Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Capilano Suspension Bridge
A 137-meter suspension bridge spanning the Capilano River gorge 70 meters above the water, plus a treetop walkway and cliff trail. Walking among giant old-growth trees is a classic North Shore experience.
Capilano Suspension Bridge is in the Capilano River gorge in North Vancouver. A Scottish engineer first built it in 1889 using hemp rope and cedar planks. The current steel-cable bridge is 137 meters long and 70 meters above the river, and it sways slightly as people walk across. It is the oldest and most famous paid attraction in Vancouver. After crossing, you enter the Treetops Adventure on the forest side. Seven small suspension bridges link platforms built among Douglas firs up to 250 years old, with the highest about 30 meters above the ground. Back on the east side of the gorge, the Cliffwalk is suspended on the granite cliff face, with sections of glass floor and curved platforms that jut out for views down into the valley. The park also includes a totem pole park with carvings from the 1930s, rainforest ecology talks, the Living Forest exhibit, and the Cliff House restaurant. Adult admission is about CAD 75–80 including tax. Buying online in advance is slightly cheaper, and the price is the same during the winter Canyon Lights event. Free shuttle buses run all year from downtown locations such as Canada Place and the Hyatt Hotel, taking about 20 minutes. From mid-November to late January, during Canyon Lights, the trees and bridge are hung with hundreds of thousands of lights, and the park stays open until 9 p.m. An alternative nearby is Lynn Canyon, which has a free 50-meter suspension bridge and a waterfall pool. It is smaller but more local, and reachable by bus. Combined itinerary: after two hours at Capilano, take the No. 236 bus for 10 minutes to continue up Grouse Mountain, making a full North Shore day. Alternatively, join a half-day tour that includes both. Getting there: take the SeaBus from downtown to Lonsdale Quay, then the No. 236 bus (about 30 minutes), or use the free shuttle. Parking costs about CAD 8. The rainforest is wet, so wear non-slip shoes and bring a raincoat. If you are afraid of heights, hold the cables on both sides and walk slowly across the bridge. On weekend afternoons between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in peak season, the bridge is crowded.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–17:00 (extended to 19:00 in summer; to 21:00 in winter light festival season; check the official website)
Nearby sights
- Lions Gate Bridge
- Lonsdale Quay
- Vancouver Aquarium
- Stanley Park
- Canada Place & Vancouver Harbour
- Grouse Mountain
- Vancouver Lookout (Harbour Centre)
- Gastown