Lynn Canyon : North Vancouver Wild Experience

Suspended bridge, Lynn Canyon Park, North Vancouver, B.C., Canada PHOTO BY theWedge.LIVE

By MAGGIE M, Editor, Wedgee-in-Chief, theWedge.LIVE

‘Beware of bears’ signs warned visitors of Lynn Canyon Park, North Vancouver, when we arrived, my guide and I. These are brown bears not grizzlies, I learned.

“What do we do if we run into one?,” I asked.

“Make lots of noise and throw things,” she replied. I was not confident about this suggestion; yet, we moved forward “throwing” caution to the wind. After all, many other “prospects” were present including Stephen, a ranger in this enchanted place.

The opening scene looked inviting and safe. The star attraction was still ahead : Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, one of the great wonders of B.C. at the base of Mount Seymour, accessible to the public for over one hundred years.

Welcoming area, Lynn Canyon Park, North Vancouver, B.C., Canada PHOTO BY theWedge.LIVE

We climbed down steps toward the apex of our little expedition. It was easy to maneuver, thoughtfully built, but increasingly wobbly with each additional person traveling though.

Those just arriving slow their pace, take in the view. Those leaving trudge back like hippos on a wire. It is what is is.

In the early 1900s crossers were charged five cents. Today it is free. This is an attractive alternative to the pricey access to Capilano’s suspension bridge and attractions also in North Vancouver.

We stood on the bridge swaying fifty metres above Lynn Creek, its waters gushing at the bottom of the canyon fed by a waterfall. The view is spectacular, both directions.

I invited the sounds, scents and climate of the forest to lower my brain frequencies to single digits. My jet-lagged body was saturated in the forest’s healthy negative ions. My pep returned for the next leg of our journey.

Standing on suspension bridge, Lynn Canyon Park, North Vancouver, B.C., Canada PHOTO BY theWedge.LIVE

View from suspension bridge, Lynn Canyon Park, North Vancouver, B.C., Canada PHOTO BY theWedge.LIVE

Beyond the bridge a seemingly endless path, a fenced boardwalk, guides you into the park’s forest. You can travel for days on this path which joins up with the famed Baden-Powell Trail or venture a few hundred feet.

The bear signs were still on our mind. Yet, we encountered little forest creatures, moss covered stones and quaint benches–no bears.

It’s a young forest as pioneer loggers cut much of it down when its first settlers arrived in 1869. John Linn, a member of the Royal Engineers, was the first to arrive, hence the name Lynn. Today, the land is protected and evolving naturally.

Put this place on your travel itinerary. You can access it within twenty minutes after crossing the bridge over Burrard Inlet. There will still be time left to visit our next stop, an oasis that stole my heart. Stay-tuned.