Peace Arch Park
Park overview
Peace Arch Park is unique in the BC Parks system. Its formal lawns and gardens straddle the 49th parallel, so planning and development are managed in partnership with Washington State Parks.
The Peace Arch itself, dedicated in 1921, was the first such structure in the world. It was built on the international boundary between Canada and the United States to commemorate the lasting peace between the two countries. School children from both countries donated money for the purchase of the land surrounding the Peace Arch and, in 1939, the Canadian portion of Peace Arch Park was officially dedicated.
The park provides opportunities for walking as well as indoor and outdoor picnicking.
Advisories
Dates of operation
Open to public access April 1, 2023 to October 31, 2023
Current status:Open to public access
- Facility type
- Picnic areas
- Number of campsites
- Groupsites: 1
- Main operating season dates
- 2023: April 1 to October 31
- 2024: April 1 to October 31
- Reservable dates
- 2023: April 1 to October 30
- 2024: April 1 to October 30
Safety info
Steep bluffs and cliffs border the edge of the picnic grounds. Please use caution. Be careful crossing the road.
Special notes
- Heritage Hall is available for day-use reservations by the public through the BC Parks reservation service.
- This park is on the Canada-US Border. You may be asked to provide identification and immigration information by officers of the Canada Border Services Agency or the US Customs and Border Protection.
- The parking lot for Peace Arch Park is situated on Semiahmoo First Nation land. BC Parks subleases the parking lot from Semiahmoo for public use.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
Peace Arch Park has a day-use and picnicking area with 37 picnic tables. There is a large grassy area right next to the picnic area, and wheelchair-accessible flush toilets are available. There is no locked gate.
Heritage Hall rentals
Heritage Hall is available for day-use reservations between April 1 and October 31, annually. Reservations can be made though the BC Parks reservation service. The hall contains a kitchen and has an occupancy of 150 people. The reservation fee of $200 per group includes the use of tables and chairs.
Flush toilets are available at this park.
Cold-water taps are located throughout the park. Taps are shut off during the off-season.
Activities
Pets must be leashed at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.
Maps and location
Peace Arch Park is about 40km south of Vancouver, on the international boundary at the Douglas Border Crossing. This is at the junction of Highway 99 in British Columbia and Interstate 5 in Washington State.
Park and activity maps
Any maps provided on this page are for information only. They may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: November 7, 1939
- Size: 9 hectares
Park contact
This park is operated by Peace Park Management Ltd.
Nature and culture
History
The Peace Arch is the world’s first monument to peace. Sam Hill, a prominent American businessman, conceived the idea of the Arch. Mr. Hill laid a hollow cornerstone within which he placed a hammered steel box made from the steel of a captured slave ship. Inside the box, he placed pieces of the Beaver and the Mayflower. The Arch was fitted with two iron gates, left open to symbolize peace between Canada and the United States. Peace Arch was dedicated in 1921. The lands around the Arch were gathered through donations and fundraising efforts. Two decades later, on November 7, 1939, the Peace Arch and surrounding lands on the Canadian side became Peace Arch Park.
Conservation
This park features the historical Peace Arch with its engravings “Children of a Common Mother”, on the Washington side, and “Brethren Dwelling Together in Unity”, on the British Columbia side. Among other things, the park offers broad lawns, public areas, a lily pond, and a flower garden in the shape of the Canadian flag. Flowers, trees, and shrubs are part of the park’s natural heritage. Please do not damage or remove them.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.