Capilano Pacific Trail

• A scenic 7.5 km one-way trail connecting West Vancouver's Ambleside Beach to the Cleveland Dam.

• Offers dramatic viewpoints of the Capilano River canyon and the towering firs of the rainforest.

• A section near Moyne Drive is currently closed due to a landslide, requiring a 3 km street detour.

• Provides a rugged yet accessible urban hiking experience with moderate elevation changes throughout.

A 7.5 km point-to-point trail following the Capilano River from Ambleside Park through old-growth forest to Cleveland Dam. The route passes through varied terrain including paved paths, gravel trails, forest floor, and long sections of stairs. Note: a landslide closure near Keith Road (since Jan 2021) requires a street-level detour.

The Route

1. Ambleside Park / Beach km 0.0

2. Railway bridge underpass km 0.3

3. Park Royal Mall backside — paved section km 0.8

4. Capilano River shoreline km 1.5

5. Keith Road — landslide detour begins km 2.5

6. Detour route via Moyne Dr / Stevens Dr km 2.5–3.5

7. Capilano Canyon viewpoints km 4.5

8. Pipeline Bridge km 5.0

9. Old-growth forest section km 5.5

10. Capilano Salmon Hatchery km 6.5

11. Cleveland Dam km 7.5

Along the Way

• Old-growth Douglas-fir and western red cedar forest

• Capilano Canyon viewpoints with dramatic cliff walls

• Pipeline Bridge — blue/green bridge with large pipeline beneath

• Capilano Salmon Hatchery (free admission, 238,000 visitors/year)

• Cleveland Dam with views of Capilano Lake and spillway

• Spring cherry blossoms along the lower trail sections

• Dramatic dam spillway during snow-melt season

• Rocky shoreline and beach areas near Ambleside

Best Times to Visit

Insider Tips

• 💡

  Start from Cleveland Dam for the best downhill direction

• 💡

  Salmon viewing in fall at the Capilano Hatchery (free)

• 💡

  Can be done as a point-to-point with transit connections at both ends

What to Bring

Not Available

The Capilano Pacific Trail follows the Capilano River through several parks. The river and its watershed have provided drinking water to Vancouver since 1889. Cleveland Dam was built in 1954 to create Capilano Lake reservoir.

Source · metrovancouver.org