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Stanley Park itself is very nice and serene, but the totem poles are very underwhelming and faded. Even the signs and history cards were faded and hard to read. Also beware of parking! Like most people said, you only need less than 10 minutes here, but pay for the parking because we thought we'd make a quick dash and within minutes we found ourselves with a parking ticket! It was past 6pm but they seem to be just waiting around catching people off guard!
This display of nine totem poles is a tribute to the First Nations people of Canada. They are impressive specimens especially when you consider the elements of British Columbia weather that they have endured. Some are recent. Some are 100 years old. All are amazing to view and appreciate. And you should keep in mind that as recently as 1935, there were indigenous people living in what is now Stanley park. The plaque reads, "INDIAN TOTEM POLES The totem was the British Columbia Indian's 'coat of arms.' Totem poles are unique to the North West coast of B.C. and lower Alaska. They were carved from western red cedar and each carving tells of a real or mythical event. They were not idols, nor were they worshipped. Each carving on each pole has a meaning. The eagle represents the kingdom of the air. The whale, the lordship of the sea. The wolf, the genius of the land. And the frog, the transitional link between land and sea." Each pole also has a caption with an explanation of its artwork and significance. The totems are easily photographable and thankfully, behind a low gate to keep people from touching or damaging them. And while we have the expression "low man on the totem pole" that typically means someone is junior or lowest rank, that's the opposite of reality. The lowest person on the pole is the most visible and most prestigious person on the pole because these are the representations that are seen at eye level. [Review 20877 overall - 54 in British Columbia - 1861 of 2023.]
"I've just seen a face I can't forget the time or place" (The Beatles) I just read that this Stanley Park collection of Totem Poles representing the indigenous nations, is the most visited tourist attraction in Vancouver. They are spread out in three Park locations - at the Welcome Gateways, by the Miniature Train entrance, and further along the Miniature train route. The park started buying up some of the totems in the 1920's. In 1962 they were moved here to Stanley Park. They poles were carved from western cedar, Each carving tells the story of a mythical or real life event. If you study the poles carefully, you'll see an eagle (representing the kingdom of the air, a whale (representing the power of the sea) a wolf, (representing the power of land), and a frog, representing the eternal link between land and sea. I like the way so many of Vancouver's public monuments honor the past of their indigenous peoples.
Stanley Park's Totem Poles at Brockton Point are a mesmerizing tribute to BC's First Nations culture. Getting there is a breeze - by car (via Stanley Park Drive), a leisurely walk or bike ride along the Seawall, or a bus ride to Stanley Park Bus Loop. Excitingly, there's no admission fee! These lively totem poles, replicas from the 1980s, share tales of animals and mythical creatures. It is a cultural treasure in Vancouver that provides an enriching experience without any cost. For those eager to dive deeper into history, the UBC Museum of Anthropology offers more insights. Enjoy your visit! Getting to Brockton Point in Stanley Park Brockton Point is in the northeast of Stanley Park, between Coal Harbour and Burrard Inlet. By Car: Enter Stanley Park from Georgia Street. Take 1st right onto Stanley Park Drive. Drive 3-5 minutes, spot green fields on your left. Walking/Bicycling: Start at Vancouver Rowing Club. Walk east along Seawall for 15 min (walk) or 10 min (bike). By Bus: From Stanley Park Bus Loop, go east past Vancouver Aquarium. Trails behind the aquarium lead to Brockton Point. Walk north/south to Seawall, then east to Brockton Point. Parking: Available at Totem Poles, Brockton Point Lighthouse, and Brockton Oval. Parking details here.
Stanley Park was one of the top free attractions to take advantage of while in Vancouver and we heard about the Totem Poles from a few different people! The park is really convenient to drive through and see a lot. The Totem Poles are a bit further into the park, but there is parking nearby so you can get out and take a look. I had to Google the history on them to understand their purpose, but they are pretty cool! Each one has their own design and it made for a great photo opportunity. Would be a fun place to bring kids to as well!
If you are into Native American culture and history and happen to be in Stanley Park then a quick visit here is a must. As we spent a day in Vancouver after our Alaskan cruise it was a beautiful sunny day to visit this massive park. On the web we saw there were totem poles here so we set out to explore. The park itself really needs more clear signage along the way to point out the directions here but we eventually found them. Just follow the sea wall. The totem poles were pretty cool. Not too many overall so you won't need to spend that much time here. Different in heights, meanings, colors, and carvings. Some plaques explaining what they mean. Of course, there is a gift shop in sight to spend your money at! Bonus perk is that there are public bathrooms here too!
If you haven't seen the Totem Poles in Stanley Park, you really haven't been to Stanley Park. Found on the Park's eastern peninsula (Brockton Point), overlooking the Burrard Inlet and North Vancouver, the Stanley Park Totem Poles are beautiful carvings from the BC First Nations people. If you are unaware of what Totem Poles are, they are essentially Coats of Arms for BCFNs and the Pacific Northwest Native Americans. As with most Totem Poles, these are carved from local red cedar trees. Each carving on each pole represents the natural world of the region: The eagle represents the kingdom of the air, the whale is the "lordship of the sea," the wolf is the "genius of the land," and the frog is the transitional link between land and sea. History aside, the are simply gorgeous carvings. Another great thing is it's an ever-changing place: From its original days at Lumberman's Arch almost 100 years ago to its move to Brockton Point in the 1960s, to more recent additions of the Skedans Mortuary Pole and another pole from Robert Yelton of the Squamish Nation. You never know ... more new carvings and I'll have to review it again. Yelp, can I borrow a sixth star?
I've been here twice now. The totems are definitely a sight, standing tall along the loop of Stanley Park. They're worth pausing your walk or ride and checking out! My friend loves the totems. I enjoyed them, but they're not my favorite thing in the park. In addition to the totems themselves, there's a gift shop with a lot of art and souvenirs related to them. There are also washrooms here, so it's a good pit stop on you way around the park. Definitely worth a visit if it's your first time!
6/3/26 Conveniently located and fun to experience! Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen a totem pole.. I enjoyed reading the history behind each totem pole and what they represented.. Bathrooms are clean and available.. read more
A beautiful stop along the Coal Harbour waterfront. The Totem Poles offer a glimpse into the rich Indigenous history and culture of the Pacific Northwest while providing a picturesque backdrop of Vancouver's harbor, mountains, and skyline. The area is clean, easy to access, and perfect for a leisurely walk or a quick photo opportunity. We enjoyed reading about the significance of the carvings and taking in the peaceful atmosphere along the seawall. Worth a stop if you're exploring Coal Harbour or walking between Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver. read more
12 days ago
Stanley Park itself is very nice and serene, but the totem poles are very underwhelming and faded. Even the signs and history cards were faded and hard to read. Also beware of parking! Like most people said, you only need less than 10 minutes here, but pay for the parking because we thought we'd make a quick dash and within minutes we found ourselves with a parking ticket! It was past 6pm but they seem to be just waiting around catching people off guard! read more
1 year ago
Very cool exhibit. And a neat little gift shop. Prices were good too. I am a little sick of the pay for parking everywhere in the city but otherwise this is a must see for a little 10 minute break read more
This display of nine totem poles is a tribute to the First Nations people of Canada. They are impressive specimens especially when you consider the elements of British Columbia weather that they have endured. Some are recent. Some are 100 years old. All are amazing to view and appreciate. And you should keep in mind that as recently as 1935, there were indigenous people living in what is now Stanley park. The plaque reads, "INDIAN TOTEM POLES The totem was the British Columbia Indian's 'coat of arms.' Totem poles are unique to the North West coast of B.C. and lower Alaska. They were carved from western red cedar and each carving tells of a real or mythical event. They were not idols, nor were they worshipped. Each carving on each pole has a meaning. The eagle represents the kingdom of the air. The whale, the lordship of the sea. The wolf, the genius of the land. And the frog, the transitional link between land and sea." Each pole also has a caption with an explanation of its artwork and significance. The totems are easily photographable and thankfully, behind a low gate to keep people from touching or damaging them. And while we have the expression "low man on the totem pole" that typically means someone is junior or lowest rank, that's the opposite of reality. The lowest person on the pole is the most visible and most prestigious person on the pole because these are the representations that are seen at eye level. [Review 20877 overall - 54 in British Columbia - 1861 of 2023.] read more
"I've just seen a face I can't forget the time or place" (The Beatles) I just read that this Stanley Park collection of Totem Poles representing the indigenous nations, is the most visited tourist attraction in Vancouver. They are spread out in three Park locations - at the Welcome Gateways, by the Miniature Train entrance, and further along the Miniature train route. The park started buying up some of the totems in the 1920's. In 1962 they were moved here to Stanley Park. They poles were carved from western cedar, Each carving tells the story of a mythical or real life event. If you study the poles carefully, you'll see an eagle (representing the kingdom of the air, a whale (representing the power of the sea) a wolf, (representing the power of land), and a frog, representing the eternal link between land and sea. I like the way so many of Vancouver's public monuments honor the past of their indigenous peoples. read more
1 year ago
Not far off the path in Stanley Park in Vancouver, these 7 totems are protected by a small gulch. Each has a small sign explaining it's significance, though the signs are badly faded from sun damage. It has a constant flow of visitors as they walk the trails, exploring the park. read more
2 years ago
Stanley Park's Totem Poles at Brockton Point are a mesmerizing tribute to BC's First Nations culture. Getting there is a breeze - by car (via Stanley Park Drive), a leisurely walk or bike ride along the Seawall, or a bus ride to Stanley Park Bus Loop. Excitingly, there's no admission fee! These lively totem poles, replicas from the 1980s, share tales of animals and mythical creatures. It is a cultural treasure in Vancouver that provides an enriching experience without any cost. For those eager to dive deeper into history, the UBC Museum of Anthropology offers more insights. Enjoy your visit! Getting to Brockton Point in Stanley Park Brockton Point is in the northeast of Stanley Park, between Coal Harbour and Burrard Inlet. By Car: Enter Stanley Park from Georgia Street. Take 1st right onto Stanley Park Drive. Drive 3-5 minutes, spot green fields on your left. Walking/Bicycling: Start at Vancouver Rowing Club. Walk east along Seawall for 15 min (walk) or 10 min (bike). By Bus: From Stanley Park Bus Loop, go east past Vancouver Aquarium. Trails behind the aquarium lead to Brockton Point. Walk north/south to Seawall, then east to Brockton Point. Parking: Available at Totem Poles, Brockton Point Lighthouse, and Brockton Oval. Parking details here. read more
Stanley Park was one of the top free attractions to take advantage of while in Vancouver and we heard about the Totem Poles from a few different people! The park is really convenient to drive through and see a lot. The Totem Poles are a bit further into the park, but there is parking nearby so you can get out and take a look. I had to Google the history on them to understand their purpose, but they are pretty cool! Each one has their own design and it made for a great photo opportunity. Would be a fun place to bring kids to as well! read more
If you are into Native American culture and history and happen to be in Stanley Park then a quick visit here is a must. As we spent a day in Vancouver after our Alaskan cruise it was a beautiful sunny day to visit this massive park. On the web we saw there were totem poles here so we set out to explore. The park itself really needs more clear signage along the way to point out the directions here but we eventually found them. Just follow the sea wall. The totem poles were pretty cool. Not too many overall so you won't need to spend that much time here. Different in heights, meanings, colors, and carvings. Some plaques explaining what they mean. Of course, there is a gift shop in sight to spend your money at! Bonus perk is that there are public bathrooms here too! read more
2 years ago
If you haven't seen the Totem Poles in Stanley Park, you really haven't been to Stanley Park. Found on the Park's eastern peninsula (Brockton Point), overlooking the Burrard Inlet and North Vancouver, the Stanley Park Totem Poles are beautiful carvings from the BC First Nations people. If you are unaware of what Totem Poles are, they are essentially Coats of Arms for BCFNs and the Pacific Northwest Native Americans. As with most Totem Poles, these are carved from local red cedar trees. Each carving on each pole represents the natural world of the region: The eagle represents the kingdom of the air, the whale is the "lordship of the sea," the wolf is the "genius of the land," and the frog is the transitional link between land and sea. History aside, the are simply gorgeous carvings. Another great thing is it's an ever-changing place: From its original days at Lumberman's Arch almost 100 years ago to its move to Brockton Point in the 1960s, to more recent additions of the Skedans Mortuary Pole and another pole from Robert Yelton of the Squamish Nation. You never know ... more new carvings and I'll have to review it again. Yelp, can I borrow a sixth star? read more
6 years ago
A short pit stop if you're in Stanley Park! Beautiful totems nestled inside the park. The gift shop and I think cafe were closed due to covid but still worth stopping by to read the displays and take a quick picture! read more
7 years ago
I've been here twice now. The totems are definitely a sight, standing tall along the loop of Stanley Park. They're worth pausing your walk or ride and checking out! My friend loves the totems. I enjoyed them, but they're not my favorite thing in the park. In addition to the totems themselves, there's a gift shop with a lot of art and souvenirs related to them. There are also washrooms here, so it's a good pit stop on you way around the park. Definitely worth a visit if it's your first time! read more
I think everyone should just visit all of Stanley Park period. We heard so much about it but didn't have time to explore the entire park. Luckily our tour did include a stop at the Totem Poles. We were able to see the totem poles and a portion of Stanley Park. I kept wondering why all the travel sites and locals kept mentioning this park. Once you see it you'll understand why it's a must to put on your itinerary. Stanley Park from a distance looks like one giant lush green forest of trees. Once you are there though, you have a breath taking views of the city along the sea wall. Then you have these incredible totem poles carved by hand. Wish we had more time to explore here, but we were able to snap some great photos. These totem poles are just gigantic and beautiful. Of course there is a souvenir shop next to it as well. We only had about 20 minutes here, we took in as much as we could. If we had more time here, we would have spent the day exploring. read more
A must see for any Vancouver tourist. Parking is available in the nice long lot along the Seawall. However, it's not free. Best to just go in there and walk around while someone guards the car. There's also a gift store here and washrooms. The poles are neat to look at, and one can learn a thing or two if one reads the signs. read more
This is one of BC's most visited tourist spots and it's quite a spectacular setting to showcase them. From my understanding, some where moved and not all are original here to create this visually beautiful collection. Now they're held on the eastern side of Stanley Park for all to admire. From reading the plaques, it seems some of the originals are from the 1800s! The site is quite majestic as it opens up to a clearing that proudly displays the totem. There seems to be a lot of bus tours coming through so it's quite hard to get a clear shot of everything or trying to easily maneuver but it isn't so bad when it is during the weekday. The totems themselves show such a great depth of respect of their history and nature around them. It's worthwhile to see it once ... not only admire it from an artistic point of view but also see it from the history of the first Canadians. read more
7 years ago
Visiting Canada for the first time. There was a lot of sightseeing and exploring to do here. One our days here was visiting Stanley Park and seeing the Totem Poles. There were a lot of the and each one was different in height and carving. One was square which I had never seen before. The park was beautiful and would be a perfect place for a picnic and bike riding. Hopefully I can visit again in the future. read more
8 years ago
If you bike, walk, or rollerblade around Stanley Park, you'll have the opportunity to check out its dedicated totem pole area. They pay tribute to the original settlers aka the First Nations. It resides on the Northeastern tip of the island and the park has clear signs that indicate where to go. (You can also drive there, I believe, too.) The totem polls themselves stand three to four stories tall, and each part of the poll reflects a mythical creative/ God dear to the First Nations. I love the combo of orange, turquoise, yellow, and white. Worth seeing once! read more
Stanley Park is huge and there is a lot to explore. I had some time before dinner so I took a short walk to Totem Poles. If you don't want to walk, there is a parking lot that is closer. These totem poles are tall and the detail on them are very cool. In this area, there is also a gift shop and public bathrooms. read more
If your doing any hop on hop off bus/trolley tour, I recommend this stop. These Totem Poles are pretty cool and they have great photo ops here as well as in the area. I do appreciate the culture and how well it's displayed in the area. They say the totem poles symbolize their culture, legends and mythology. Standley Park has tons to do so make sure seeing the totem poles are added to your agenda. read more
8 years ago
Great park to go to & the totem display was so cool! It's in Stanley Park & there a small parking lot. We went off season, during the rainy season & early in the morning. We had the place all to ourselves & it was great because there's no one in our pictures. read more
There are several totem poles, some recreations, some original. They are mostly set up in one area, with a few other installations spread out among the area. The signage has explanations and additional pictures. We enjoyed this bit of culture. A nice visit. Pretty views from this part of SP. It's also incredibly easy to get to from the highway. Worth a visit! read more
The totem poles in Stanley Park are really interesting. I can't say that I knew much about totem poles before coming here, but each totem pole has its own story, and every level of the pole has a specific meaning. I thought it was a very interesting part of the park, and definitely worth checking out while you're there. read more
Totem Pole Park is a collection of totem poles that various native artisans have created over the years and have been brought here for display in Stanley Park. Each of the totem poles are well cared for as their colors and forms are completely intact and brightly shown. It isn't a large part of the park, but it is one worth the visit. You could spend as little or as much time as you want here and walk away with a better understanding of the different symbolism used in totem poles. It is quite a beautiful concept. Nearby is a gift shop that is also worth looking into as they sell a variety of native tribe crafted items and the people are very knowledgeable and willing to share that knowledge of the symbolism and meaning of various animals in art. read more
9 years ago
The First Nations built some amazing totem poles to represent their culture. Huge in stature and colorful to the eyes, they are a sight to behold. The totems symbolize their culture, mythology, and Legends. Check it out of you are in Stanley Park. read more
8 years ago
8 years ago
Lovely totem poles from the aboriginal with a history. Beautiful designs and colours with detailed and great skills. Nice photo spots by the rocks and a souvenir store. read more
8 years ago
Very fun experience! Lots of history and culture here. We didn't have a lot of time to explore but just the photo opportunity here was fun. We actually stopped while on the horse drawn tour. In my opinion the 5 minutes we spent was plenty. Enough to snap a picture and keep going. read more
6 years ago
A great place to bring the family and learn the history of the totem poles. It's an incredibly peaceful and tranquil park filled with tons of history and wilderness. Truly a great place to bring young kids to experience nature. read more
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Totem Poles - localflavor - Updated June 2026
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