Things to do in Vancouver B.C.: Capilano Suspension Bridge

A stroll though colorful tree shaded gardens takes you to the canyon edge. You step onto swaying planks and there you are, 230 feet above the floor of Capilano Canyon. Your pulse quickens. Your hand finds the cool steel cable and you breathe in the cedar scented rainforest air. Each step creates a gentle wave on the bridge surface. You start across the 450 foot span. Somewhere, around the midpoint, you will be compelled to pause and marvel at the view. Clear water rushes far below, streams cascade down the canyon walls, gravity defying trees cling to vertical rosk. You climb the gently sloping bridge to its far side and step into a forest of cedar, Douglas fir and hemlock. There are giants here. Trees that began their climb toward the sky before Europeans set foot on North American shores.

Following the winding paths and elevated timber from boardwalks to the Treetops Adventure. It will take you high above the forest floor for a squirrel-eye view of a thriving coastal rainforest. This 650 foot long rainforest canopy walk is made up of a series of cable bridges suspended between platforms that reach as high as 12 stories and take you from the forest floor to the upper branches and from deep in the forest to the edge of the canyon and back again. It is a unique encounter with the heart of the forest.

The original Capilano Suspension Bridge was built by George Grant Mackay in 1889 to access prime forest lands that he purchased and protected from logging. The bridge was originally suspended on hemp rope. Today's bridge uses 2 foot steel cables capable of supporting 2 fully loaded 747 airplanes.

Millions of people have visited the bridge since it opened. And you can too if you pay the almost $30 admission charge.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is on Capilano Road, which is also the road you take to get to Grouse Mountain. So it is possible to do both in one day. The bridge is about 5-10 minutes away from the Grouse Mountain Tram which takes you to the top of the mountain.

If you take any tour of the things to do in Vancouver from any of the tour companies, it will almost always include a stop at the Capilano Suspension Bridge. If you go on your own, be ready to see plenty of tour buses and tourists while you are there.

Go on a slow day and you can have the bridge almost to yourself. If you are afraid of heights you might not want to look down. The bridge does sway a little as you cross.