There are many fossil sites around Vancouver, British Columbia. Sadly, the volume and preservation of these fossils is far from ideal.
Still, if you are looking for a wee day trip, then a trip to the Capilano River is just the thing. From downtown Vancouver, drive through
Stanley Park up and over the Lion’s Gate Bridge. Take the North Vancouver exit toward the
ferries. Turn right onto Taylor Way and
then right again at Clyde Avenue. Look
for the Park Royal Hotel. Park anywhere
along Clyde Avenue.
From Clyde Avenue walk down the path to
your left towards the Capilano River. Watch the water level and treat cautiously as it can be slippery.
Look for beds of sandstone about 200 meters north of the private bridge
and just south of the Hwy bridge. The
fossil beds are just below the Whytecliff Apartment high rises.
You will see some exposed shale in the
area. It does not contain fossil material. The fossils occur only in the sandstone. Interesting, but again, not fossiliferous are the many granitic boulders and large boulders of limestone which may
have been brought down by glaziers from as far away as Texada Island.
Cretaceous plant material found:
What you see on your visit:
- Poplar (cottonwood) Populus sp.
- Bigleaf maple Acer
machphyllum
- Alder
Alnus rubra
- Buttercup
Ranvuculus sp.
- Epilobrium
- Red cedar
- Blackberry
- Sword fern
