Is Capilano Suspension Bridge Worth It? Honest Review (2026)

If you are dreaming of fairy tale forests, treetop walkways and hundreds of thousands of fairy lights, look no further because Capilano Suspension Bridge is THE PLACE you’re looking for in Vancouver.

When we first moved to Vancouver in 2021, Capilano Suspension Bridge was on the top of my list and and after visiting multiple times, I finally have an honest answer to the big question: is it really worth it?

“Come on Kerry, spill the tea!“

My honest answer: Yes, I do think it’s worth a visit, but whether it’s right for you depends on a few key factors. In this guide, I’ll share my honest take on what makes it special (and why it might not be for everyone), plus exactly how to get there by car or public transport, and the best times to visit to avoid the biggest crowds.

By the end, you’ll know whether Capilano deserves a spot on your Vancouver itinerary and how to make the most of your time if you go.

Couple on Capilano Suspension Bridge in the rain

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn us a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

Girl wearing purple beanie at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park with lights behind her

Quick Tips for Visiting Capilano Suspension Bridge

Where to Stay nearby (my choices):
Pinnacle at the Pier
Seaside Hotel North Vancouver

Best time of the year to visit: During Canyon Lights from mid-October – mid-February

Top Tip: If you go when Canyon Lights are on, make sure you visit about 1.5-2 hours before dark.
Cost: Adults: $79 / Children: $28:

Buy Tickets Here

Is the Capilano Suspension Bridge Worth it?

Table of Contents

My thoughts on whether I think the Capilano Suspension Bridge is worth it

Whether or not Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is worth the visit really depends on what you’re looking for. Here’s my honest take after visiting multiple times since moving to Vancouver.

The downsides

The biggest downside is the price. Tickets are not cheap, especially if you have 2 or more people in your family, and I personally don’t think it’s worth it outside of the festive season without the fairy lights.

Instead, you can go to Lynn Canyon for free and see a beautiful forest and mini version of the suspension bridge there.

Who will enjoy it most

Families: Kids will love the Treetops Adventure (mini suspension bridges between trees), the Cliffwalk, and from April–September, the Birds of Raptors Ridge program featuring eagles, owls, and other birds of prey.
Photographers: Canyon Lights is a dream for photographers. Dave and I have gone back multiple times just to take photos.
Couples: It’s also such a fun an unique date idea so perfect for couples wanting to do something different and get out of the city.

Why I love it

My favourite thing about Capilano is the fairy lights and the hot chocolate, so my number 1 tip is to go when the fairy lights are up. Walking through the glowing treetops with a hot chocolate in hand feels absolutely magical. Yes, it stings a little paying around $70 per person, but once you’re inside, it’s hard not to be swept away by the magic of it all.

So do I think it is worth a visit? Yes 100%, I absolutely love this place! But only when the Capilano lights are up. If they aren’t, I’d suggest saving your money and heading to Lynn Canyon or Norvan Falls for a free (and equally stunning) forest experience.

couple kissing in Capilano Suspension Bridge park surrounded by fairylights

girl standing in middle of light tunnel at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Couple standing on Capilano Suspension Bridge

Don’t miss the Hot Chocolate (and the Famous Otter Balls!)

Once you cross the suspension bridge over into the forest, there is a small stand that sells hot drinks and snacks. Dave and I are both suckers for the hot chocolate. I’m not sure if it’s because it’s always so cold when we visit (it’s one of our favourite things to do in Vancouver in Winter) so it tastes better or if it’s just good hot chocolate but either way, I recommend! Although do note that it is EXPENSIVE.

The stall also sells Otter Balls, which are like mini pancakes with toppings.

Capilano Suspension Bridge when its snowing

How to Visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge

1. Book your ticket well in advance

Booking your ticket well in advance is especially important during the times that the lights are up because you will need to choose a time slot. The best time slots tend to fill up first which are usually an hour or so before sunset. For the rest of the year, you just book a ticket for the day and turn up whenever.

👉 Don’t miss out on the time slot you want: Book your ticket to Capilano Suspension Bridge in advance here

2. Getting there from Downtown Vancouver (car vs shuttle)

If you have a car, you can drive from Downtown Vancouver to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and park in their paid parking lot across the road which is around $8 for 3 hours.

To get there by car, it could take you anywhere from 20 – 40 minutes depending on traffic. You can take the Lions Gate Bridge which always gets super trafficky during peak hour after work at around 5pm so make sure you leave early if you plan on getting there around this time.

Alternatively, you will get access to a free shuttle with your ticket. This shuttle operates all-year-round with pick up points at Canada Place, Hyatt Regency, and Blue Horizon.

👉 Book your Capilano Ticket here to get access to the free shuttle

3. Turn up during your allocated time slot

Have your ticket ready to go on your phone and turn up at the gates within your time slot. If you are visited during the festive season when the lights are up, it’s going to be pretty cold in the forest and the canyon so make sure you wear something warm.

4. Explore the park and soak in the beauty!

Wander around the park, take photos and enjoy the festive music during the holidays. One of the most popular spots in the park (for good reason) is the tree top walk so I recommend heading there first. The tree tops can take a while to get through because people tend to stop for photos on each bridge.

Capilano Suspension Bridge parking

There is a small paid parking lot available across the road from Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. It costs $8 for 3 hours maximum. If you visit during a peak period like Christmas Eve (we made this mistake once), you might be directed to free overflow parking if the parking lot is full.

The parking meters accept credit cards only: Visa, MasterCard or American Express. If you need to pay by cash or debit card, you can purchase your parking from the ticket agents at the main entrance.

Best time to visit Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is decorated using different themes every year, but the most famous and my personal favourite, is when it is decorated for Christmas. The event is called the Canyon Lights and it is pure magic!

The park also decorates with the lights for Halloween and Valentines Day.

Another great time to visit (although hard to plan for) is when it snows. This is pretty rare and might only happen once a year, but when it does.. oh my goodness! Just look at the photos below!

Girl and puppy standing on the Capilano Suspension Bridge in the snow

Capilano Suspension Bridge VS Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

Not sure whether to splurge on Capilano or save some $$$ by visiting Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge instead?

And if you didn’t know about Lynn Canyon, SURPRISE! There’s another popular suspension bridge in North Vancouver. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which one is right for you.

Capilano Suspension Bridge	Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge
137 metres (450 feet) long	40 metres (130 ft)
Costs money to enter	free to enter
can be super busy	can be super busy
covered in fairy lights seasonally	no fairy lights
great for photography	pretty good for photography
Festive music	no music

couple standing on bridge in the forest at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Capilano is my favourite bridge and park out of the two because of the overall vibe. The festive music that follows you around the park mixed with the gorgeous lights and the epic tree top walk and suspension bridge is just magical! Lynn Canyon is still worth a visit too though if you have time while you are in Vancouver.

Another cool suspension bridge near Vancouver

Another of our favourite suspension bridges near Vancouver is the Sea to Sky Suspension Bridge.

girl standing on cliff walk at Capilano suspension bridge

frequently asked questions

There are 3 seasonal events at Capilano where they have the magical fairy lights lighting up the park. The approximate dates for these are:

Love Lights: January 30— February 22
Canyon Frights: October 10— October 31
Canyon Lights: November 22, to January 19

You can read more about these magical events in my blog post all about the Capilano Fairy Lights here.

Dogs are allowed in Capilano Suspension Bridge Park on a leash. If you do visit during Winter, make sure you get your dog to wear some sort of booties because Capilano uses the blue chemical salt to stop people from slipping.

We only learnt this this year when we brought Winnie to the park in the snow without booties, because one of the lovely staff members was very concerned about her burning her paws on the blue salt. We would have had no idea that this was a thing!

🐶 These are our favourite booties for Winnie because they are much easier to put on than other booties and they come in a pack of 12 in case of breakages.

Snow at Capilano Suspension Bridge is not a frequent event. We have only managed to catch it once and it was the most magical thing I have ever experienced. I’m still not used to snow and get VERY excited when it snows in the city!

I’d say that snow at Capilano probably happens on average about once every Winter but depending on the weather cycles, this could be more or less.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is 137 metres (450 feet) long and stretches out across Capilano River. It is 70 metres (230 feet) high up from the river.

I would recommend allowing for at least 2-3 hours to wander through the park and to browse the gift shop after.

Capilano Suspension Bridge is located in North Vancouver which is across the water from Downtown Vancouver. The park is located next to Capilano River and the suspension bridge is used as a walkway across the river.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is a paid to enter park located in North Vancouver, BC Canada in the middle of a beautiful forest.

The main attraction is the huge and extremely impressive suspension bridge which the park is named after. The suspension bridge isn’t the only thing to see however. The park is decorated with hundreds and thousands of fairy lights and has lots of trails spiralling around the park for you to explore.

The park redecorates for major events like Christmas, Halloween and Valentines Day.

If you are planning a trip to Vancouver, you might also find the following guides helpful: