Capilano Second Canyon Earthcache EarthCache

Welcome to the Second Canyon of the Capilano River

This Earthcache will teach you a bit about the geology that formed this canyon, and a little about the history of the area.

The Capilano River forms in the mountains over 1500 metres above Howe Sound, just a few yards south of Phyllis Lake. Eventually it makes its way to the ocean, a 14 km river that is vitally important to Vancouver.

The coordinates will take you to the entrance of the viewpoint of the Canyon at Capilano River Park. This is a short walk through the rain forest on the west side of the canyon across from the fish hatchery. A short detour will take you to some giant 1000 year old Douglas Fir trees. Please go right to the front of the viewpoint – there is a traditional cache located there too. If you are feeling energetic, you can do a round trip circle tour up to the dam, across and back down the other side.

To log your visit, please email me the answer to the following questions from my profile page. It would be nice if you could post a picture of your party with your GPSr and let us know where you are from. Also if you like, please tell us the most awesome thing you discovered about this area.

A. What do you see?

1. Facing the dam, how would you describe the rock wall to your left. Is it solid or loose? Does it look like it was formed all at once?
2. Water and wind are primary erosional forces. Look at the right side of the canyon as you face the dam. Can you see any other erosional forces at work?
3. In the text description I have listed 4 surface layers. Which type of surface is this viewpoint resting on?

B. What have you learned?

1. Determine the highest part of the canyon (this should be obvious). Can you estimate the height above the river at this point?
2. Can you think of the effect the dam has had on the hydrology/geology of the river? Think of the water quality problems. Think about what is behind the dam.
3. The nearby Sea to Sky corridor has some very interesting geology. Can you name a large landmark that is formed in the same way as the canyon but without the erosion? (I'll give out-of-towners a break but feel free to give it a try)

Geology of the area

The Capilano River was carved from the rock of the Coast Plutonic Complex, a huge Batholith which gave birth to the Coast Mountains that run from Vancouver 1700 km north to the Yukon. These were formed during the Creataceous period between 144 and 66 million years ago. They are the roots of ancient volcanoes – magma rose close to the surface then cooled slowly below the surface. Think about a huge sea of molten rock simmering not too far below the earth's surface. The rocks are igneous, primarily granite that are characterized by interlocking masses of mineral crystals.

As the Coast Mountains were uplifted, they were subjected to erosion by streams and rivers, forming valleys. Later, between 11,000 and 100,000 years ago, the valleys were altered by a number of ice ages that rounded the landscape and formed U shaped valleys. The upper Capilano River Valley is one of those U shaped valleys. As the 1800 metre thick ice receded, the land began to rise from the release of the weight of the ice in what is known as isostatic rebound. Sea level was 150 metres above where it is today. The ice receded leaving fine silt in lakes, and gravel from crushed rock. Streams formed that had enormous force, carrying rocks and boulders crashing down over the bedrock. Where this enormous force reached weak areas in the bedrock (faults) they were able to quickly erode into canyons. The Capilano River has 2 such canyons, one where the Capilano Suspension Bridge is located at the first canyon, and one right where this Earthcache is located. Over top of the rock lie several metres of soil, glacial deposits, and talus. This soil supports a healthy second growth conifer forest. Walking to the viewpoint you will be able to see evidence of fine glacial deposits in several spots

At the mouth of the Capilano River is the delta which ranges from Ambleside Park eastward along the North Vancouver waterfront. Without the intervention of humans, the sediments washed down the Capilano River would have eventually closed off the mouth of Burrard Inlet where the Lions Gate Bridge is now, creating a lake.

Before the Cleveland Dam was built in 1954, dredging was needed at the mouth of the river to keep the First Narrows open to marine traffic.

Human History

The First Nations settlement of Homulscheon was located beside the Capilano River. The river was named after a chief of the Squamish tribe Ki-ap-a-la-no, a mighty man, very tall with a booming voice and constant smile. It is unknown who named the river or when.

First contact with the Europeans was when the Spanish Jose Maria Narvaez sailed into English Bay in 1791, and in 1792 when Captain George Vancouver sailed into the inlet.

Soon, lumber mills were developed along the inlet, The settlement of Gastown was formed in 1867, the name was changed to Vancouver when it was announced the western terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway would be there. Vancouver was officially incorporated on April 6, 1886.

In 1888 George Grant Mackay purchased 320 acres of timberland, running from the present day highway to just above the 1st canyon of the river. A hemp suspension bridge was constructed by August Jack Khatsahlano and his brother Willie in 1893 about 200’ south of the current suspension bridge. The first steel cable suspension bridge was built in 1904.
This park has an interesting history. The BC Electric Railway Company (now BC Hydro) purchased 110 acres of river property downstream from the 2nd canyon as park land. The Vancouver Board of Trade took over in 1924, who improved the wilderness area by building trails and bridges. In 1946 the park was presented to the Vancouver Parks Board. This is now managed by Metro Vancouver Parks. A second suspension bridge was built in 1928 at the 2nd canyon, almost exactly where the dam is built now.

What’s With all the Water?

A waterworks for the new community was needed. Surveys indicated the best possibility was on the Capilano River. The Vancouver Water Works Company was incorporated on the same day as the city of Vancouver. The site of the first dam was located towards the upper third of the present Capilano Lake.

In 1927, after many years of wrangling the GVWD obtained a 999 year lease on 82,000 acres of land in the Capilano and Seymour watersheds for $1.00 per year. The GVWD manages the watersheds with access tightly controlled to preserve the pristine mountain water.

An ongoing problem with water quality in the region is turbidity resulting from the fine glacial silt suspened in the water after storms cause landslides and stir up the reservoir. Because these soils are so fine they stay suspended in the water for a long time. Metro Vancouver has been working on a massive filtration project to clear these suspended solids from the water. The filtration plant is located at the Lower Seymour Conservation Area, near the Rice Lake parking lots. Eventually water from the Capilano Reservoir will travel through a tunnel to the Seymour filtration plant to stop the problem for good.

Seasonal tours of the watersheds are available - check with the Metro Vancovuer Parks website for more details

Sources used:

Capilano – the Story of a River Morton, James W
Vancouver Geology Geological Association of Canada Cordilleran Section
Vancouver, City on the Edge Clague, John, and Turner, Bob
The Laughing Bridge – A Personal History of the Capilano Suspension Bridge Dempster, Eleanore