Capilano Helmet Cam
video by Gavin Parry.
Description
What's amazing about paddling the Capilano River is how distant the well-ordered world nearby suddenly feels as you enter its 3.5-mile (5.6-km) drop-and-pool course. This is an enchanted canyon and should only be attempted by those who can handle its powerful spell. Opinion is divided as to whether this should be attempted in an open canoe. Opinion is united on one necessity: have a guide with you when you put in for the first time. By July, water levels begin to drop and the river becomes more technical. Even in summer this is most definitely a wet suit-and-helmet river. There's only one put-in, at the top of the canyon beside the fish hatchery. The Cleveland Dam's presence is a reminder that water levels on the river can fluctuate daily, depending on the amount of water released from the dam (and the sky above). A water gauge at the west end of the weir near the salmon pools indicates the difficulty of the water: 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 m) equals easy; 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) equals difficult; above 6 feet (1.8 m) equals expert only. On rainy days this river calls to local intermediate and expert paddlers, who treasure its proximity to home.
Cost
Free - no entrance fee
Getting There
Drop in at the fish hatchery
There are several entrances in North Vancouver to Capilano River Regional Park, all within a short distance of each other. If you are travelling on Hwy 1, take the Capilano Rd N exit (exit 14) to reach the park. Capilano Road can also be reached from Marine Drive in North Vancouver, a short distance east of the Lions Gate Bridge. Four parking lots are located near the fish hatchery in Capilano River Regional Park; another is at the picnic site beside Cleveland Dam.
You can also catch the Grouse Mountain (#236) bus from North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Quay, which stops at the fish hatchery and Cleveland Dam. Call TransLink, (604) 953-3333, to check times on bus routes. For a map of the 16 miles (26 km) of hiking trails in Capilano River Regional Park, call GVRD Parks’s West Office, (604) 224-5739.
To get there take Highway 1 and exit off the Capilano/Grouse Mountain exit 9 (exit 14) and drive north along Capilano Road about 1.5 km to the fish hatchery turnoff, or continue on Capilano Road for another kilometre to the Cleveland Dam parking lot. For more information call (604) 432-6350.
In general, parks are open during daylight hours. Gates are closed and locked outside of the opening and closing times posted at most park entrances; earliest closing is 5 pm. If you require specific information regarding the opening or closing times of a park or gate, please contact the Area Office during regular hours.
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