Long Walks Around the Lynn Canyon Park

Warm, sunny weekends in the summer and crisp, cool days in the fall call for a short trip to Vancouver’s North Shore…at least that’s what we used to do when were still living there. We were fortunate that way – if we wanted to get away from the city and be close to nature, we didn’t have to drive very far. Mountains, nature trails, waterfalls, cliffs, and beaches are within a stone’s throw away from the city centre.

One such place is Lynn Valley. Tucked between mountains in North Vancouver and bordered by parks and lush forests, families and groups of friends flock there to go hiking, camping, swimming, and sightseeing.

My then-boyfriend-now-husband and I used to do this. And when we visited Vancouver with our son after we had moved to the East Coast, we took him there.

Our first destination was the Lynn Canyon Park, where the famous Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge is situated. The park boasts of a spectacular second-growth rainforest, several hiking trails, beautiful waterfalls, and refreshing swimming holes. It also has an Ecology Centre that features displays and interactive exhibits and a small café.

We parked right outside the Ecology Centre, so naturally, we went there first. It is small but has quite an interesting collection of preserved plant and animal species of the region. There are large screens that show nature videos and a Kid’s Exploratorium section where children can learn about the rainforest and current environmental issues by doing activities. Beside it is a nature-themed gift shop where one can find toys, apparel, accessories, and gift-items that feature the beloved animals and critters in the Pacific Northwest. Our son had so much fun here that we had to remind him about the actual forest waiting for us outside, and the suspension bridge that we were going to cross.

The Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge is the highlight of this park. At 40 meters long and 50 meters high, it is like a small version of the more famous Capilano Suspension Bridge…and less intimidating. The wooden plank bridge is just wide enough for two people to pass each other, and when crowded (especially during the tourist season), it sways and jiggles as people squeeze their way through and stop to take pictures at various points. Below it is the clear waters of the Lynn Creek and surrounding it on all sides are magnificent trees and boulders. Our little boy did not have any qualms crossing it. In fact, he did not even hold on to us.

There are many trails available to explore out there. After all, the forest covers more than 600 acres. I think my husband and I had done some of the more popular trails in the park, but during our visit with our son, we just took a quick loop to see the 30-foot pool.

On the north side of the bridge, we followed the trail to the left heading northwest and after a short walk, we beheld this breathtaking swimming hole, which, at that time was filled with swimmers cooling themselves off. The water there is very cold, even in the summer months. We just waded for a bit in the pool (and yes, it was cold!) and then picked a spot to sit down and eat our snacks. This area is popular with picnickers as well, and the grounds were indeed busy with groups gathered around blankets laden with food baskets.

After eating, we climbed the large stairway nearby. This leads you to the Pipe Bridge which crosses the canyon and then takes you to Rice Lake Road that connects to the park entrance on Lynn Valley Road. We didn’t go there and instead turned back to do the loop that took us back to the suspension bridge. If we had gone further to the northern region of the park, the trail would connect to the Seymour Demonstration Forest and the Rice Lake park entrance. We didn’t do it this time either.

Next, we went to see the Twin Falls located east of the bridge. From the actual bridge, there is a trail towards the opposite side, which is part of the popular Baden-Powell Trail. This section has a wide gravel path that is easy to navigate and is surrounded by hundred-year-old Douglas Firs and Western Red Cedars. Then the path curved and began to drop down towards the creek, so we continued walking until we hit a fence along the cliff overlooking the creek.

From there, the trail continued downhill, but most of it is on boardwalks and sections that have stairs. When we hit a junction, we came across the Twin Bridges. There was a path along the fence that goes even more downhill directly towards the creek. Some hikers went there to take a dip in the water. But we stayed on the wooden bridge. It was low enough and close enough to the falls to enable us to see the fish swimming in the clear waters down below and to feel the mist from the beautiful Twin Falls, labelled as such because they are split into two. A park ranger happened to be nearby, and as we enjoyed the view of the gushing water, he casually told us that this is the farthest spot that salmon can swim up this creek, since the falls prevent them from going any further. I guess salmon fishing must be good here then.

We crossed the bridge and climbed the big set of stairs that followed, which took us to Centennial Trail (the opposite side of the junction), a continuation of the Baden-Powell Trail, which goes further down south). The easier trail we took led us to a parking lot and picnic grounds, and then back to the Ecology Centre.

That was a lot of walking…with a young child in tow! It was something like 30 minutes from the suspension bridge to the 30-foot pool and back, and another 45 minutes from the bridge to the falls and back to where we started. Our son was such a trooper!

Years before that, my husband and I explored the Rice Lake Trail which is an easy three-kilometer loop around the calm, quiet lake. The path is relatively flat, which was why I recall seeing joggers there, as well as families with strollers. The lake teems with rainbow trout, so there were several fishing enthusiasts trying their luck as well. We would have taken our son there as well, but he already did a lot of walking for the day.

I also recall doing the Bear Trail and the Beaver Trail. Both are only a stone’s throw away from the picnic area. The Bear Trail starts off flat and easy, and runs parallel to a gravel service road nearby, its southward path goes through a canopy of rainforest trees. Eventually, the path descends and widens.

For some reason, this area was a favourite spot for filming movies and TV shows (scenes from Percy Jackson and Battlestar Galactica were shot here). We hit the end of the trail once we reach the service road. However, if you cross the road, there is another trail slightly on the left, called Beaver Trail. From there, you can head back into the forest via the and walk up north back to the picnic area.

Our last stop was the Lynn Canyon Café. I just got some coffee, since we packed our snacks. But they are known for their breakfast crepes and fish and chips for lunch. They also sell the usual snack favourites – hotdogs, burgers, fries, sandwiches, and chips.

And speaking of chips, I can never forget this story. When my husband and I were still dating and we were at this very same park one weekend, I bought a bag of chips to munch on after a particularly long hike (I don’t know why I had a craving for something crunchy and salty at that time). However, the chip flavour I specifically wanted was not available, so I settled for the second best on my list.

As we were eating quietly, a group of guys walked by. One of them was holding a huge bag of chips…the one that I wanted. I didn’t realize I was staring (at the bag of chips while wondering where he got those…could there be another store around here…maybe a small kiosk or something) and that the whole time, I was following the guy with my eyes. But the whole time, I was not aware that my then-boyfriend-now-husband was also observing me.

Suddenly, he said, “So….do you sometimes wish I were more like them?”

 I was awakened from my (chips) stupor and blurted, “Huh? Who? What are you talking about?”

And he replied, “I mean – muscular, buff, fit, with a six-pack and all…like that guy?” 

It took me a few seconds to understand what he meant as it dawned on me that the group of guys were all shirtless and wearing tight swim shorts. I started chuckling.

My then-boyfriend-now-husband, who was so serious about his question, appeared offended that I was laughing (at him, he thought). So, I explained, “You think I was checking them out? I didn’t even notice the guys until you asked me this question. For the record, I was looking AT THE BAG OF CHIPS that that guy is holding. Where did he get that? I wanted that one!” 

It was my husband’s turn to chuckle. “You were looking at the bag of chips the whole time? Are you serious?” 

And I gave him that look that said, “Hello? Don’t you know me by now?” 

He shook his head and just muttered, “Sometimes, I wonder which planet you came from…” 

I chided him while saying, “Told you a long time ago that I’m not from this planet.” 

(And in case you are interested, the aforementioned bag of chips was the Miss Vicki’s brand - kettle-cooked chips – the sweet chili and sour cream flavour in the blue bag, which was their latest flavour that time and not always available at small stores, since it was just recently launched).