Capilano Suspension Bridge
Trek through the treetops at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park where you can cross the forest on a narrow 137-metre long suspended walkway, a test of nerves 70 metres above the rushing waters of the Capilano River.
Built by Scottish civil engineer George Grant Mackay in 1889, the first bridge here was made of hemp ropes with a cedar plank deck, granting rickety access to this forestland. Since then, the bridge had been completely rebuilt using steel cables strong enough to hold the weight of around 1300 people.
The park also features Treetops Adventure, a web of walkways built around the mid-section of 1300-year old Douglas firs, offering visitors a squirrel's eye view of the magnificent trees from as high as 30 metres above the forest floor. Its newest attraction, Cliffwalk, snakes around a granite cliff, taking you on a nerve-tingling journey through rainforest vegetation while your eyes feast on aerial views of the canyon below. Peer at the tops of trees just centimetres below your feet through glass panels built into the walkway floor at some of the highest elevations.
When you've had your fill of jaw-dropping views from the top, climb back down for the park's other interesting ground-based activities. Take a guided tour through the rainforest, or discover more about the indigenous people and their connection with the region at the First Nations Cultural Center. Adding a colourful history to Capilano is the Totem Park, featuring a collection of story poles dating back to the 1930s when Mac MacEachran invited local First Nations to place their story poles there. The poles have been well-maintained in their original condition ever since.
There’s plenty of parking at Capilano Park, while a free shuttle services many hotels and locations throughout Vancouver.