John Hendry Park/Trout Lake Park

I love coming here. It’s my go-​to destination when I go for my runs because of how beautiful it is. There’s always a party of dogs having the nicest time, which makes my heart sing with joy and happiness because dogs are the best.
I usually do a loop around the trails amongst the willow trees as I pretend to be chased by zombies, which is the best. The willow trees are my favourite places to pretend that zombies are going to be emerging from behind.
My favourite time to go is dusk because of the wide open skies and the reflection of the clouds in the lake. Such a gorgeous gem of a place hidden over here in East Van.

It’s a cute park with a dog’s off-​leash area (if that matters to you), lots of mature trees, and a pond (it’s scenic, but «lake» is maybe overselling it a little) filled with ducks, geese, and dogs. It’s easy to get here either by bus or by a short walk from Nanaimo or Commercial Drive skytrain stations.
Because it’s in a popular part of Vancouver to live, this park is busy all seasons, in most forms of weather, too. Definitely recommended if you live nearby, but if you’re looking for more of a nature-​in-​the-​city experience, Stanley Park and Deer Lake might be more to your taste.

It’s two minutes away from my house. It’s so much fun to go and walk around the lake. It’s beautiful. Ducks are on the water doing their thing. Dogs are playing the water too. There’s also two playgrounds. One of them was recently built. There’s a Saturday farmers market in the spring summer months. You can go for a picnic or just to sit around.

When I was told it was walking distant to the park, I had to go see it. It was less than a 2 min walk and there were filled with color tree leaves. It just made the park look more beautiful. Its a pretty big park compare to the ones in LA.
There were people walking their dogs and as well as people strolling along with their kids. I have spotted a Lake and was told the water is pretty bad. So I had to go to take a look, lol. they dont know was bad yet, please come to LA. There was also a swimming pool int the other end of the park. As of course a playground for the kids. Nice looking park with fresh air, beats LA parks any day.
This would be my ideal park for my daily exercise. It is not too crowed with plenty of room to do your jog in the morning. It looks very safe and with people constantly around. I love how there are plenty of trees and it does not seem scatter around so plenty of space for picnics if wanted to.

This is one of the hidden gems in Vancouver as far as parks are concerned. It is always filled with locals all season round, dogs swimming in the water and casual people of all ages whom just want to stroll by the lake.
I came here to eat my farm purchases at the Farmer’s Market or hang with my bestie to look and walk.
This park has been amazing atmosphere for hosting some of the best events in the past such as the Alice In Wonderland pic nic and the Lantern Festival.
There is very limited to no lighting in the dark, therefore, walking in the dark can be a fun scary challenge. Just make sure that one of your friends isn’t a jerk who tells you ghost stories.
Sadly the lake is not suitable for swimming.
The trails are fun to walk in.

I personally don’t like Trout Lake all that much, I used to go there often as I live close by.
But have found that the water is super gross and I don’t want my dog in there.
I wouldn’t trust the water, but I see people swimming all the time.
Because there is an abundance of different types of people who bring there dogs there, sometimes there are dogs who aren’t well socialized and quite a few dog fights happen.
For children I think it would be a great place, the playground seems really nice and is pretty big and there is always so many children running around.
The community center is right there and the staff are always really nice and helpful.
There is a few ice rinks and some community classes you can take.
I mean its a nice park, but if I was going to go to a park there are so many other ones I would choose before Trout Lake.

I love Trout Lake. This park is a jewel of the city. Picnic areas, beach, fields to play in, concession and the Farmer’s Market is starting soon.

What a park!
I had no idea this place was even here when I moved into my nearby flat, until I spotted it on Google Maps after double checking my postcode. A quick internet search warned me the park was unclean and the lake contaminated, so I didn’t expect much. But I was in for a very pleasant surprise.
There’s plenty of lush, green space, lots of trees, an awesome view of the mountains and a swimming area at the south end of the lake with a nice little beach. There are showers, washrooms, a café and a covered BBQ area which is often packed. It’s real popular with dog walkers — it’s a family park and neighbourhood and most owners I’ve seen are extremely responsible. There are also cute little jetty areas around the east side of the lake which are slightly hidden by vegetation. They make a pretty nice and different spot for a picnic.
There always seems to be something interesting going on in the summer, whether it’s a community event, a volleyball tournament or some sort of hippie musician session. It’s a great place for people watching. Even though it’s in the middle of the city, it’s so calm, apart for the occasional rumble of the Skytrain. I’ve never seen it too crowded either — you can always find a peaceful spot, even at busier times.
Also worth mentioning is the community center… It’s very new and has a gym, sports courts and some fantastic courses/​activities going on. I’ve been to a few spin classes that were great and reasonably priced at around $ 6 a session.
So it turns out that whatever went wrong with Trout Lake Park sometime in the past has definitely been put right. When it’s sunny, I come here several times a week, whether it’s to read a book, chill with friends or just go for a run. I feel very lucky this park is right on my doorstep!

The great thing about living in Vancouver is being surprised, and discovering nice trails, parks and get aways. This park is beautiful boasting a rec centre, gorgeous lake, beach, and playground.
We held a gathering here and it was beautiful, You can see the mountains, and the lake view is stunning. One of the cleanest parks I’ve seen in terms of the lack of trash and geese poop.
Great for walking, being with your pets, swimming, rec facilities, playing with kids, or just chilling this park provides it all.
The beautiful views also make it a wonderful drawing spot.
The only thing bad I can say though is we saw a man in the park get so mad he flipped an entire table. Yes, he flipped over a whole picnic table onto the ground. Dear Sir, please take some anger management courses for the sake of those enjoying this peaceful park.

John Hendry Park and Trout Lake are two thing that usually doesn’t belong in a city. A big park with a brand new Community Center. A big lake with ducks, crows, gulls, cutthroat and rainbow trouts. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY??? And all of that with two beaches. One for dogs, one for the people.
What more can you ask, after a hard day’s work (or not), to go there for a walk, look at the north shore mountains, with their snowy peaks in July, breathing fresh air as there’s no major roads right beside it. Nobody smokes in your face (for the most part, but we all know that once in a while, one of those people will be smoking on the platform and leave the cigarette’s butt on the ground). There’s a lot of space for picnic, there’s trails for bikes, some more for walkers, joggers, lovers. This place is amazing for an inner city park.
One thing beside the smokers bothering other people with their poison, is the dog owners that don’t understand what a «on-​leash» park means. There is of course an «off-​leash» section, so your little friend can run free and happily ever after, but that other section, you know that one which is the WHOLE rest of the park is ON-​LEASH. Respect it. Some people have a phobia of dogs and you not respecting the rules can make those people very uncomfortable. I’m not afraid of dogs but when you’re having a picnic and a dog comes running at you at face height while laying on the ground, or better, your kids face height, you always wonder if you are still in presence of a well behaved dog or a freaking monster off-​leash.

The duck poop only contaminates the lake when too many people feed the ducks food they can’t digest such as BREAD! Birds can’t digest processed cooked grains — it wreaks havoc on their system more so than junk food does to us. Folks, don’t feed the ducks and the lake will stay clean.
This is an awesome lake to just hang out at or to stroll or jog around. I have spent at least one day a week here with friends for years now.
We are super excited that the Luminaries festival is returning to this park this year too! It never should have left this location. That was a tragic mistake.
Trout lake is a perfect easily accessible oasis in the midst of the city.

My girlfriend and me we love this place.
Cause we are living around in this area we enjoy this park a lot.
It is so beautiful to walk around or just relax on the water during a sunny day!
It is great to have such little nice and green places in such a big city.

My boyfriend and I have been cycling to this park during the summer months as it’s gorgeous! We take 10^th avenue as it’s a cycling route, is a quiet cycle to and from.
There’s a bike track alllllll the way round the lake, and on Saturday, a farmers market. I can quite happily sit here for hours, staring at the lake. Watch out for wet dogs though (I have been sprayed with mud many times!).

John Hendry park is almost perfect. It’s central, it’s close to transit, and it’s beautiful.
If the lake wasn’t disgusting it would have it all! But I don’t come here to swim so the 5 stars will stay that way.
My favourite thing about Trout Lake is the various docks scattered around the edge, in between all the trees. They’re great for sitting and hanging out with friends, picnics, late night star-​gazing, or sharing a bottle of wine.
I find myself on these docks a lot during summer nights. The mosquito level is fairly low, I don’t think I’ve ever been bitten here.
If you aren’t into dock-​sitting, there are plenty of grassy areas, a sandy beach, an off-​leash dog area and many trails to walk around or jog along.
The washrooms are a horrifying experience, I recommend having a friend cover you and using some bushes.

Trout Lake is located at John Hendry Park. I was drawn to this urban lake because it was stocked with rainbow trout and that was over 20 years ago. In those days, Trout Lake was extremely popular with swimmers and fisherman. The water was safe enough for swimming!
The beach has been a no-​go zone for over a decade. Sadly, the lake is very polluted with animal poop from a variety of species and it’s often black coloured. Currently, the lake is a danger zone and there is a yellow tape around the beach.
As for John Hendry Park, it’s a wonderful place for walkers, joggers, cyclist due to the well-​maintained paths which circles around the lake. There are different varieties of large trees which provides shade for hot sunny days. There is a lot of green space for playing soccer and there are five baseball diamonds too. There are basketball and tennis courts too.

Okay first off, it has a lake. That right there is an instant 4 stars. Seriously, inner city park with a lake. Sold.
Secondly it’s a ten minute walk from my house. Okay, there’s an elementary school playground a four minute walk from my house… but you know what the elementary school doesn’t have? A lake.
That’s right. Lakes matter.
You want to know what else matters? Running trails. You know what Trout Lake has? Running trails.
But wait, there’s more Trout Lake has a skating rink! Yep that’s right. This little park here benefited from the Olympics a lot more than I did. It got a rink upgrade. I got a shitty plush toy… but I digress.
Trout Lake also has my favourite farmers market. You know what you can do at Trout Lake on Saturdays? You can go to the farmers market, get lunch and then sit on the grass. Or by the lake.
This park has fields. Trees. A playground. Okay it doesn’t have a bike polo court… for that you have to go to Grandview. But Grandview doesn’t have a lake.
This is my favourite park in Vancouver. Sure QE is gorgeous, sure the Endowment Lands are lovely but Trout Lake is my favourite.

YEAHHHH NATURE!!! Nature was off the freaking hook today, the ducks: UNSTOPPABLE. So many different kind of ducks, the green headed ones and their drab companions were all there, but also these little black ones with white beaks that make a «meep meep» noise and then a flock of little black and white ones with fancy head-​dresses, and a few randoms just milling around, eating seeds and making their funny duck noises that make them sound like the belligerent elderly.
And bald eagles. There were two bald eagles hanging out in one of the trees.
This is a great spot for picnics, a lovely place to lounge with a book, and very bike friendly. There is a covered barbecue area you can rent out if so inclined as well. I drink wine here like the bottle-​swigging wino I am pretty much all the time and it seems pretty relaxed. Often the summers here are polluted with the insipid drone of bongo-​wielding jerks who thinks for some reason that other people want to hear that trash, but if you’re from Vancouver and like me you have acquired a superhuman ability to mentally block all forms of bongo. Sometimes there are people with nice instruments that play which is a fabulous and much appreciated departure.
And there are so many dogs who are all THRILLED to be off their leashes! So cute! Most people are considerate enough to pick up after their dogs as well which is nice, though beware of the garbage cans particularly in the summer. Innocently throwing away your picnic trash in an entire bin of dog crap without holding your breath at least a little can result in an olfactory assault you will cry about in your sleep.
The lake itself is really quite dirty, although lovely to look at. I have no idea why, but sometimes people DO swim here. I certainly wouldn’t.
I love this place for all the dirty, man-​made city sludgy gorgeous mess that it is.

As winter is fast approaching this park is about to turn into a mud dogs paradise! Those with fancy foot wear stick to the paths. I wish they would get to fixing the off leash dog dock — and does any one now if they are still testing for water quality or are the parks folk just too lazy to take the signs down now that summer swimming season is over?

On sunny days we like to come to Trout Lake with the little poochie and play fetch. There are usually lots of other dogs playing off-​leash in the park, so even if you don’t have a best friend to bring, its still really fun to dog watch. Unlike a lot of the dog parks in the city, this one has a small lake so that the bigger dogs can dive in after their toys and swim to get them, just make sure they don’t shake the water off near you when they get out. I really like this park because in the summer you can also curl up with a good book under the giant willow trees and just relax.
On the opposite side of the off-​leash dog park is a family oriented side, with picnic tables and swings so you can have a family BBQ and the kids can wade in the water in a hot day.

Sitting by the water it’s easy to forget that you’re a few steps from the Drive. It’s really peaceful, and draws a lot of people on a dry day. Even on cloudy days expect to see people here enjoying time with their friends, family, and pets.
It’s a great place to people watch, often artists come and set up here. It’s a great place to just wander around.