How Long to Spend at Capilano Suspension Bridge

A common question I get from readers is how long to spend at Capilano Suspension Bridge.

There’s a bit of a misconception that you walk over the bridge, take a few photos along the way, and head back to the parking lot.

There’s actually much more to it than that – so let’s break it down.

⚠️ Warning (07/20/24) ⚠️ Prime entrance slots are selling out quickly for high season (April-September).

Make sure you lock in your Capilano Suspension Bridge tickets in advance online or risk missing out. With the links here you’ll even get a free shuttle from downtown and the ability to cancel free of charge.

How Long Does it Take to Visit Capilano Suspension Bridge?

First, know that Capilano Suspension Bridge Park actually includes three major attractions in one spot.

Of course, we have the star of the show: the 460-foot-long forest bridge.

The rest though? I’ll go into more detail below but expect to spend the following time there:

• Suspension Bridge: 20-25 minutes
• Cliffwalk: 10-15 minutes
• Treetops Adventure: 15-20 minutes
• Kia’palano First Nations Cultural Experience (including totem poles): 15 minutes
• The Living Forest: 20 minutes
• Souvenirs/food/cafe/bar area: 10-30 minutes

In all, you should be spending between 70 and 100 minutes for your visit.

Related: Best Time of Day to Visit Capilano Suspension Bridge

How Long Do the Secondary Attractions at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park Take?

I use the term ‘secondary’ very lightly here because these are amazing sights in their own right.

Here is a quick summary of a few of my favourites:

The Cliffwalk at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Here you’ll walk along 20-inch wide platforms, bridges, and stairs sticking right outside a granite cliff face. There’s even a glass floor portion for the more courageous guests.

Expect this to take about 15-20 minutes, depending on how long you want to hang out, quite literally, off the cliffside.

Then we’ve got the Treetops Adventure:

Capilano Suspension Bridge Treetops Adventure

This gives you the chance to walk across seven suspension bridges – connected to eight 60,000-pound old forest Douglas Fir trees (that have been around since the 1750s) for an eagle-eye view of the old growth forest.

Expect to take around 20-30 minutes to do the full circuit.

Other Attractions

Also, for the full visit, you should consider another 30-40 minutes for the following:

• The complimentary 10-minute History and Nature Talks tour by knowledgeable guides
• Check out the fantastic Totem Poles crafted by local indigenous artists
• A look through the gift shop
• A great locally roasted coffee at Bridge House
• Some live seasonal entertainment

In total, this means you should spend about 90 minutes at Capilano Suspension Bridge.

If you’re checking out some of the top places to eat near Capilano Suspension Bridge, add another hour, plus an hour for traffic, and we’re looking at a four-hour commitment.

Whatever you do, know that it is mandatory to book your Capilano Suspension Bridge time slots in advance – in going with Tiqets, you get the added benefit of getting a free shuttle from downtown.

You can check your preferred time slots here:

How Long to Spend: Zero If You Don’t Book in Advance

You may not get to spend any time at the bridge if you don’t book online in advance – especially if you’re visiting Vancouver in summer.

As you can see above, showing up without tickets means you could be showing up when Capilano Suspension Bridge tickets are already sold out.

In this case, as entrances are limited to create less wear and not overload the bridge, you could be asked to come back to a later time slot – or another day altogether.

Always book in advance to lock in your spots and get a free shuttle from downtown.

Still Wondering How Long to Spend at Capilano Suspension Bridge?

Finally, once you’ve locked in your tickets I’ll also share with you my post on how to get to Capilano Suspension Bridge – should you need it!

That way, you won’t eat up half your time stuck in traffic.

Any more questions? Just get at me in the comments below.

  |  Curious yet? Read honest Capilano Suspension Bridge reviews from recent ticket buyers.