• Originally built in 1889, Capilano Suspension Bridge stretches 450 feet across and 230 feet above the Capilano River.

  • The newest of the activities at the park, Cliffwalk offers a cliffside journey taking you through rainforest vegetation on a series of unobtrusive cantilevered and suspended walkways jutting out from the granite cliff face above Capilano River.

  • With only 16 anchor points in the cliff supporting the structure, Cliffwalk is both environmentally sensitive and adrenaline-pumping.

  • Treetops Adventure takes you 110 feet above the forest floor for a walk through a thriving coastal rainforest amidst 1300-year-old old growth Douglas-firs.

  • The bridge was originally built in 1889 by George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer and park commissioner for Vancouver.

  • Capilano is a First Nations name belonging to the Squamish Nation, originally spelled Kia’palano, meaning “beautiful river”. The word has become the namesake of the popular bridge and park as well as the river and surrounding area.

  • Cliffwalk follows a granite precipice along Capilano River with a labyrinth-like series of narrow cantilevered bridges, stairs and platforms.

  • Located on site, Raptors Ridge allows you to interact and learn about featured birds of prey.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

A view to a thrill.

Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver’s oldest attraction, marks its 125th birthday this year. Originally built in 1889 by Scottish civil engineer and city park commissioner George Grant Mackay,  the bridge was initially constructed of strung hemp rope and cedar planks so that Mackay would have access to the west side of his property (Mackay owned 6,000 acres of land on either side of Capilano River).

Completely rebuilt in 1956, the 450-foot-long pedestrian bridge floats 230 feet above the Capilano River and continues to thrill, attracting 800,000 visitors annually. The swaying overpass isn’t the only adrenaline-pumping attraction to stun day trippers—in some areas along the park’s Treetop Adventure and breathtaking Cliffwalk, glass is all that separates you from the canyon floor below.

See more by Joshua McVeity.

Categories:

Tags:

Post Date:

May 27, 2014