Bridges of Vancouver. The longest suspension bridge in the world is Capilano, Canada. Cost of visit and opening hours

Originally built in 1889, Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of the main attractions of Vancouver, Canada. Locals and visitors from around the world enjoy the thrill of crossing the 137-metre oscillating bridge, rising 70 meters above the Capilano River in North Vancouver, British Columbia. The bridge offers a magnificent view of the river and evergreen forest.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park offers visitors a unique combination of adventure, history and culture, making it a must-see attraction when visiting Vancouver. Free mini-tours are held hourly within the park.

Another highlight of the park is the Cliffwalk, a series of suspended walkways jutting out of the cliff above the Capilano River. The Cliffwalk paths are not for the faint of heart: they are tall and narrow, and some even have glass floors. The entire structure is supported by 16 steel cables anchored to the rock. If you're looking for a thrill near Vancouver, this is the place for you.

Among other things, tourists can visit Treetops Adventure - seven suspension bridges attached to eight magnificent 250-year-old fir trees. They pass 30 meters above the forest and allow you, while walking under the treetops, to watch squirrels jumping along the branches.

Every year, for a month, from December to January, the park hosts Canyon Lights light and music shows. Performances start daily at 16:00.

The park is located at 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver. Ticket prices depend on age: starting at $12 per child from 6 to 12 years old, ending at $38 per adult. Children under 6 years old - free.

One of the most recognizable landmarks in British Columbia is without a doubt the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Every year, the unique site is visited by about 900 thousand tourists from North America and other regions of the world. Read about.

The suspension bridge is installed at an altitude of 70 meters above the Capilano River. The structure was completed in 1889 to transport workers from the local sawmill. However, in the mid-20th century, the bridge underwent significant changes, becoming the center of tourist routes.

The extreme trek over the deep canyon is not for the faint of heart. If you, dear reader, do not have the composure of the Squamish Indians, who previously preferred to bungee across the gorge, it is better to refrain from walking across the rickety wooden bridge. The 137-meter-long bridge hardly seems simple. In addition, we should not forget about the squally wind that rocks the crossing. Nevertheless, every year hundreds of thousands of people visit the attraction, from the middle of which they look at the tall pine trees and the raging river below.

Safety is ensured by steel cables designed for loads of up to 90 tons. Having made some simple arithmetic calculations, we can say with confidence that about a thousand people can be on the bridge at the same time. A few kilometers from the bridge is located.

Useful information about the Capilano Suspension Bridge

The cost of admission reaches 32 Canadian dollars, for students - 17, for teenagers - 20, for children - 12. In addition, you can purchase a group family pass for 65 Canadian dollars. For persons with disabilities, entry is absolutely free.

On the territory of the national park there are cafes, restaurants, shops for tourists, as well as equipped observation decks. Admission to all attractions is included in the ticket price. We are talking, in particular, about seven suspension bridges installed at a height of 30 meters in a forest area. From the bridges there is an amazing panorama of the microflora of the forest, as well as the inhabitants of the protected area.

Another attraction is considered to be the Clifuol paths, laid on steep cliffs; some have a clear base.

Every year on Christmas Eve, the park hosts music and light shows called Canyon Light. Over several days in late December and early January, performances begin at 4 p.m. At this time, family Canadians come here and give children an unusual Christmas ambience.

The Capilano Bridge today is an entire entertainment complex, which is visited by more than 900 thousand tourists annually. We invite you to go on a journey with us and find out why it is so famous.

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At the end of the 18th century, Scottish engineer George Grand Mackay acquired 24 square kilometers of land in British Columbia. These places are rich in natural resources, but the most important and profitable of them is forest. Red cedar, Douglas fir, western hemlock - all these trees are very valuable in construction, especially since their height reaches 90-100m.

The local humid climate prevents fires from spreading and creates all the conditions for their full development. McKay began cutting down forest on his property. To make work more comfortable, in 1883 he built a suspension bridge across the canyon that divided the site.

The Scot did not even suspect that such a seemingly simple creation from ordinary boards and hemp ropes would make him famous not only in Vancouver, but throughout the world. The longest in Canada, 136 m, at an altitude of 70 m, the bridge instead of a logging assistant became a magnificent attraction. Its next owner, McEachran, understood this.

Beginning in 1935, household items of local Indians and their totems began to appear in the nearby park. The bridge turned into an open-air panopticon, a city landmark. Since 1983, Nancy Stibbard has been the next owner.

Remembering the Squamish Indian Tribe

Today it is an entire entertainment complex for recreation and entertainment, which is visited by more than 900 thousand tourists annually. And there really is something to see here. A large collection of totems of the Squamish Indian tribe, their utensils, which you can touch with your hands, get acquainted with their living conditions, their creativity.

This tribe had a leader named Joe Capilano. This man, according to his people, knew the language of birds and animals, and knew how to negotiate even with the sky about good weather. In some ways they were right, since Joe visited Ottawa, and even London, to talk with King Edward VII of Canada about the fate of the indigenous population and their rights. He achieved the preservation of the memory of the tribe and perpetuated his name. "Capilano" is the name in Vancouver for a lake, river, highland, road, park, suspension bridge.

Walk on the bridge

Now this bridge plays more of an entertainment role. Walking along it, as they say, “tickles your nerves.” Ropes with boards, of course, have long been replaced with more durable materials. The engineers involved in the repairs calculated the carrying capacity at 100 tons. There is even a joke about 96 elephants that can cross to the other side without fear. But even confidence in the reliability of the structure does not eliminate the influx of adrenaline during the promenade along the surface swaying over the abyss.

The centuries-old pines, the tops of which are nearby, sway in time with the wind, its noise leaves an indelible feeling of the power of nature. The river, deep below, turns stones in turbulent streams, trembling the hearts of travelers who decide to test their courage. Of course, on a calm, fine day it is very beautiful here and, one might say, calm.

It’s good to make a stop, watch the squirrels jumping on the branches, listen to the murmur of water, admire the greenery caressed by the sun’s rays, merge with nature, so to speak, before the next stream of tourists starts moving across the bridge. Again, trembling, swaying, and the “leaving” of the support from under the feet, delighted exclamations and children’s laughter. Before reconstruction, local Indians called the bridge “Laughing” for the sounds it made when it moved from the wind or people walking. He remains so “cheerful” to this day.

Treetops Adventures

In 2004, the park acquired another attraction - Treetops Adventures. These are seven tracks on the west coast, suspended at a height of 30m. Tourists move from tree to tree, looking at samples and models of everything that these lands are rich in. Something like a local history museum, only on the trunks of three-hundred-year-old fir trees. And all around are fascinating pictures of a dense forest from a fairy tale. The role of a “hut on chicken legs” here is played by life-size models of Indian dwellings.

The bravest ones visit the Cliffwalk. This is an unusual path attached directly to the rock of the canyon. Some parts of it are made of transparent material, that is, you can see the abyss under your feet. Such experiences are not for the faint of heart, although they are very interesting. At the end of this path, a surprise awaits brave tourists - a charming waterfall.

There are also many wooden paths along the ground, carefully bending around every trunk encountered along the way. There are many gazebos, places to relax, and observation decks that offer stunning views of pristine nature, preserved for posterity as an example of caring for the ecosystem. Even the souvenir shop and cafe are arranged very harmoniously here.

The park and the Capilano Bridge are closely connected with the history of the conquest of these places by “white people”, the fate of the Squamish tribe and its leader. It is gratifying to see how the echoes of distant times live and delight contemporaries, warming their souls with love for the world around them.

One of the most interesting attractions of North Vancouver, Canada, is the Capilano Suspension Bridge and the natural park of the same name located here. A 137-meter-long suspension bridge connects two opposite banks of the Capilano River at an altitude of about 70 meters.

Construction of the Capilano Bridge began in 1888. It took about a year to build it. The author of the project for the long suspension bridge was the Scottish engineer George Mackay. The structure was simple and consisted of a long row of cedar planks tied with ropes. Connecting the banks of the Capilano River, the suspension bridge provided access to the sawmill built on the western bank.

Over the next few decades, the Capilano Bridge was rebuilt several times. In 1956, it was rebuilt and thoroughly strengthened with steel cables, which, according to the owners of Capilano Park, can withstand more than 90 tons.

In 1935, Indian totem poles were installed in the park. The owner of the park invited local Indians to make them. Capilano Park now houses the largest private collection of Native American totem poles in the world.

As part of the development of the park and attracting new visitors, the Treetops Adventures attraction was built here in 2004. These are seven suspension bridges that connect the Douglas fir trees at a height of about 30 meters and allow for an interesting walk between the treetops.

In 2011, the park added another attraction - Cliff Walk. These are reinforced suspended walkways made of wood and steel that are suspended around a steep slope, just above the tops of the trees. The length of the route is only 230 meters, and the width of the path is just over 50 cm. Some sections of it were made of glass, so not everyone decides to take a walk along Cliff Walk.

The best time to visit the Canadian Capilano Park begins at the end of November and lasts until the beginning of January. At this time, bright New Year's lights are turned on here and a magical Canyon Lights light show is staged. All the suspended paths and bridges of the unusual natural park are covered with colorful lights.

The Oak Street Bridge is located in British Columbia, Canada. It was built in 1957 over the North Fork of the Fraser River and connects the cities of Richmond and Vancouver in the Marpole region.

The bridge is about 350 meters long, has four car lanes, pedestrian and bicycle areas. It is part of Highway 99. The three spans of the bridge are 61, 91 and 61 meters long. Until the late 1960s, motorists had to pay a toll when driving across the bridge. In 1995, the Oak Street Bridge was reconstructed with a median barrier and high curbs to improve its earthquake resistance.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of the most unique attractions in Vancouver, Canada. It is located in an amazingly beautiful area a few tens of minutes drive from the city itself. Capilano, 70 meters long, lies at an altitude of 137 meters exactly above the bed of a rushing river, which is surrounded by dense thickets of magnificent green forests.

The bridge was originally conceived as a way to access the sawmill and at first it was actually used only for this purpose. But in 1956 it was reconstructed, and the bridge became a tourist attraction. In order to decide to stand on a swinging bridge, you need to have a good supply of courage. Even experienced travelers may experience increased heart rate and anxious notes during the trek.

After numerous reconstructions and strengthening, the Capilano Bridge is completely safe and secure. But nevertheless, when there is a strong wind, or there are a lot of people on the bridge, Capilano sways strongly, which adds adrenaline.

Lions Gate Bridge

The Lions Gate Bridge crosses Burrard Inlet and connects Downtown Vancouver with North Vancouver and West Vancouver.

The length of the main span of the structure is 473 meters, the height of the tower is 111 meters. The carrying capacity of the suspension bridge is quite large. About 60-70 thousand vehicles weighing up to 13 tons pass through it every day.

The opening of the building took place in 1938. Directly along the line of the bridge are high mountains nicknamed the Lions. At the entrance to the bridge there are also concrete figures of lions. These are the works of sculptor Charles Marega.

Not long ago, the bridge, which became a kind of symbol of the city, was reconstructed and expanded, which further increased its reliability. In 2005, Lions Gate was added to Canada's list of places of historical significance.

North Arm Bridge

The North Arm Bridge is located in British Columbia, Canada. It was built in 2009 over the North Fork of the Fraser River and connects Bridgeport Station in Richmond and Marine Drive Station in southern Vancouver.

The North Arm railway bridge, which is 562 meters long, is used to carry Canadian Railways trains. The length of the main span of the bridge is 180 meters, the height of the deck reaches 25 meters, and at the highest point - 47 meters. Under one of the wings of the bridge there are pedestrian and bicycle areas. In the middle of the bridge you can see a memorial plaque dedicated to Andrei Slobodyan, who died here in 2008 during construction.

Golden Ears Bridge

The Golden Ears Bridge is located in Vancouver, Canada. It was built between 2006 and 2009 across the Fraser River and connects the urban areas of Langley and Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge. The total length of the bridge with five spans, two of which are on the banks, is 2410 meters. The bridge belongs to TransLink and runs at an altitude of 40 meters above water level.

The Golden Ears Bridge has 6 vehicle lanes, a pedestrian zone and is considered the longest bridge in North America. The bridge is supported by eight pylons located in the river, four of which are 90 meters high. At the top of the bridge, whose name means “golden ears” in English, you can see two gold-colored metal sculptures depicting eagles.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a famous landmark in British Columbia.

This unique structure is visited by more than 900,000 tourists every year. The bridge was built in 1889 and was intended for workers at a local sawmill. However, in the middle of the 20th century, after a complete reconstruction, Capilano was classified as one of the landmarks of Vancouver.

The bridge is located above the river of the same name at an altitude of 70 meters. The length of Capilano is 137 meters. The steel cables of the suspension bridge can support a weight of up to 100 tons.

The river and bridge are named Capilano in honor of the leader of the Squamish Indian tribe, which lived on the lands of present-day Vancouver. In memory of the tribe, pillars were dug at the very entrance to the bridge, on which animals and the mythical soul of the tribe are depicted.


Sights of Vancouver