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Adventures at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

The Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada has come a long way from its humble beginnings over a century ago to one of the province’s most popular attractions. My husband and I were here in the late 1990s and enjoyed it a lot. So, we made sure to take the kids here during our trip to the area last December. It was a totally different experience visiting as parents versus our college student selves.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

The bridge and park has a rich history. In 1888 George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer and land developer purchased this acreage. He built a suspended footbridge made of hemp rope and cedar planks across the canyon a year later. Horses were used to swim the ropes across the river and the ropes were anchored to cedar logs.

The hemp rope bridge was eventually replaced by wire cable bridge in 1903. Over the years, the bridge has gone through different owners. Improvements were made to reinforce the bridge and develop the surrounding area. In 1956, the bridge was rebuilt with reinforced cables and tons of concrete. There’s a Story Centre, with storyboards, photos and memorabilia, near the entrance to learn more about these pioneers that made this place possible.

Capilano Suspension Bridge history

One of the things I remembered about this park was its collection of totem poles. It was nice to see that they were still here with a few more. Apparently, this park has the largest private totem pole collection. It’s always been amazing to see these carved wooden sculptures or story poles and see the intricate details.

Capilano Suspension Bridge totem poles

The First Nations of British Columbia, who are the various indigenous people of Canada, made these poles. It was interesting to try and figure out the stories behind the poles. The First Nations were invited and have placed their poles here since the 1930s. Kia’palano Native Village is the cultural center that offers pole carving demonstrations and stories. Unfortunately, no one was around during our visit which was soon after they opened at 10 AM.

Capilano Supension Bridge Totem Poles

We visited during Christmas weekend and the world’s tallest living Christmas tree just happened to be here. We saw it decked out with lights and would have been a fantastic to see lit up at night.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Christmas tree

Unfortunately, I guess there were enough incidents throughout the years to have this sign around here. It makes you wonder what lengths people have gone through to retrieve belongings down a ravine.

Capilano sign

Of course, the star attraction here is the suspension bridge. The 450 ft (137 m) long, 230 ft (70m) high bridge precariously connects the two land areas over the Capilano River. It does look scary for many seeing it for the first time.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Crossing the bridge isn’t for anyone who suffers from vertigo or fear of heights. It does sway, vibrate and wobble especially in the middle. The drop-off down to the river looked pretty scary. My kids, of course, loved being on this bridge. It’s a bit terrifying but exciting too.

CApilano Suspension Bridge with kids

It was interesting to see many people’s faces as they took their first steps. Some had big smiles but we saw a lot more with nervous and apprehensive expressions. The bridge did get crowded at times since traffic was going in both directions and many people stopped at different points for pictures.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

There was an employee watching who reprimanded visitors who ran or bounced and called them out over the microphone. This was actually a bit of a relief. When we were here before, I remember it being scarier with people running and bouncing and making the experience more nerve-wracking.

It’s worth stopping in the middle of the bridge (despite the feeling of unsteadiness) to look at the beautiful scenery of the forests and the river below.

Capilano River from bridge

We were rewarded with a picturesque coastal temperate rainforest as soon as we crossed the bridge. The Treetops Adventures was one of the things my kids looked forward to here.

Treetop Adventures Capilano

It was a series of seven suspension bridges between platforms around old growth Douglas firs. One was as high as 10 stories. We liked that it was self-guided so we could take our time and enjoy the views from above.

Capilano Treetop Adventures

It was great to see the kids walking around with rainforest explorer clipboards. At the start of the Treetop Adventures was a tree house also known and appropriately named as Dr. Wood’s cabin. Kids (ages 6-12) can pick up materials here to participate in the program and earn a small prize after its completion. We all learned quite a bit about this rainforest and the majestic trees that reside here by answering the questions.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Rainforest Explorer

Nature’s Edge was a series of boardwalks that took us to through the rainforest and in areas overlooking the gorge. It was a beautiful walk through the woods. It was hard to believe this was just outside a metropolis like Vancouver.

Nature's Edge Boardwalk Capilano

We passed by this slug crossing area along the trail. My kids looked hard and long for them but didn’t spot any slugs here.

Capilano Slug crossing

There was even a pond here with all these lanterns and holiday ornaments. I’m sure this would have looked a lot better at night.

Capilano lanterns

I loved all these inspiring quotes about the trees along the boardwalk.

Capilano Natures Edge quotes

It pays to look up once in awhile. One of the other visitors spotted this woodpecker up on the trees. His pecking was quite loud and bark pieces fell on many of us admiring him from below.

Capilano Bridge woodpecker

We saved the park’s newest attraction for last. The Cliffwalk was a marvelous, suspended walkway that jutted out of a granite cliff face and above the Capilano River Canyon. This opened in 2011 and at its highest point was 300 ft (90 m) above the river. The walkway was very narrow with a width of only 20 inches (50 cm).

Capilano Cliffwalk

It wasn’t as scary looking as the bridge. But, it also offered a different viewpoint of the river and canyon along a cliff wall. The owner’s son conceived the Cliffwalk idea. He wanted to share the views he saw while rappelling down this canyon to the visitors too.

Capilano CliffWalk

We spotted this small waterfall from the Cliffwalk’s glass-enclosed viewpoint.

Capilano Waterfall

The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park was a mixture of adventure and learning about culture, nature and this area’s history. We’re glad we spent a few hours to revisit this park with the kids. They really enjoyed their visit and the improvements we saw were worth a trip here. It’s a great family-friendly destination all year.

Tips for Visiting Capilano  Suspension Bridge and Park

  • Tickets (in Canadian dollars as of Feb. 2015): Adults $32.95; Seniors 65+ $30.95; Children (6-12) $12; Children under 6 years old are Free. Show your AAA or CAA card for a 10% discount. Tickets can be purchased online.
  • Parking is across the street at a lot and cost $5 for duration of your visit.
  • Don’t miss the Trading Post gift shop. This structure has been here for over a century. See and sample their various flavors of fudge.
  • Get a map and passport at the entrance. Collect passport stamps at six locations throughout the park (they’re easy to find) and stamp your pasport. Bring to guest services by the exit to get an “I Made it” certificate which made for a cute souvenir for the kids.
  • Free round-trip shuttle services from several locations in downtown Vancouver. See their website for locations and schedule
  • Free history tours are offered at start every hour on the hour. Nature tours depart every 30 minutes on half hour from Rainforest side of the bridge.
  • Check for seasonal events like Raptors Ridge of prey from June to September and Canyon Lights in December.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Have you visited the Capilano Suspension Bridge or a similar one?

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30 thoughts on “Adventures at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park”

    1. Living just to the south in Washington state, I’ve been to BC many times, but have never visited the Capilano Bridge. I definitely will make sure to allow time for this adventure on one my trips there soon. Gorgeous photos!

  1. What an amazing tour of the place, I can imagine being nervous and apprehensive walking on that historic bridge but I totally loved it here, virtually. The totem poles look very creatively done and very intricate – not seen anything like that in India. Thank you for sharing your experience, Mary – loved my tour along with you!

  2. I would absolutely do the every segment of the suspension bridges and that Cliffwalk! Ya know, I just love how your posts take me on a story time break in my day, Mary. I completely escape to everything else and drift off with your writing and accompanying pictures. Thank you for that! I was in Vancouver 20 years ago and LOVED it! It was similar in someways to Seattle and not in others. Great post! :)

  3. When I visited Vancouver, I passed the entrance to this place while going to Grouse Mountain. I had plans to visit Grouse Mountain and the Capilano Bridge in one day but were tired when returning from the Mountain. But we have to return (and we will do it since we loved Vancouver and the surrounding areas) because this place looks too cool to miss.

  4. I’ve passed Capilano Suspension Bridge a couple of times (on the way to Grouse, the same as another commenter) so it’s nice to see what it actually looks like. Having left Vancouver four months ago, this makes me miss the temperate rainforest a lot! Love the idea of the slug crossing. Looks like your kids had great fun!

  5. RamblinLove (@RamblinLove)

    I’m a sucker for bridges! They are so beautiful. I love that this one is through a forest – it reminds me of something out of a novel.

  6. Gulp, I could do this with a lot of help. I’d need someone holding each hand and someone standing both in front and behind me! Otherwise looks great :P

  7. I’ve crossed that bridge and have the certificate to prove it! I think it was also in the late 90s on a trip from the UK – I’m not a great lover of heights, but hey it just had to be done! Fab post #wkendtravelinspiration

  8. Oh I’ve heard of this when my friend went there!! And ever since then I’ve been really wanting to go to Vancouver/BC. It looks so scary but it’s just the sort of thing I’m into (the boyfriend, not so much)! I would, however, be afraid of all the people walking on it at the same time. I’m always scared that more weight will make the bridge collapse!

  9. What a neat find! I just forwarded a link to your post to my sister, who lives in Tacoma and loves going up to Vancouver. You look like awesome parents; I’d have loved to do things like this as a kid :)

  10. What a great place to visit. My biggest fear would be the number of people on the bridge at the same time as me and their urge to make it sway a little more than it would naturally.

  11. Beautiful park, Mary. I’d like to visit it someday, but crossing Capilano Suspension Bridge would be a real challenge for me. Even though the ropes have been replaced with wires, I still would have a hard time setting foot on the bridge. It looks really scary. By the way, your kids look great next to those totem poles.

  12. Hey Mary, what a lush and lovely park with so much to see. The totem poles are remarkable. I’m sure seeing so many of them together is quite an impressive sight. That suspension bridge looks a bit scary but it’d be fun to give it a try.

  13. I love the B.C. totem poles. They really are gorgeous pieces of art. A friend of mine used to live in North Van, and I have stayed with her, but never made it to the bridge. Next time I am in Vancouver I’ll have to make a point of visiting.

  14. Mary, I haven’t done the suspension bridge, but my daughter has and she absolutely loved it! I think every activity should have a learning experience for the kids, so I’m always happy to hear when they do. Thanks again for linking up with Weekend Travel Inspiration!

  15. That entire park looks amazing! Dan and I really enjoy hiking and walking through forests. We used to live near the Appalachian Trail and Great Smoky Mountains National Park and miss the renewal that comes from being in nature. We would really enjoy a day here, complete with suspension bridges and walkways.

  16. The last time I went to Capilano I think I was still in single digits. It definitely has changed in the past 20 odd years! I wouldn’t mind checking out that cliff walk though. Have you been to Lynn Canyon? Not as long, not as scary and free!

  17. That must have been such a cool weekend, what a great place. I love suspension bridges but wow there are some serious high ones in this park but the views – judging from your photos – are totally worth it. I would love to hike around there.

  18. We visited this bridge when my girls were quite young, and I was definitely one of the visitors who looked apprehensive! Heights are not my thing! Sounds like your family had a great time.

  19. Hi Mary, it must have interesting to revisit the park as parents. It definitely looks like a fun family trip. I visited this park maybe about 10 years ago and am embarassed not to remember any of its history so it’s great to re-learn it from you. Oh those endearing totems I remember pretty well; glad they’re still there. Those holiday lanterns and living Christmas tree must have been beuatiful at night.

  20. I loved Capilano, it was amazing. Apart from a bit of a fear of heights- super wobbly but I loved the experience (once back on solid ground!)

  21. This looks amazing! We have a 2 year old and a four year old… Do you think this would be an appropriate place to take them when we travel to Vancouver? Thanks!

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