Queen's Park Loop

Markus enjoying the shade under a gazebo at the gardens at Queen’s Park in New Westminster

About Queen's Park Loop

Length: 1.9km
Traffic: High
Route Type: Loop

In the heart of New Westminster, British Columbia, Queen's Park stands as a true gem, captivating locals and visitors alike with its vibrant community spirit. This urban park is a cherished destination, offering a perfect blend of natural tranquility, recreational opportunities and historical significance.

Markus walking along the trail at Queen’s Park in New Westminster

When we entered Queen's Park through the parking lot, we were struck by the lush greenery and towering trees that create a serene ambiance throughout the park. The well-maintained pathways invite you to embark on a leisurely stroll, allowing you to immerse yourself in the peaceful surroundings. The park's spaciousness provides ample room for visitors to engage in various activities, from picnicking on the grassy lawns to engaging in sports or simply finding a quiet spot to unwind.

One of the park's highlights is the picturesque spray park, especially popular during the warm summer months. Children's laughter fills the air as they delight in the interactive water features, cooling off and having endless fun. As we ventured deeper into Queen's Park, we discovered the Queen's Park Arena, a historic landmark that has been a centre of community engagement for decades. This iconic venue has hosted numerous events, from ice hockey games to cultural celebrations and continues to serve as a gathering place for locals to come together and enjoy a wide range of activities.

Markus enjoying the calmness cutting through the gardens at Queen’s Park in New Westminster

The park's rich history is further showcased in its charming heritage gardens. The Century Gardens, meticulously curated with vibrant flowers and plants, pay homage to the city's past while adding a touch of natural beauty to the park. The Rose Garden, in particular, is a sight to behold, with its stunning array of blossoms and captivating fragrances that fill the air.

For our walk with Markus, we followed the loop that encompasses the entire park, which took about 25 minutes to complete. The loop took us to the edges of the park, cutting through the trees, passing by the spray park, the arena and the gardens. While the playground and the spray park was extremely busy with children, their parents and dogs, the gardens and pathways by the arena were less so. The trails around the park were fairly busy as well with pedestrians and their dogs.

Our Recommendation for Reactive Dogs

While Queen's Park offers a multitude of attractions and recreational opportunities, we would exercise caution when visiting with reactive dogs. The park tends to be quite busy, particularly during peak times, which can be overwhelming for dogs with reactive tendencies.

Markus prefers the quieter areas near the gardens at Queen’s Park in New Westminster

During our visit to Queen's Park, we noticed that not all dogs were leashed and we had to detour to avoid them, which can be concerning for those with reactive dogs. If you still wanted to visit Queen's Park, we'd recommend checking out the gardens and the pathways next to the arena or the opposite end where the trees and trails are. Most of the traffic is localized towards the centre of the park where the playgrounds, spray park, picnic tables and cafeteria are, so we found the surrounding trails to be quieter. However, be aware that the trails end up cutting through the busy areas.

What we liked about the park

This park has everything including trails, playgrounds, a spray park, a garden, arenas and so much more.
Even though it was busy, there's a lot for dogs to discover on the trails and even the gardens, although be mindful about your dog walking through the well-maintained gardens and flowerbeds.