Our Guide to the Capilano Suspension Bridge

One of the best things to see while you’re in Vancouver BC is to walk the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge. The pedestrian bridge is a whopping 450 feet long, making it one of the longest pedestrian bridges in Canada. The bridge is suspended 230 feet above the Capilano River. The bridge isn’t walkable from downtown Vancouver, but it’s nearby and definitely worth visiting. I’ve visited the park numerous times over the course of my life, and I always look forward to visiting again! In addition to the bridge, there’s a lot of cool attractions. I particularly like the cliff walk and treetop adventure.

In this guide, I’m sharing my best tips for visiting! I share lots of photos of the bridge and park, and I also include a full list of things to do near Capilano Suspension Bridge! 

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Tickets

First, we recommend booking tickets in advance! This is a popular attraction, so you’ll want to make sure you have your tickets for your preferred date.

You can book your tickets to Capilano Suspension Bridge on Viator. You can also book through the official Capilano Suspension Bridge website. 

A single-day admission ticket provides unlimited access to all attractions, including the Suspension Bridge, Treetops Adventure, and Cliffwalk. When booking through the official website, BC residents can enjoy a complimentary Annual Pass with the purchase of a regular admission ticket.

6 Things to Do During Your Visit

1. Walk the Suspension Bridge

The highlight of the park is, of course, the suspension bridge. At 450 feet long, you have a nice long walk across the river. Feel free to stop and look at the river below. If you’re feeling nervous, just remember that the cable bridge is strong enough to hold a 747 fully-loaded airliner! I’m not afraid of heights, so I didn’t find this bridge scary to cross. However, if you are afraid of heights, I definitely think it’s worth walking across so that you can see the attractions on the other side of the river. As a mom, I just recommend that you carefully watch your children.

You might be wondering how I got these photos with limited people on the bridge. The best time go for photos is either right when the park opens or at the end of the day near sunset when the park closes. During the middle of the day, there’s tons of people on the bridge, so it’ll be much more difficult to get a high-quality shot.

We’d recommend that you go toward the end of the day when the park starts to clear out. The lighting will be better and you’ll be more likely to get a photo without people on the bridge. The early morning also works, but you’ll have to be quick to beat the other people waiting in line.

Tip: Visitors are allowed to stay in the park up to an hour after the posted closing time. If you stay late, you are likely to get some great photos!

When we last visited, we went to the park in the late morning. We still managed to get a photo or two without lots of people, but we had to be really patient. 

If you have small children, keep a close eye on them. The bridge itself has wire fencing on each of the sides. The park advises that if you have a toddler or baby with you, make sure they are kept below the level of the railing or carried in a baby-carrier. Do not run on the bridge or intentionally shake it. There are no strollers, wheelchairs, or crutches allowed on the bridge itself. 

2. Walk the Cliffwalk

One of our favorite parts about the park was the Cliffwalk! The Cliffwalk consists of suspended walkways along a granite cliff face high above the river. You’ll walk through rainforest vegetation and you’ll see the suspension bridge from a whole new angle. 

3. Experience the Treetops Adventure

Go for a walk in the forest canopy! The Treetops Adventure is a series of seven suspension bridges that are attached to eight gigantic Douglas-Fir trees. (The trees are approximately 250 years old!) Don’t worry, though, the trees were not damaged when creating this treetop experience. They used an innovative system of tree collars that can be adjusted over time as the trees continue to grow. Thus, there are no nails or bolts in the trees themselves! The bridges and viewing platforms are fully fenced and safe for families. We really enjoyed walking through the forest canopy. It was a unique experience! 

4. Check Out the Story Centre

The Story Centre is filled with artifacts and antiques that speak to Vancouver’s early history.

5. View the Totem Poles

Learn about the local indigenous cultures as you see the story poles. The park is located on the traditional territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation. In the mid-1930s, one of the park owners invited local native people to bring totem poles to the park. Since then, it has become the largest selection of privately owned totem poles in the world.

6. Learn About the Rainforest

The Living Forest is a self-guided interpretive trail along the forest floor. Signs placed throughout the walk will teach you about the forest floor, the trees, and the canopy above. Some of the trees in the rainforest are 1,500 years old!

Bonus: Check Out a Seasonal Event!

If you’re visiting during the holiday season, definitely book tickets to Canyon Lights. The whole park is lit up with string lights and it’s quite the experience!

During February, you can also check out Love Lights! With pink and red lights strewn throughout the park, there are plenty of backdrops for the perfect photo with your love.

 

Directions & Parking

 

Capilano Suspension Bridge is located about 15 minutes north of Vancouver BC. If you’re staying in downtown Vancouver, you’ll most likely drive right through Stanley Park on the way to the bridge, so it’s convenient to combine both activities in one day.

There is a paid parking lot located at the park. There is limited RV parking, although the park cannot accommodate Class A vehicles. You are not allowed to park overnight.

If you don’t want to drive, there is a free shuttle that can pick you up from several different locations in downtown Vancouver. The shuttle is free and you don’t need to make a reservation, but you do need to show proof that you purchased a park ticket. Pets are not allowed on the shuttle. 

You can also bike to the park or take public transportation. 

Regarding parking, there is a pay lot near the entrance to the park. It was $8.00 for three hours the last time we checked the price. Parking meters accept credit cards only. For cash or debit payments, purchase parking from the ticket agents at the main entrance, providing your vehicle’s license plate number. You can also use the PayByPhone app. During peak periods, if the main lot is full, you may be directed to overflow parking locations

Dining Options

There are several dining options within the park. Each of the restaurants focuses on locally-sourced ingredients, and the park participates in the Ocean Wise Seafood Program.

The Cliffhouse Restaurant is open from 11am to 5pm. The restaurant overlooks the canyon and they also have patio dining. The restaurant was named for the first Cliffhouse that was built on the edge of the canyon in 1889. The Cliffhouse Restaurant menu consists of craft beers, clam chowder, burgers, salmon, and much more. (They also serve mini donuts for dessert with chantily cream and maple syrup!)

Loggers’ Grill is open from 11:00am to 6:30pm. This is a quick service counter featuring things like burgers and hot dogs. (Beyond Meat options available here as well.)

The Bridgehouse Cafe is located across the street from the main entrance. The cafe sells coffee, espresso, baked goods, and sandwiches.

The Cabin is located on the other side of the suspension bridge. Once you cross the bridge, feel free to treat yourself to a beverage, hot chocolate, or some baked goods. Be sure to try their signature Beaver Balls. When you order the Beaver Balls, you’ll receive a cup full of mini pancakes that are drizzled with Canadian maple syrup and sprinkled with sugar.

Note: Outside food and drinks are not permitted within the park.

We recommend bringing a portable cell phone charger with you. That way, you don’t have to worry about running out of battery and you can take lots of pictures!

Nearby Restaurants

If you’re looking for restaurants near Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, we recommend looking for restaurants in West Vancouver. Here are a few suggestions:

• Beach House Restaurant ($$$): This restaurant has views of the water and an extensive menu including seafood towers and platters. 
• Mangia E Bevi Ristorante ($$$): This restaurant has traditional Italian courses.
• Zen Japanese Restaurant ($$$): This restaurant serves sushi, nigeri, sashimi, and more. 
• Wooden Fish ($$): This restaurant serves modern Vietnamese cuisine. 

See our full guide to the best places to eat in Vancouver! (We also recommend checking out Granville Island Public Market!)

Other Activities

If you have young children, they might enjoy the Kids’ Rainforest Explorers Program. This is a self-guided program which is essentially a scavenger hunt of the surrounding forest. Kids will learn all about the rainforest as they conduct their “research”, and they can get a prize when exiting after they have completed the program.

During the winter, the park hosts Canyon Lights. The suspension bridge and the surrounding park glows with stringed lights. The entire forest becomes a winter wonderland with the tallest Christmas trees you have ever seen! Along the Cliffwalk they also add a light tunnel called the “Arc de Lumina”, perfect for your Instagram account!

Looking for a place to stay near the Capilano Suspension Bridge? We recommend that you look into the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver. This hotel has a rooftop hot tub with views of Vancouver and lots of dining options. We stayed there during our last trip to Vancouver, and the views from our room were absolutely spectacular! 

Interesting Facts

The Capilano Suspension Bridge was first built in 1889 with hemp ropes and cedar planks by a civil engineer. In 1903, it was upgraded to a wire bridge. It was rebuilt again in 1956.

Currently 1.2 million tourists visit the park each year. The name Capilano comes from the First Nation’s word Kia’palano, which means beautiful river. (Aptly named, right!?)

The bridge has been featured in a number of media productions. You can see it in shows like MacGyver and Psych. I even learned about the bridge when it was featured in a famous social psychological experiment! The experiment was conducted by Dutton and Aron and was published in 1974. (I’m linking the scientific article that features the bridge if you’re interested!) If you’re a nerd like me, you might enjoy going to the bridge and thinking about this famous study!

Things to Do Near Capilano Suspension Bridge

There are so many fun things to do in Vancouver BC! We’ve written a complete weekend itinerary for Vancouver if you’d like to see our full list.

We definitely recommend visiting Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium, and the Chinese Garden!

Nearby the park there is also the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, which is only about a 13-minute drive by car. Lynn Canyon has its own suspension bridge. If you’re looking for a less-busy alternative, definitely check out Lynn Canyon! The suspension bridge is free to access (suggested donation of $2 per person) and is less touristy. However, there aren’t as many attractions or amenities. 

The Capilano Salmon Hatchery is also a free experience that’s located about a 5-minutes’ drive away from Capilano Suspension Bridge. There’s an interpretive center and a self-guided tour.

Summary

Visiting the suspension bridge is one of our favorite things to do in Vancouver BC. Whenever we take guests to Vancouver, we always make room for Capilano in our itinerary. We would recommend spending two to three hours experiencing all of the attractions. You may wish to stay longer if you dine at the park. We hope this post was helpful in planning your visit!

Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.