Capilano Suspension Bridge

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a simple suspension bridge crossing the Capilano River in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The current bridge is 136 metres (446 ft) long and 70 metres (230 ft) above the river. It is part of a private facility, with a charge for admission, and draws over 800,000 visitors a year.

History

The bridge was originally built by George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer and park commissioner for Vancouver. It was originally made of hemp ropes with a deck of cedar planks, and was replaced with a wire cable bridge in 1903. In 1910 Edward Mahon purchased the Capilano Suspension Bridge. "Mac" MacEachran purchased the Bridge from Mahon in 1935 and invited local natives to place their totem poles in the park, adding a native theme. In 1945, he sold the bridge to Henri Aubeneau.

The bridge was completely rebuilt again in 1956.

The park was sold to Nancy Stibbard, the current owner, in 1983. Annual attendance has since increased, and in May 2004, Treetops Adventures was opened. This new attraction consists of seven footbridges suspended between old-growth Douglas Fir trees on the west side of the canyon, forming a walkway up to 30 metres (98 ft) above the forest floor.

Other park features

As well as the bridge itself and Treetops Adventure, the park also features rain forest ecotours, award-winning gardens, nature trails, North America's largest private collection of First Nations totem poles, period decor and costumes, and exhibits highlighting the park's history and the surrounding temperate rain forest. Guests can also witness a First Nations performance, featuring their traditional Regalia (ceremonial dress), masks, dancing and storytelling.

Incidents

In 1999, a woman dropped her 18-month-old, disabled child off the bridge. She claimed she stumbled accidentally and the child slipped from her grasp. The child was not seriously injured. The woman lost legal custody of her child as a result of the incident. The woman took legal action against the owner of the bridge, alleging negligence by the owner. The case was settled out of court.

In 2006, a 300 year old, 46 ton Douglas fir tree toppled during a heavy snow storm. The tree fell across the western end of the bridge. Park officials closed the bridge temporarily while repairs were performed.

Popular culture

The bridge has been featured as a setting in episodes of several television series, including MacGyver, Sliders, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, and Psych.

See also

  • Capilano River
  • Capilano River Regional Park
  • Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

References

  • North Shore News September 27, 1999
  • Gut Rumbles August 26, 2004
  • Woman who dropped baby on bridge ends lawsuit - By: N.A.. Record, The (Kitchener/Cambridge/Waterloo, ON), 11/03/2004; (AN Q4K036229702804)</div>

External links

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Tips & Hints
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Kevin Klos
10 December 2014
Very cool suspension bridge in a rain forest! Also, cliff walk, tree top tour. Free ponchos if it rains. Educational! Worth admission price! Holiday lights display around Xmas too.:) Do it!
Gaston Motola Acuna
26 September 2017
Awesome suspension bridge, my first time.walking in one of these babies. If you're afraid of heights beware, if you're not be ready to laugh your ass off to those who are. Great experience.
Richard Lillis
13 August 2015
They offer a discount for the late afternoon(check website). This is perfect because the crowds start to reduce around 6pm and it's so much more pleasant to walk the bridge with a few people.
Michael Rizzato
14 April 2017
I absolutely loved it. It's a fun way to spend few hours in the nature. Beside the bridge there are few other activities you can do such as the tree top walk and cliff one. Strongly recommend it
Connie Chiu
30 June 2018
Great park! The suspension bridge is cool but it gets crowded with tourists. I like the various trails around the park, like the cliff walk and the treetop adventure. Free shuttle from Canada place.
Tian Fang
21 December 2017
Bring your student ID for a discount. If you live in BC you can get an annual pass with the cost of a single entry.
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Map
Capilano Suspension Bridge, West Vancouver, BC V7S 1J5, Canada Get directions
Tue 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Wed 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Thu-Fri 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Sat-Sun 9:00 AM–7:00 PM

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