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Capilano Road to the Capilano Suspension Bridge

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Capilano Road is an approximately 5.2 kilometers long roadway found in North Vancouver.  The roadway begins near Spirit Trail and follows the general course of the Capilano River Canyon to Prospect Avenue.  The roadway is mostly associated with the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. 

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is one of the most popular attractions in the Vancouver metropolitan area.  The park opened in 1889 with the commissioning of the original hemp-based Capilano Bridge.  In 1903 a cable-based span replaced the earlier hemp structure.  A second cable would be installed on the 1903-era span in 1914.  During 1956 the modern pre-stressed cable based Capilano Suspension Bridge would be opened to the public.  




Part 1; the history of the Capilano Suspension Bridge

The original Capilano Bridge was constructed in 1889 by George Grant Mackay, August Jack and Willie Khatsahlano over the Capilano River.   Mackay at the time was the Park Commissioner for nearby Vancouver whereas Jack and Khatsahlano well known First Nations locals.  The purpose of the structure from the outset was to facilitate tourism in North Vancouver. 

The first Capilano Suspension Bridge made of hemp rope and cedar planking which was anchored by two Douglas Fir Trees on both sides of the Capilano River Canyon.  The below photo is on display at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and shows the original bridge.  This hemp span was known locally as the "laughing bridge" due to the noise it made while swaying. 


Construction of the second Capilano Bridge began in 1903.  This span was designed by engineer William Farrel with a single suspension cable.  In 1910 the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park was purchased by Edward Mahon.  The single cable design proved to be just as wobbly as the original hemp bridge which led to a second cable being installed in 1914.  The second cable stabilized the suspension bridge and gave it substantially greater strength.

In 1935 Mac MacEachran purchased the increasingly popular Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.  MacEachran invited local tribal members to install totem poles which gave the park much of the native theming it now has.  The park was sold in again 1945 to Henri Aubeneau. 

The Capilano Suspension Bridge can be seen below was it was featured in the August 8, 1955, LIFE Magazine (source Capilano Suspension Bridge Park). 


The current Capilano Suspension Bridge was constructed in 1956 by Douglas McRae and Art Williams.  The current span was built with two pre-stressed multi-string steel cables which are capable of holding 100,000lbs (45,000Kg) of weight.  The current bridge cables were strung across the Capilano River Canyon by tying them to the cables of the 1903/1914 spans.  

The current Capilano Suspension Bridge can be seen in the below shortly after being completed (source Capilano Suspension Bridge Park).  The current bridge is 460 feet long (140 meters) and carries a height of 230 feet (70 meters) above the Capilano River.  


Capilano Suspension Bridge Park was sold to current owner Nancy Stibbard in 1983.  The Treetops Adventure portion of the western side of the park was added during 2004.  During June 2011 the Cliffwalk was added to the eastern side of the park.



Part 2; a drive on Capilano Road to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Capilano Road is accessible departing northbound British Columbia Highway 99 upon landing in North Vancouver via the Lions Gate Bridge.  Traffic is advised to use Marine Drive eastbound to reach Capilano Road. 



Marine Drive intersects Capilano Road a short distance east of British Columbia Highway 99.  An overhead sign notes Capilano Road can be used to reach the Trans-Canada Highway (British Columbia Highway 1). 



Northbound Capilano Road crosses under the Trans-Canada Highway. 




The entrance to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park can be found at 3735 Capilano Road just north of Ridgewood Road.  



Within the park the totems mentioned in Part 1 along with a history of the bridges over the Capilano River can be found approaching the current Capilano Suspension Bridge.










These photos are a westward crossing of the Capilano Suspension Bridge.  Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is one of the most popular attractions in the Vancouver metro area and has about 1,200,000 annual visitors.  









The Nature's Edge Boardwalk can be found on the western rim of the Capilano River Canyon.



























The Treetop Adventures is a series of seven footbridges suspended among the old-growth Douglas Fir trees along the western Capilano River Canyon.



















These photos are from the Cliffwalk along the eastern rim of the Capilano River Canyon.














Capilano Road continues north of Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and terminates near Cleveland Park at Prospect Avenue.  




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