first time visiting capilano suspension bridge park, and we took full advantage of their free…read moreshuttle from canada place. the buses run every half hour, making it a convenient way to get there without having to worry about parking.
so, why haven't i visited until now? the price of admission. but with all the new additions, halloween themed decorations, and friends visiting from victoria, i figured it was finally time to see what all the fuss was about.
at cad $80.80 per person, admission is steep, to put it mildly. it's a beautiful attraction with plenty to see and do, but that's a pretty hefty price tag for a day out and i can appreciate the effort that goes into maintaining the park. locals do get the added perk of an annual membership, though, which makes the price a little easier to justify if you plan on returning.
to be fair, we often recommend the free suspension bridge at lynn canyon as a more budget friendly alternative. but you won't find a treetop adventure or cliffwalk there. capilano has towering trees that have stood for around 800 years, halloween decorations with spooky pumpkins and skeletons scattered throughout the grounds, and, of course, the main attraction itself: a suspension bridge swaying high above the canyon, with gorgeous forest views in every direction, with strings of lights that glow when it gets dark. there's a restaurant, cafe, and gift shop too.
some of the skeletons even appeared to be a playful nod to bruno mars' upcoming vancouver tour, which was a fun local touch. it's always amusing when halloween decorations get a little pop culture makeover.
visiting over thanksgiving long weekend meant dealing with crowds, but that was hardly a surprise. staff members were on hand for crowd control, reminding visitors not to run or jump on the suspension bridge, which makes sense when you consider how much it sways with everyone moving across it.
but the real star of our visit wasn't the bridge, the treetop walkways, or even the halloween decorations. it was one ridiculously bold ninja squirrel that swooped in and stole an otter's ball right in front of us. and before anyone imagines an actual otter wandering around the park, the otter was a handful of mini pancakes covered in maple syrup purchased from the cafe.
we were sitting at our table when we heard squeals of delight and then saw the squirrel right in front of us, at the table. this tiny opportunistic creature made off with our sweet little stack was so unexpected that we were too busy being thoroughly entertained to react quickly enough with our cameras. by the time we thought to document the crime, the culprit was gone. no photos, no evidence, just many eyewitnesses and a very brazen squirrel. this was a wildlife encounter worthy of its own nature documentary, except our star was more interested in getting a sugar high than in following the script.
capilano suspension bridge park is definitely worth experiencing at least once, especially if you enjoy forest scenery, elevated walkways, and seasonal decorations. the halloween touches add a fun twist, and there's more to explore than just the famous bridge. at around $80 per person, i still find it difficult to justify the admission price for a one time visit, particularly when lynn canyon offers a beautiful natural setting and a free suspension bridge.
that said, now that i have a membership, i'll be back over christmas to see how the park transforms for the holiday season. looks like i'll finally get to experience the famous canyon lights without wincing at the admission price. as for the ninja squirrel, it gets five stars for entertainment and zero stars for theft prevention. the mini pancakes never stood a chance.