Mini Day Trip: Lynn Canyon Park And Suspension Bridge

British Columbia offers many beautiful places to hang out in the hot summer days especially if you are from the Greater Vancouver (or Lower Mainland) location. Today while browsing a store in North Vancouver for patio furniture for Robyn’s balcony she suggested we take a drive up over to Lynn Canyon. I have never been to Lynn Canyon prior to this and was happy to check it out.

Most people in the Greater Vancouver area know about the Capilano Suspension Bridge which is near the base of Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver, but what some people do not know is that there is a second suspension bridge on the North Shore; the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge.

How To Get There

If you are heading towards North Vancouver from either the Lion’s Gate Bridge or Second Narrows (Iron Worker’s Memorial) Bridge stick to the Upper Levels Highway until you see the exit for Lynn Valley Road. Head North on the Lynn Valley Road until you reach Peters Road and turn right and follow that all the way to the parking lot for Lynn Canyon Park.

Visitor Centre

Robyn was mentioning to me that back when she was a bit younger her and her friends would visit Lynn Canyon park on hot summer days and the only thing that was available to visitors was a hot dog stand and the occasional ice cream truck. Now it seems that they have built a visitor centre which has washroom facilities and a place to grab some food.

She also mentioned that a lot more tourists are being taken up to Lynn Canyon than when she used to hang out. Lynn Canyon was more of a place for local North Shore residents than for tourists. Robyn mentioned how she might have seen 1 bus of tourists whereas now bus after bus can be seen dropping off people.

Afraid Of Heights?

The Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge towers over Lynn creek at a staggering 20 stories (256 feet or 80 meters) which is slightly higher than the Capilano Suspension Bridge (230 feet or 70 meters).

With the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge being shorter than the Capilano Suspension Bridge is it narrower and the side railings are not as high which might make some people a bit more hesitant crossing it.

The Park Itself

Our mission was to walk across the suspension bridge and head over to an area called 30 foot. The Lynn Canyon Park itself encompasses about 616 acres of lush second growth rainforest and is dotted with hiking trails. Our walk would only take us about 10 minutes past the suspension bridge to a popular hangout for a younger crowd a place called 30 foot.

30 Foot

30 Foot is a secluded area along one of the tributaries that meet up with Lynn Creek and offer a place for people to go cliff jumping. Yes cliff jumping can be very dangerous but the people looked to have figured out the safer areas to cliff jump from. I would assume that 30 Foot is in reference to the height of the cliff that people jump off of.

If you are ever over on the North Shore of North Vancouver I highly recommend taking a side trip up to Lynn Canyon Park and checking out the suspension bridge. It also is not as busy with tourists as Capilano Suspension Bridge is and it’s free. Why pay up to $29 per person to be on a bridge crowded with tourists when you can head over to Lynn Canyon and walk across a suspension bridge for free.

Robyn and I plan on heading back there one day to check out their trail system that meanders through the 616 acres of rainforest, who knows we might go hang out at 30 Foot on a hot day and play in the cool waters too.