Spanish Banks, Vancouver

Spanish Banks consist of a sequence of shorelines situated in the city of Vancouver, flanking the edges of English Bay within the West Point Grey community. These banks extend between the eastern edge of Locarno Beach and the vicinity of the University of British Columbia to the west.

Although the initial European navigators to explore the waters of the Strait of Georgia were Juan Carrasco and José María Narváez, Spanish explorers who sighted Point Grey in 1791, the label "Spanish Banks" was designated to honor the encounter between the English expedition led by George Vancouver and the Spanish party under Galiano and Valdés in June 1792. The Hudson's Bay Company later adopted the name Spanish Banks to commemorate this event. This title was officially attributed by Captain Richards of the HMS Plumper during his survey of Burrard Inlet in 1859.

Though technically forming a single stretch, the beaches of Spanish Banks are categorized into three parts: Spanish Bank East, Spanish Bank Extension, and Spanish Bank West. These coastlines are accompanied by verdant fields, rendering them favored destinations for strolls, family gatherings, picnics, as well as soccer and volleyball matches. Adjacent to the waterfront, there's a segregated bicycle path paralleling a pedestrian walkway. While there were considerations for metered parking, similar to other nearby Vancouver beaches such as Kitsilano Beach, the Vancouver Park Board deferred the decision in March 2018.

Spanish Banks is renowned for its expansive tidal flats, most notably visible at Spanish Bank West. While swimming is feasible at Spanish Bank East, the more prevalent activities at Spanish Bank West include skimboarding and kitesurfing.