While there is so much to see and do in Vancouver and in the surrounding mountains, the Capilano Suspension Bridge deserves a spot on your itinerary! It’s close to downtown while also gets you out enough to enjoy the beautiful nature that surrounds the city. Though it’s more than just a suspension bridge. There are many other trails that are easy to navigate and hike, and even a series of bridges raised in the trees to explore. But my favorite part of the day was definitely the Cliffwalk – which is not for the faint of heart! Here are five tips for visiting the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver!
Take the free shuttle from Vancouver
Yes you read that correctly – free! If you’re staying in downtown Vancouver and don’t have access to a car (or would rather let someone else deal with the stress of driving), this is the hack for you. My friend and I were in town for a work conference and didn’t have a car of our own, and Ubers were stupidly expensive anywhere we wanted to go. When we stumbled upon this, it felt like we were seeing a mirage in the desert! It almost appeared too good to be true! It really made visiting the Capilano Suspension Bridge a no-brainer.
The free shuttle bus runs year-round from downtown Vancouver right to the entrance of the Capilano Suspension Bridge. There are a few stops downtown: Canada Place, the Hyatt Regency, and the Blue Horizon Hotel. And all you do is jump on the white and green marked bus when it pulls up. No reservations required! During the summer months, the busses run very frequently, on average about one every fifteen minutes. Once onboard, it’s about a twenty minute ride on a comfortable coach bus. Score!
Wear sturdy footwear
I would think this one is semi-obvious, but this isn’t the place for flip flops or heels. While the bridge and other paths are constructed pretty nicely, there are still gaps and uneven planks everywhere. You’ll definitely want a decent pair of sneakers. No need to go crazy with hiking shoes or anything with spikes, but a simple tennis shoe will do. Something that is firmly tied to your foot that won’t make you trip!
BYO water and snacks
Before you embark on the bridge and related trails, there will be a few spots for snacks and drinks. However, the markup on these is outrageous, so I’d recommend bringing your own if you think you’ll need them. The trails here aren’t incredibly long and it shouldn’t take you more than a couple of hours to hit everything, but having a water bottle on hand wouldn’t be a bad idea. Inside the park after the bridge, there is a treehouse with another snack shack in case you need, but they also had tons of picnic tables to sit down and have your own mini-picnic if you choose!
Bring your student ID
This one might be a little unethical, but stay with me. If you’re a current student (or like me, a past student who held on to her college ID all these years), definitely bring it! When you purchase tickets at the window, just let them know you’re a student. They asked to see my ID for about 0.5 seconds before issuing the discount. Mine doesn’t have an expiration date on it, so you might get caught if yours does and it is outdated, but always worth a try! Quick, easy way to save $10 on admission!
Leave the selfie sticks at home
Inside the park, and especially on the large suspension bridge, selfie sticks are a big no-no. In fact, they’re so strict that they have employees on each end monitoring. The fact that it’s against the rules aside, I wouldn’t want to use it on the bridge anyway! Hanging your phone off the side of a bridge with a several hundred foot drop is a recipe for disaster. Don’t risk your phone for an IG pic and leave the selfie stick at home.
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