My decision to visit both Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain was made much easier with the lure of a free shuttle between Vancouver Canada Place and the attractions. Using modern and highly liveried vehicles they were easy to identify and board. You don’t need to have purchased a ticket in advance which was also good and both were equipped with lines to the ticket booths.
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I chose to do Capilano first because their coach was waiting to leave. The transfer takes about 20-25 minutes depending on the traffic. You cross over the Lions Gate Bridge that joins Vancouver with North Vancouver. The route skirts around delightful Stanley Park and climbs up through a high end residential area. The coach drops you off in the car park close to the kiosks. I didn’t really know what to expect but a map laid out what was there to experience. I think that the park has been added to quite recently and there is a short history of the park with photographic records as you enter. There are plenty of queuing lanes so it was obviously quiet when I was there but still seemed quite busy. You arrive on one bank overlooking the rain forest and the Capilano River twinkling below. It had been raining and the cloud cover was cutting off the tops of the surrounding mountains.
The bridge is suspended between the steep banks and it does take foot traffic in both directions. It is 140 metres long and 70 metres above the river. It is best to hold onto the hand rail as the bridge does wobble as you manoeuvre yourself across and wait for other visitors to take their selfies and group pictures.
On the opposite bank are trails and tree walks on rope bridges. Just follow the crowd. The walks and trails are interpretive and there are many ecological and environmental signs throughout.
The newest addition is the cantilever bridge similar to those in the Rockies or Grand National. This affords great views of the suspension bridge further along the river.
I would say that you could spend upwards of 3 hours enjoying the scenery and having something to eat there.
Entrance fee was around C$50 which I thought was expensive but it has proved to be one of the most visited attractions in Western Canada.
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