Â鶹APP

Capilano Suspension Bridge. Photo by Markus Saynevirta on

Top 1o Amazing Facts about Capilano suspension bridge

The Capilano Bridge is located in the district of North Vancouver in a relatively hilly area.

The bridge is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vancouver, British Columbia, and it attracts over 1.2 million visitors annually from all over the world.

Apart from the bridge, there are many other things to see and do during your visit to the park. The two most exciting features of this park is adventure treetops and cliff walk.

When you visit, a free tour is given about nature, culture, and history are presented in unique and thrilling ways with tour guides providing knowledgeable information. Discover more about the bridge in these top 10 facts.

1. It was named after the river it crosses

Photo by Tal Atlas on

The bridge crosses a significant river in the Vancouver area known as the Capilano river. The river flows through the coast mountains between west and north Vancouver.

The river supplies the city’s metropolitan with drinking water. The Cleveland Dam stands 299 feet high.

The Cleveland dam was built to provide a reservoir for providing drinking water in the early 1950s.

The final part of the river releases water into Burrard inlet, and the water flows through steep canyons. This is where the Capilano bridge was built.

2. A Scottish Engineer designed the original bridge

The original version of the bridge was designed by a Scottish civil engineer named George Grant Mackay in 1889.

The history of the Capilano suspension bridge dates way back to the 19th century and was located at the exact location of the current bridge.

The original version was made of hemp rope, and cedarwood planks served as the deck. In 1903 the original bridge was replaced with the first version of wire cable and changed hands a couple of times in the following decades.

The Capilano suspension bridge dates back to the year 1956. A local female entrepreneur, Nancy Stibbard, who had multiple entertainment facilities in the area, bought the bridge in 1983.

3. The bridge is a popular attraction site

Photo by alyssa BLACK on

The bridge is the main attraction of a park called Capilano bridge suspension park, a tourist place with multiple attraction features.

The two most exciting features of this park, apart from the bridge, are; treetops adventures which allow you to walk on top of the forest canopy across seven footbridges suspended between old-growth Douglas fir trees.

The Cliff walk is also another exciting feature. It’s a collection of bridges, stairs, and platforms attached to 16 anchor points in the cliff near the Capilano River. The park has attractive trees like 157 western red cedar and 144 western Hemlock.

4. Capilano bridge length

Capilano bridge is not that huge, it’s only 140 meters, and it crosses from one cliff to the other.

The bridge is situated about 230 feet below the deck, making it attractive. The bridge is the only pedestrian bridge and always has been.

5. Capilano is from the first national word Kia’palano

When you enter the park, you will come across an exhibit written by Kia’plano, which discusses the history of placing totem poles at Capilano suspension bridge park.
The exhibit teaches that Capilano came from the first national word Kia’palano meaning beautiful river.

Kia’palano was the name of a Squamish chief from the Squamish nation who lived in the region in the early 1800s. Over time Kia’palano was anglicized to Capilano.

The local first nation was invited to place their totems in the park in 1935. Today visitors walk through the Kia’plano exhibit to view the totems and admire the craftmanship in treating them.

6. Vancouver’s oldest paid visitors’ attraction

Capilano Suspension Bridge. Photo outsourced from

The Capilano suspension bridge has had visitors since 1889. When it was first built, it was on Capilano 3735 road in north Vancouver.

It was built from hemp ropes and wooden planks and rebuilt in 1956, the version seen today.

In 1903, it only cost 10 cents to cross the bridge, but today it’s more expensive. It remains worth the cost of admission to tour it.

7. The flooring of the cliff walk is transparent

Photo by Go ToVAN on 

One can also stroll on the cliff walk. The cliff walk is one of the park’s most unique and thrilling features.

The cliff walk is a series of narrow paths that are suspended on a granite cliff face high above the Capilano River.

The floor is made of thick transparent glass on some walk stretches, revealing the valley floor below. This gives fantastic views.

8. Capilano suspension bridge canyon lights

Canyon lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge. Photo by Go ToVan-

The bridge has hundred of thousands of lights illuminating the bridge and its surrounding. Every day from 4 pm and 9 pm, the canyon light transforms the bridge into a winter light wonderland.

The festive bridge cliff walks, treetops adventure, and rainforest excite with the brightest colors and high expectation of something magical.

The light above and below the bridge makes the 250-year-old Douglas fir tree earn fame as the tallest Christmas tree in the world.

9. The bridge has had many changes

The history of the bridge is fascinating because it changed hands over multiple times. The Capilano suspension bridge was completed in 1903 and was bought by Edward Mahon (1862- 1937), an England-born entrepreneur and real estate developer.

Edward later sold the bridge to “Mac” MacEachron, during this time when native Americans placed totem poles inside the park.

In 1945 the bridge was sold to Henri Aubeneau, who later sold it to 5Rae Mitchell in 1953. Rael Mitchell renovated the bridge in 5 days by encasing the cables in 13 tonnes of concrete on both sides.

The current owner of the bridge, Nacy Stibbard, is Rael Mitchel’s daughter, meaning she bought the bridge from the father.

10. Capilano suspension bridge can hold 96 grown elephants

The bridge was constructed so well that it can withstand the weight of 96 elephants. The bridge sways and bounces, but it can hold far more people than can fit on it.