Capilano Suspension Bridge

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a 140-meter footbridge made of wire cable that crosses the Capilano River in a forested valley near North Vancouver. It hangs 70 meters above the water and sways gently as visitors walk across the wooden planks.

George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer, built the first bridge in 1889 using hemp ropes and cedar planks to connect his properties. The current steel structure was installed in 1956, replacing earlier timber and wire rope versions.

The park displays the largest private collection of First Nations totem poles since 1935, telling indigenous stories through carved cedar. Visitors can read the meaning of each figure on panels mounted beside the upright logs.

Access is through a privately operated site that requires an admission ticket, and a free shuttle runs from downtown Vancouver. The bridge may close during high winds, and sturdy footwear is recommended as the planks can become slippery in rain.

Psychologists conducted experiments on the bridge in 1974, studying how physical responses to height affected human attraction and decision-making. The study used the natural nervousness of crossing to measure emotions in a real-world setting.

Location: North Vancouver

Official opening: 1889

Length: 140 m

Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible

Address: 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver, BC V7R 4J1

Phone: +16049857474

Website: https://capbridge.com

GPS coordinates: 49.34280,-123.11200

Latest update: December 11, 2025 20:36