Hiking Capilano Canyon in North Vancouver
Contents
Capilano Canyon Hike Information
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 6.00Km
Elevation Gain: 225m
Highest Elevation: 160m
Average Gradient: 7.50%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Low / Low
Time Needed:
– Slow: 2.50 – 3 Hours
– Moderate: 2 – 2.50 Hours
– Fast: 1.50 – 2 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: Year-Round
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: None
Capilano Canyon Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°21’32.5″N 123°06’25.6″W
Capilano Canyon Overview
Capilano River Regional Park is a scenic park located in North Vancouver, offering a plethora of trails to outdoor recreationalists. With lush coastal rainforest, scenic canyons and waterfalls, the Capilano River Regional Park is a nice spot for all abilities. As such this park is very popular with all sorts of people, especially dog walkers, hikers, trail runners, families and even anglers.
There are a number of trail options in the park, with the Capilano Pacific Trail spanning from Ambleside Park in West Vancouver all the way up to the Cleveland Dam in North Vancouver. The most popular trail in the park is the Capilano Canyon Loop, beginning and ending at the Cleveland Dam and winding through the forest, all the while adjacent to the scenic Capilano River. The Capilano River Hatchery is along the trail, a free interpretive center open year-round for visitors to learn about the salmon life cycle.
This hike begins at the Cleveland Dam, itself at the southern tip of Capilano Lake, which is one of the main reservoirs for Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. The lake itself is inaccessible, however it does provide a nice backdrop at the start of the hike.
The Capilano Canyon Loop is a year-round trail and dogs are permitted on leash.
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Is Capilano Canyon worthwhile?
If you’re looking for a straightforward hike in the forest with some scenic views, Capilano River Regional Park is a nice option. While you certainly won’t get any panoramic vistas on this trail, the canyon does offer some nice spots to relax and soak in the serenity of the rainforest with the sound of water nearby.
How difficult is the hike through Capilano Canyon?
As mentioned you can make this hike as long or short as you want. The highlights of the park tend to be in and around the Capilano River Hatchery towards the northern end, with this loop covering that area plus a section of trail on the west side of Capilano River. Overall the hike is very straightforward, with fairly nominal elevation gain overall. The only challenging part might be the staircase climb back up to the parking lot at the end of the hike, otherwise it’s mostly an undulating affair throughout. There is nothing technically challenging about the hike.
Capilano Canyon Route Information
There are multiple access points to Capilano River Regional Park, but the easiest for this hike would be at the Cleveland Dam. There is a fairly large parking lot here, though it does fill up quite quickly on a sunny weekend so you may want to arrive early to ensure a parking spot.
The trail immediately crosses a bridge over Cleveland Dam, offering some nice views above the waterfall coming from the dam itself. There are also some nice views of Capilano Lake with Beauty Peak in the background, though as noted you cannot access the lake itself since it sits in the Capilano Watershed.
On the other side of the dam you’ll continue left onto the Capilano Pacific Trail. This wide trail now descends into the rainforest, away from the Capilano River. Ignoring any trail junctions, after around a kilometer you’ll reach a junction with the Shinglebolt trail which you will be taking on the return journey, but for now continue ahead on the Capilano Pacific Trail.
For the next kilometer or so you will follow a single path trail without any junctions, meandering next to (but well above) the Capilano River down in the canyon below. Views of the river will unfortunately be few and far between, but there is a viewing platform along the trail.
Soon you’ll reach a junction going left or right, you can go either way as you’ll now be forming a small loop, with the trail ceasing near the outskirts of the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. You’ll now retrace your steps back to the Shinglebolt Trail junction, where you’ll turn right. You’ll now descend slightly, heading towards the Pipeline Bridge over the Capilano River.
On the other side of the bridge, keep left and join the Coho Loop trail, which now hugs closely to the river, providing frequent views of the canyon along the way. You’ll pass by a few spots that are popular with anglers, which also conveniently make for some nice photo opportunities. Take care around the river as several anglers have actually been killed in this river after getting swept into the canyon. A tragic incident in 2020 occurred when the Cleveland Dam was mistakenly opened without warning, sending a torrent of water down the canyon, killing 2 people.
Continuing along the trail, shortly ahead you will reach the Capilano River Hatchery, a free interpretive center open year-round for visitors to learn about the salmon life cycle and potentially see some salmon.
Outside the entrance to the Capilano River Hatchery, the trail continues on the other side of the roundabout, now becoming the Palisades Trail. This is a short but fairly steep climb through the forest on wooden steps. Over 500m you’ll climb about 100m, not far off half the overall elevation of the whole hike.
When should I hike Capilano Canyon?
Capilano River Regional Park is open year-round and makes a nice hike at any time. Personally I’d save a hike like this for an overcast or dreary day when it won’t be too busy, but anytime you prefer works just fine.
Top Tip
If you want to see the river (and dam) with a fast flow, I’d suggest going in the spring when snowmelt will be released from Capilano Lake into the canyon. Periods of heavy rain will also have a similar effect and will no doubt make for a more exciting hike.
Read up on the Capilano River Hatchery for best times to see salmon spawning.
