təmtəmíxʷtən (Belcarra Regional Park)

Explore səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) cultural sites and stories

səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)

TsuKwalton (Jonas Jones) · Belcarra Regional Park, Belcarra, BC

səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) · Gateway site · Two welcome poles within the park

You are entering the home territory of the səlilwətaɬ people. They have been here since before these waters had a different name.

The Place

Belcarra Regional Park sits at the head of the Burrard Inlet — the traditional territory of the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation, the People of the Inlet. The Tsleil-Waututh name for this place is təmtəmíxʷtən, and it carries meaning far older than the park boundaries drawn around it.

This is where two extraordinary welcome poles carved by TsuKwalton (Jonas Jones) now stand — the Serpent Slayer (Stop 2) and its companion at Cates Park, the Return of the Orca (Stop 4). Installed in 2023 as part of a Tsleil-Waututh cultural resurgence, they return Nation-approved storytelling to the landscape where those stories were first lived.

The park itself is the threshold. The poles are the welcome. Open the Trail app at the park entrance and let it guide you to both.

Know Before You Go

Belcarra Regional Park is a Metro Vancouver regional park — free to enter, open year-round. The park encompasses beaches, forest trails, and picnic areas along the shores of Burrard Inlet. Use the Trail app to navigate to the welcome poles within the park.

Best time to visit: Spring through autumn for the most accessible trails and the best light on the water. The park is busy on summer weekends — weekday visits are significantly quieter.

Plan for the full North Shore cluster: The Serpent Slayer (Stop 2) and Return of the Orca at Cates Park (Stop 4) are companion works by the same carver. Allow a half-day to visit all three sites in this cluster.

Getting There

By Transit — SeaBus from Waterfront Station downtown to Lonsdale Quay — 12 minutes across the Burrard Inlet. From Lonsdale Quay, connect east by bus toward Deep Cove, Maplewood, or Phibbs Exchange depending on your stop. Allow 35–60 minutes from downtown.

By Vehicle — Cross the Second Narrows Bridge (Highway 1) or Lions Gate Bridge and follow signs toward the North Shore. Most Trail sites on the North Shore are 20–40 minutes from downtown Vancouver by vehicle.

By Bike — The North Shore Spirit Trail cycling path connects Lonsdale Quay to the Maplewood and Deep Cove corridor.

From the VCC: SeaBus from Waterfront Station — 12 minutes to Lonsdale Quay. The crossing travels through the traditional waters of the səlilwətaɬ people.

From YVR: Canada Line to Waterfront Station, then SeaBus. Approximately 40 minutes to Lonsdale Quay.