Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Not for the faint of heart, Capilano Suspension Bridge is located in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The bridge, which was originally constructed in 1889, is one of Vancouver’s top tourists destinations. It hangs 230 feet above the Capilano River and spans a distance of 450 feet.

Crossing it is exhilarating and nerve racking all at the same time! It can also cause a bit of seasickness for those with weaker constitutions. However, the bridge is one of my favorite spots to visit in Vancouver both for the history of the area and for being “out in nature” so close to the city center.

Capilano Suspension Bridge is the focal point of a 27 acre park. Along with the bridge, the park also features a cliff walk, guided nature hikes, a tree top adventure, and a totem park filled with totem poles created by local First Nation tribes. Additionally the park has a restaurant and substantial gift shop.

^{The Cliff Walk}

The Cliff Walk portion of Capilano opened in June, 2011. The walkways follow a granite cliff face and take you on a breathtaking walk far above a waterfall and the Capilano River. Some portions of the trail’s walkways are glass, giving visitors an unobstructed view of the canyon below.

^{Don’t look down!}

^{Is that an Ewok? 😂}

Another one of the park’s stunning attractions is the Tree Top walk. This series of wooden walkways and bridges takes visitors far up into the Douglas Fir trees found throughout the area. The walk includes interpretive signs and a chance to view some local wildlife up close.

^{Happy to be up in the trees.}

One fantastic design element of the walk is that the walkways do not damage the trees. Instead of being bolted into place, the paths and bridges are connected to each Douglas Fir via an innovative collar system. These collars can be adjusted to accommodate the tree’s growth in circumference and height.

^{That is one BIG tree.}

^{Did you know the most significant/important carving on a totem pole is the one at eye level?}

Before reaching any of the park’s vertigo inducing attractions, there is a collection of totem poles. These highlight the coastal culture of the area’s First Nation tribes. Totem poles are found from Oregon up to Alaska. Among other things, totems can be used to share family histories, commemorate special events or to honor special individuals. The totem in the photo above “tells the story of an abandoned blind man saved by a bear who brought him fish to eat.” (Sourced from a plaque at the park.)

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is open every day (rain or shine) excluding Christmas, December 25. During the holiday season the park is open well past dark and is decorated with hundreds of thousands of lights. Well behaved leashed dogs are allowed in the park and British Columbia residents are eligible for park discounts.