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The Bridge Overhead
The iconic Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vancouver. I can’t count how many times I have crossed it with visitors to the region.
“It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.”
– Robert Louis Stevenson
That Robert Louis Stevenson quote is on a signboard along one of the winding paths through the old-growth temperate rainforest in the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. There is something majestic and awe-inspiring about the tall trees of Canada’s West Coast: Douglas firs, western red cedars, maples, and birch are the most visible among the 40 different species of native varieties growing here.
This canyon is one of those iconic places that – while it attracts throngs of international visitors – says ‘home’ to me.
The Capilano Canyon in North Vancouver has been crossed by a 140 metre (460 ft) suspension bridge since 1889. The original bridge was constructed of hemp ropes with a deck of cedar planks. This was replaced in 1903 – and many times since – with wire cable bridges. The current steel cable bridge, built in 1956, was truly tested in 2006, when, during a winter storm after an unusually cold, wet season, a massive Douglas fir tree was uprooted. The top of the tree snapped off and landed in the canyon 70 metres (230 feet) below, but about 17 tons of tree hit the bridge with the estimated force of a fully laden gravel truck travelling at 100 km/h (60 miles/h).
The bridge survived.
I don’t remember paying entry the last time I visited, so I was rather shocked at the prices now; then again, it’s been six years since my last trip ‘home’ (see: Woods and Waterfalls) and I think my last stop at the canyon was many years before that! The bridge is on private land and the surrounds have been expanded over the years. The current owner has held the property since 1983, and opened Treetops Adventures in 2004. This added a network of seven suspended footbridges up to 30 metres (98 ft) above the forest floor. According to information signposts on site, this series of walkways, suspended between old-growth Douglas firs, was entirely crafted by hand to avoid damaging them. Without using any nails or large machinery, the trees were encircled with specially designed steel collars that spread the pressure and weight out equally.
Come explore!
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Lions Gate Bridge
This says ‘home’ to me: driving through Stanley Park towards Vancouver’s iconic bridge over the Burrard Inlet. When it was opened in 1938, it was the longest suspension bridge in the British Empire. (iPhone12Pro)
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Kia’palano Totems
Since 1935, the local First Nations people, the Kia’palano – meaning “beautiful river” – have been invited to place their artwork to the park.
Welcome Totem (iPhone12Pro)
Artworks (iPhone12Pro)
The Capilano Suspension Bridge
The 140 metre (460 ft) suspension bridge stretches off into the distance; people cling to the sides as it bounces and sways.
Capilano River
The river tumbles over rocks about 70 metres (230 ft) below us, …
Up River
… which gives you an idea how tall those magnificent trees are!
Common Periwinkle – Vinca Minor
Although the tree-tops are the draw-card in the park, and although this is an invasive species, I still had to admire the flowers at ground level. Periwinkle were introduced to BC as an ornamental ground cover, but they escaped into the wild where they thrive in the kind of shaded, moist conditions that forest-sheltered waterways like this provide.
Little Creek
The Nature’s Edge Boardwalk takes one past a number of watercourses that tumble over low falls …
Almost Abstract : Pond Reflections
… or collect in small pools that reflect the green around them. (iPhone12Pro)
Little Waterfall
I’m loving the long exposure app on my iPhone. It sure beats dragging a tripod around! (iPhone12Pro)
Western Skunk Cabbage – Lysichiton Americanus
Fortunately, this native perennial has a very mild scent compared to the real thing!
Ferns, Moss, and Fallen Logs
Cut pieces from fallen trees provide nutrients to the rich life in the understory.
Flora
I never succeeding in identifying this. Any answers?
Ivy on a Stump
Roots of Fallen Tree
I love the rich greens of the moss and ferns everywhere.
In the Treetops
A stairway takes you up to the Treetops Adventure, where seven suspension bridges lead you around the mid-story among the 250 year-old Douglas-firs.
Treetops Adventure
The viewing platforms are attached using an adjustable and moveable tree collar system that uses no bolts or nails and can accommodate the ongoing growth of the trees.
Bigleaf Maples – Acer Macrophyllum
With the colder-than-usual weather, the spring bloom on the trees is later than normal.
Maple Flowers
Maple trees bear thousands of flowers which hang straight down like an old lace.
Walkways Every-Which-Way
From the viewing platforms, we can look down through the tall trunks to the boardwalk below.
Ferns and Rivulets
After traversing the seven suspension bridges overhead, I descend back to new pathways through the mossy forest floor. (iPhone12Pro)
Father and Daughter Pretend-/Fishing
A cabin at the edge of one pond epitomizes the ‘summer cabins’ that were part of the mythology of my youth. Activity sheets are given out to youngsters in the park and are wonderfully engaging – including measuring your own height against the growth rate of different trees. The reward is a wildflower seed-encrusted paper bracelet that can be planted. As an educator, I was suitably impressed!
Peaceful
The green of the tall trees and their reflections in the still ponds make the environment peaceful – even though there are a lot of people around.
Western Skunk Cabbage
The beautiful, but odorous, skunk cabbage is everywhere in the creeks.
Back on the Bridge
The suspension bridge takes me back to the other side where the new ‘Clifftop’ walk beckons, but my car also waits to take me to the ferry north.
Given the focus the park places on respect, education, and conservation, I felt so much better about the entry price!
It truly is money well spent to save this beautiful old forest, and to share its importance with the decision-makers of the future.
“A grove of giant redwoods or sequoias should be kept just as we keep a great or beautiful cathedral.”
– Theodore Roosevelt
Pictures: 06May2022
