How long is the butterfly route in Vancouver?

The butterfly covers 11.0 km with 148 m of ascent and 147 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 75 minutes plus stops.

Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?

Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, climb figures and kilometre splits on this page are free to view; the interactive elevation profile is part of the subscription too.

How accurate is the drawing?

The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 2.2 km east to west and 1.8 km north to south across Vancouver.

Where does the route start?

The start point is at 49.24234, -123.17577 — roughly 4.2 km west of the centre of Vancouver. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.

Canada › Vancouver › GPS art route

Butterfly GPS Art Running Route in Vancouver — 11.0 km

A 11.0 km loop through Vancouver that draws a butterfly when you upload it to Strava. The line follows public streets and paths, climbs 148 m in total, and covers a footprint about 2.2 km wide by 1.8 km tall.

Navigate it in the app

Distance11.0 km

Elevation gain148 m

Elevation loss147 m

Estimated time75 min

DifficultyChallenging

Average gradient1.4%

Route map and elevation

Elevation profile

Loading elevation…

Along the line: 148 m of ascent and 147 m of descent across 11.0 km, an average gradient of 1.4%.

Start point: 49.24234, -123.17577 — about 4.2 km west of the centre of Vancouver. It is a closed loop, so any point on the line works as a start.

Kilometre by kilometre

Split	Heading	Elevation change	Range
km 1	Runs east-south-east	+1 m	68–78 m
km 2	Runs east-south-east	-2 m	71–78 m
km 3	Runs north-east	-31 m	42–74 m
km 4	Runs south-east	+42 m	43–85 m
km 5	Runs south-south-west	+3 m	77–95 m
km 6	Runs south-south-west	-20 m	68–90 m
km 7	Runs west-north-west	-8 m	58–68 m
km 8	Runs south-west	-15 m	45–60 m
km 9	Runs north-west	-3 m	32–46 m
km 10	Runs north	+26 m	38–68 m
km 11	Runs north-north-west	+7 m	68–77 m

Turn-by-turn outline

The 24 direction changes below are the ones that define the drawing. Hitting them accurately matters more than pace — the shape only reads well if the corners are sharp.

0.04 km — turn right, then continue east.
0.44 km — turn right, then continue south.
0.56 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
0.71 km — turn right, then continue south.
0.97 km — turn left, then continue east.
1.14 km — turn right, then continue south-east.
1.26 km — turn left, then continue east.
1.47 km — turn right, then continue south-east.
1.68 km — turn left, then continue south-east.
1.88 km — turn left, then continue north-east.
2.09 km — turn right, then continue east-north-east.
2.41 km — turn right, then continue east.
2.58 km — turn left, then continue north-east.
2.92 km — turn right, then continue east.
3.05 km — turn right, then continue east-south-east.
3.17 km — turn sharp right, then continue south-east.
3.32 km — turn left, then continue east.
3.60 km — turn right, then continue south-east.
4.30 km — turn right, then continue west.
4.61 km — turn left, then continue south-west.
4.77 km — turn left, then continue east.
4.97 km — turn right, then continue south.
5.09 km — turn right, then continue south-south-west.
5.28 km — turn right, then continue west.

Difficulty and terrain

Challenging. About 14 m of climb per kilometre. Rolling terrain that rewards steady effort rather than even pacing.

Surface: Urban roads, park paths, and mixed city surfaces.

Safety: Check traffic flow, sidewalks, and route lighting before your run.

Best months: Year-round, based on local weather and race calendar.

How to run this shape

Download the GPX file with your subscription and load it onto your watch, or open it in the ShapeMiles app.
Start anywhere on the loop — beginning near a landmark makes the finish easier to find.
Keep GPS recording continuous. Pausing mid-run leaves straight lines that cut across the drawing.
Follow the corners precisely; short detours are what blur the shape.
Upload to Strava and the butterfly appears on your activity map.

Questions about this route

How long is the butterfly route in Vancouver?: The butterfly covers 11.0 km with 148 m of ascent and 147 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 75 minutes plus stops.
Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?: Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, climb figures and kilometre splits on this page are free to view; the interactive elevation profile is part of the subscription too.
How accurate is the drawing?: The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 2.2 km east to west and 1.8 km north to south across Vancouver.
Where does the route start?: The start point is at 49.24234, -123.17577 — roughly 4.2 km west of the centre of Vancouver. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.