Beach is right there? You find both sandy-pebbly and rocky areas on the beach. The large grassy meadows are ideal for ball games, and picnic benches are dotted throughout the park.

Cates Beach

There are about 6 kilometers of trails in Cates Park. The main loop runs along the waterfront, with views of Indian Arm and the Burrard Inlet, then returns back to the main parking area through a forest with crossing tiny creeks and bridges over them. The waterfront stroll is suitable for strollers, the rest of the loop can also be manageable with a sports stroller. But even a toddler can walk this trail on his own, as mine proved, as the terrain is easy and there’s plenty of things to keep them entertained.

With both the smaller and larger playground areas and all the outdoorsy opportunities in the park, the Cates Park playgrounds are definitely among the best playgrounds on the North Shore.

stroller-friendly path on the Cates Park waterfront

Know before you go:

• Parking? several free parking lots in Cates Park, up to 4 hours
• Washrooms? yes
• Picnic tables? yes
• Trails? yes, a few km loop on the coast and in the forest
• Beach? yes, both sandy and rocky areas
• Spray park? no

Panorama Park playground, a small one with epic views

The thing is: the playground in Panorama Park is incredibly small. (No, it’s not called Deep Cove playground, though it’s in the Deep Cove neighborhood. But it’s located in Panorama Park, and not in Deep Cove Park. Nevertheless, I often referred to it as “the Deep Cove playground” – I guess, because it features the very best views of Deep Cove.)

But out of the two things it features – other than the spectacular Deep Cove views, which mainly matters to mum – one is a super cool climbing tower with a long tunnel slide! The other is a spring rider. Okay, there’s a music feature, too, if I remember well. But who cares when there’s a giant tunnel slide, right? It was too much of a challenge for my 2-year-old, but as he got closer to 3, he tackled it successfully and fell for this challenging play structure.

an additional music feature to the slide structure

The other thing that makes Panorama Park amazing is the panorama, of course. The small playground is a nice addition to the scenic walking trails and the sandy-pebbly beach area. Vehicle-obsessed kids will enjoy walking on the pier and looking at the boats. With older kids you can rent a kayak to explore the Indian Arm.

One of my favorite picturesque and kid-friendly rainforest trails on the North Shore is only 10 minutes walk from Panorama Park: the Sponge Bob and Sally’s Trail Loop (3.7 km). It starts from Cliffmont Road and after about 10 minutes of hiking you’ll feel out of the city, among giant trees and rushing streams. If you’re looking for quieter North Vancouver parks, you’ll like this one. (Okay, not on a sunny Sunday afternoon in the summer, because nothing is quiet in Deep Cove then.)

More playgrounds in Metro Vancouver:

• 12 Best Playgrounds In Vancouver
• Best Burnaby Playgrounds & Water Parks
• Best West Vancouver Playgrounds By The Beach

The parking lot in Panorama Park is very small, and parking is limited to 3 hours (strictly enforced). Other options for parking are the Rockcliff Road parking lot, a few minutes walk away, or the Myrtle Park parking lot, 10 minutes walk away. Neither has a time limit, but both tend to fill up quickly on nice weekend days.

Know before you go:

• Parking? free, but limited space; up to 3 hours
• Washrooms? yes
• Picnic tables? yes
• Trails? yes, short trails in Panorama Park and Deep Cove Park; Sponge Bob Trail nearby
• Beach? yes, sandy-pebbly
• Spray park? no

Mosquito Creek playground, a quiet one with a great kid-friendly trail

Mosquito Creek Park playground is not one of the best North Shore playgrounds by itself. It’s lovely, but what makes it truly special is the location and the toddler-friendly trail along Mosquito Creek. It’s an awesome park for kids to play.

The playground is at the southern end of Mosquito Creek Trail. While it’s not the largest or most unique playground in Metro Vancouver, you find thoughtful and simple structures, and it’s especially great for toddlers. A few climbing structures might be exciting for older kids, but the small slide, climbing net and the rocking structures are hits for the youngest users. Half of the playground has sandy cover, the other area is where the swings are (belt swing and baby swing), and there’s the larger climbing structure for older kids.

This North Van playground never gets too busy. While driving here for the playground alone might not be worth it, you can add the hike along Mosquito Creek, and that’s a nice half day outdoor activity. 

Mosquito Creek runs through North Vancouver for a long while, but the easiest and most kid-friendly section of the creekside trail is between 17th Street West and William Griffin Park.

This section is 1.4 km long, and it’s a wide, hard packed gravel path, suitable for strollers and bikes. You find several easy water access points, and my son never gets tired of throwing pebbles into the water. There’s a cute side-trail with little ponds, wooden bridges and boardwalks, which later rejoins the main path towards William Griffin Park. This one is not stroller-friendly, but keep your eyes open for the small gate where it starts, because kids will love it so much.

Know before you go:

• Parking? free street parking (mainly 17th Street West and Fell Avenue)
• Washrooms? portable toilet at the southern trailhead of Mosquito Creek Trail
• Picnic tables? no
• Trails? yes, ~1.4 km one-way to William Griffin Park
• Beach? no
• Spray park? no

Moodyville Park playground, the most adventurous one

This adventurous playground in Moodyville Park is the best playground in North Vancouver (and one of the best ones in Metro Vancouver overall). Built in 2019, it includes quite some fun features for kids of any age. Like two zip lines, an in-ground trampoline, a face-to-face parent and child swing or a long tunnel slide!

Playgrounds with zip lines are not that common, and Moodyville Park doesn’t only have two, but they are also long and not too high or fast, so even small kids won’t get scared. It’s a big hit though, so the zip line is surely an occasion where kids can learn to share and stand in line, waiting for their turn. 🙂

There are two embankment slides, one of them is a really long tunnel slide which is super popular among older kids, but my 3-year-old enjoyed it, too. (Weather conditions significantly affect the speed.) Climbing structures are varied, there’s a large sandbox with water features and several sets of swings. The skater park right next to it has softer edges and curves which makes it suitable even for younger kids.

And there’s a trail nearby. (Of course!) Moodyville Park is located along the Spirit Trail, a greenway that aims to connect Horseshoe Bay and Deep Cove. It’s an accessible, waterfront-oriented path that suits pedestrians, bikers, skaters and people with mobility aids (or strollers). Believe it or not, you find a suspension bridge as part of the Spirit Trail not far from Moodyville Park. Yeah, a trail can be found near any playground on the North Shore.

Read this, too: Beco Toddler Carrier Review

What not to like here? I’ll tell you: parking. The park doesn’t have a parking lot – at least I don’t count the two parking spaces with a 1-hour limit as a parking lot. But most residential streets in the area also have a 1-hour parking limit on weekdays. Being as cool as it is, 1 hour is barely anything for this playground and park. So my best bet is parking anywhere else along the Spirit Trail, then walking to Moodyville Park. Or visit on the weekend. A playground is a motivating hiking destination for a kid, anyway.

Know before you go:

• Parking? limited street parking (up to 1 hour time limit on weekdays)
• Washrooms? yes
• Picnic tables? yes
• Trails? yes, connection to Spirit Trail
• Beach? no
• Spray park? no

Mahon Park playground, a fun toddler playground with spray park

I found Mahon Park when I was looking for toddler-friendly trails, and I instantly fell for its cute and short ravine trails. Mahon Park offers a miniature rainforest hike. The trail in the forested area is not stroller-friendly, but a real hiking trail with some steep uphills and downhills, stairways, two creeks and a few bridges (aka everything a small kid enjoys when hiking). It’s the best park in North Vancouver for a toddler to try hiking.

The full ravine trail network is only 2 km, with two trails along Wagg Creek and one along Mission Creek. They connect with each other, and one of them ends right at the playground – a great hiking destination for kids!

You can also access the playground and the Mahon spray park directly from Jones Avenue (so hiking is not required, but I often used the Mahon playground as the reward at the end of the hike). With baby swings, a seesaw, a swing-lounger, a tiny climbing net with a slide, a spinner and a choo-choo train, this playground is the best for toddlers. But kids of any age will enjoy the largest spray park in North Vancouver, with three different sections.

Mahon Park spray park

Know before you go:

• Parking? free street parking on Jones Ave or the nearby residential streets
• Washrooms? yes
• Picnic tables? yes
• Trails? yes, ~2 km of hiking trails
• Beach? no
• Spray park? yes

Murdo Frazer Park playground, a lesser-known playground for kids of any age

Literally a few minutes drive away from famous Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Murdo Frazer Park is known and visited only by the locals. It’s surrounded by quiet residential streets, and parking is never a problem, you can easily find space along Elizabeth Way, right by the Murdo Frazer playground.

The playground is rarely busy, because it’s truly a local’s playground. It’s well-equipped and offers fun play structures both for toddlers and older kids, but it doesn’t offer very special things (like zip lines, trampolines or a spray park) that would make it too popular. There are baby swings, belt swings, a seesaw and two climbing structures with slides – one is for the younger crowd, the other is for older kids. They include a climbing wall, monkey bars and several other fun climbing features.

Also, a lovely park belongs to the playground, with about 1 km of walking trails and a small pond with turtles. My son likes practicing with his bike on the trails (a kiddy-bike, with kiddy-speed), they’re mostly flat and no large roots make it too hard.

It’s one of the best playgrounds in North Vancouver if you’re looking for few people and convenient parking.

Know before you go:

• Parking? small, free parking lot in Murdo Frazer Park and free street parking in the area
• Washrooms? yes (located by the tennis courts)
• Picnic tables? yes
• Trails? yes
• Beach? no
• Spray park? no

Eldon Park playground, the best toddler playground and spray park

Here’s another gem, known mostly by locals: Eldon Park, (again) a few minutes drive from Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. It has sports fields and a cute little toddler playground with an adjoining spray park. It has McKay Creek Park as a neighbor, and McKay Creek Trail is a great kid-friendly rainforest walk with several creek access points and many little wooden bridges that kids love so much. Their parents will love the majestic trees and the peaceful atmosphere that’s one of the magics of any rainforest.

Back to the playground, it’s simple and fun. The small climbing structure with the slide is specifically for the very little ones, and there’s a tiny music station as well as a pair of swings (one of them is baby swing). The only thing that even older kids find challenging enough is the large rope climbing structure.

The Eldon Park spray park operates only in the summer (as usual), and it’s a small one, with smaller sprinklers, a tiny tipping bucket and two water guns. It’s perfect for my toddler who gets scared of too large sprinklers, water fountains and giant tipping buckets. The other side of it is that this spray park doesn’t attract older kids, so the water play won’t be that wild either. It’s a toddler’s paradise.

Know before you go:

• Parking? free parking lot in Eldon Park
• Washrooms? yes
• Picnic tables? yes
• Trails? yes, McKay Creek Trail is 3.5 km there and back
• Beach? no
• Spray park? yes

Myrtle Park playground, the one with many “add-ons”

I like Myrtle Park, because it has a mid-sized playground that offers some play structures to kids of any age: a larger tunnel slide, a climbing wall, a small slide, a saucer swing, a baby swing and a summer-only spray park.

But Myrtle Park is also a great base for a family afternoon in the area: walking to Panorama Park or Strathcona Lookout Park (both offer amazing water views!), biking on the paved park paths or joining the rainforest trails from nearby Cliffmont Road.

And what I haven’t figured out on the first visit, there’s another playground at the other end of the park, right behind Strathcona Lookout Park. It has a slide structure with two slides and several creative climbing structures, as well as swings, a small spinner and a see-saw. It’s surprisingly quiet, probably not many people noticed (or looked for a second playground in the first place).

the other playground in Myrtle Park, North Vancouver

Myrtle Park is the best park in North Vancouver if you’re looking for a longer outing with kids of different ages as it offers something for everyone.

Know before you go:

• Parking? free parking lot in Myrtle Park
• Washrooms? yes
• Picnic tables? yes
• Trails? ~1.5 km of walking trails in the park
• Beach? no
• Spray park? yes

+ Dudley Place playground, a piece of art for toddlers

This is not a traditional playground, but a piece of art! There’s three tiny, colorful houses, a truck, tiny slides and climbing structures – it looks like a dollhouse built for toddlers. Additional elements, like a table with sliding plates or a veggie stand, encourage imaginative play.

It doesn’t offer much (or anything) for older kids, but perfect for babies and toddlers. Dudley Place is tucked in a residential area in North Vancouver, and you won’t ever find it unless you’re looking for it.

Know before you go:

• Parking? free street parking in the residential neighborhood
• Washrooms? no
• Picnic tables? no
• Trails? no
• Beach? no
• Spray park? no

the cute structures in Dudley Park, North Vancouver