Christopherson Steps

Christopherson Steps is the kind of small, stubborn coastal park that belongs to the neighborhood more than the guidebook. A wide wooden staircase carves the bluff down to a narrow, sandy cove; benches are placed where people pause to catch their breath and watch the sun sink into the Strait of Georgia. Locals slip here after dinner for a slow walk, folding chairs in tow, or for a quick set of stairs to keep fit. The route threads over the old rail line by a metal bridge and opens onto tide pools and rock shelves that reward a low-tide poke around. There’s little in the way of amenities or parking, which keeps the crowd local and the mood unpretentious. For visitors from farther afield it’s a secretive, postcard-perfect sunset perch; for residents it’s a daily ritual and a connector to Crescent Beach to the north. Bring sensible shoes and stay for the light.