What to expect at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
The park in the order you will walk it
The entrance and the Story Centre. Photographs, murals and artefacts from 1889 onward, which take 10 to 15 minutes and are worth doing first because everything else makes more sense afterwards. The bridge was built in 1889 by George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer and Vancouver park commissioner, out of hemp rope with a cedar plank deck. It was rebuilt in wire cable in 1903 and rebuilt again from scratch in 1956.
The Suspension Bridge. 137 m across, 70 m above the river. It moves under you, more so when it is full. Allow 5 to 15 minutes, and expect to stop in the middle even if you did not plan to. If you are nervous, read this first.
Treetops Adventure. Opened in May 2004. Seven suspended footbridges strung between old-growth Douglas firs, on platforms up to 33 m above the forest floor. Allow 15 to 20 minutes. This is the section people underestimate and then rate highest.
The Living Forest exhibit. 10 to 20 minutes on what actually grows in a coastal temperate rainforest, and the part of the park I used to work in.
The Cliffwalk. Opened in June 2011. A cantilevered walkway 213 m long, pinned to the granite and standing up to about 30 storeys above the canyon. Allow 15 to 30 minutes. It is narrower than the bridge and it does not sway, which unnerves some people more.
Kia’palano and the totem poles. The park’s Pacific Northwest Indigenous culture exhibit, named for the Squamish word Kia’palano that the river and the park take their name from. The totem poles were added by “Mac” MacEachran, who owned the park from 1935.
Raptors Ridge. Falcons, owls and other birds of prey, seasonally from late May to September. Allow 15 to 30 minutes. Dogs are welcome in the park on a lead but not in here when the birds are out.
The Cliff House Restaurant. All the dining is inside the park and the Cliff House takes no reservations, so it is first come, first served — details on the food page.
The free guided talks
They run through the year and the schedule is posted at the entrance. They are included in the ticket, nobody upsells them at you, and they are the reason the CAD $76.95 buys more than a bridge crossing. I spent four summers giving them, so treat that as a biased opinion held honestly.
Walk the loop in order rather than heading straight for the bridge. The Story Centre takes ten minutes and turns the rest of the park from a set of structures into a sequence that makes sense.
Practical notes
- The Suspension Bridge, Treetops Adventure and Cliffwalk are not wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair users get complimentary admission to the accessible areas.
- Dogs are welcome if they are leashed and under control.
- You can bring small snacks and water in.
- The park is open every day except 25 December — seasonal hours are here.
Frequently asked questions
How high and how long is the Capilano Suspension Bridge?
It is 137 m / 450 ft long and hangs 70 m / 230 ft above the Capilano River. Crossing takes between 5 and 15 minutes. The bridge was first built in 1889 from hemp rope with a cedar plank deck, rebuilt with wire cable in 1903, and completely rebuilt in 1956.
How many bridges are there at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park?
Eight crossings in total: the main Suspension Bridge plus the seven suspended footbridges of Treetops Adventure, which sit on platforms up to 33 m above the forest floor. The Cliffwalk is a 213 m cantilevered walkway rather than a bridge. Full ticket inclusions here.
Are there guided tours inside the park?
Free guided talks run through the year and are included with admission, with the schedule posted at the entrance. The GetYourGuide park ticket is otherwise self-guided; the coach tours on the tours page add a live guide for the whole day.
Is Capilano Suspension Bridge Park wheelchair accessible?
Partly. The Suspension Bridge, Treetops Adventure and the Cliffwalk are not wheelchair accessible, and wheelchair users receive complimentary admission to the accessible areas such as the restaurants and shops. Anyone weighing that up should think hard before booking.