The Battle of the Bridges.
One of the attractions that bring tourists to Vancouver, Canada is the chance to cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world. However, if you jump online to start planning your vacation you’ll come across some discontent in various blogs and message boards. Many people believe the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is overpriced and overrated. Especially when you have the free Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge nearby. So which bridge is better? Let’s take look.
Dimensions
Capilano
- Length: 450 ft
- Height: 230 ft
- Year Constructed: 1889
Lynn Canyon
- Length: 157 ft
- Height: 164 ft
- Year Constructed: 1912
Location
Capilano
The longest suspension bridge in the world is located in Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in North Vancouver. Once inside the park, you feel much more secluded in nature than you really are. Your drive up reveals the bridge park is actually smack dab in the middle of suburbia. I am sure this was once a remote location but like most places nowadays, it was only a matter of time before modern construction enveloped this popular place.
The park is easy to find if you have a car and or you can take a free shuttle from downtown.
Lynn Canyon
Lynn Canyon Park is much more isolated. The park is comprised of 617 acres of forest which is a much bigger dose of nature compared to Capilano. It is much easier to get to the park if you have a car. There is no shuttle. You can get there by public bus but it requires transferring and a bit of a walk.
Cost
Capilano
Admission to Capilano Suspension bridge park is close to $50/person. It is a high price but this also gives you access to the Treetop Walk and the Cliff Walk. You also get discounts for being a senior, student or AAA member.
Lynn Canyon
FREE. It’s hard to beat this price. But don’t expect amenities like food or bathrooms once you’ve crossed the bridge.
Stress Level
Capilano
Like with any tourist attraction you can expect crowds. The trick here is to go right when the park opens, and you will have very few problems. As you can imagine, the more people on the bridge the more sway you will experience. For some it’s more fun that way for others it is more stressful. But because Capilano is an attraction more than a wilderness there are rules that are enforced by staff to prevent things from getting too rowdy. The staff also maintains the bridge and your entrance fee contributes to that upkeep so you can rest assured that the bridge is safe to cross.
Lynn Canyon
First off, the bridge is not maintained by admission fees so it looks a little sketchier when compared to Capilano but it is safe to cross. Secondly, the remoteness of Lynn Canyon lends itself to smaller crowds. You are more likely to run into locals on a hike rather than hordes of tourists. This is an important aspect to enjoying this suspension bridge because it is more narrow than Capilano and harder to pass people on. One positive thing about the confinement is you can hold on to both handrails at the same time when catching your balance.
Overall Enjoyment
So which bridge is better? It is a tough choice. When traveling you always want to see and do everything but your constantly battling budgets and time constraints. If you are only going to visit Vancouver once in your lifetime absolutely go to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. It is worth the price of admission for the bragging rights and the experience of such a unique adventure.
The locals will tell you to go to Lynn Canyon because it is free and less crowded. But you have to consider that they have probably already crossed the Capilano. There is satisfaction in just being able to tell people you have crossed the longest suspension bridge in the world but it is something you only need to do once. Most people do Lynn Canyon multiple times because of the access to several hiking trails so naturally, it becomes their favorite. If crowds make you feel claustrophobic but you still want to have a smaller yet similar experience to Capilano, Lynn Canyon is your best option.
When it is all said and done, you should honestly go and experience both bridges, but if you have to choose only one this may help:
Visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge If:
- You want to cross off a bucket list item
- You place a high value on experiences when traveling
- You don’t mind crowds
- You may never come back to Vancouver
- You’re outdoorsy in the sense that you like to drink wine outside
- If you have ever said the phrase “go big or go home”
Visit the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge If:
- You’re on a really tight budget
- You want to experience nature and enjoy hiking
- You prefer crowds of trees to crowds of people
- You like to be hip by traveling but not doing any of the touristy things.
- You want to fulfill a dream of pretending to be a lumberjack in the Canadian Wilderness.
Still undecided? If you want to learn more about each bridge click one of the links below:
Planning a trip to Vancouver? Check out our recommended itinerary by clicking here
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.
Excellent review. After reading several posts that didn’t really help me making the decision, this post helped a lot and I finally decided to go big or go home 😀
That’s the spirit! Glad I could be of assistance!