North Vancouver Mounties, firefighters warn public about deadly cliff jumping in Lynn Canyon Park
NORTH VANCOUVER — Mounties from the North Vancouver RCMP detachment have teamed up with North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services to urge Lynn Canyon parkgoers to think twice about cliff jumping as they look for ways to cool off this summer ahead of a heat wave the next 3-5 days.
According to a joint news release from police and fire personnel, Mounties say Lynn Canyon Park is a very popular spot for visitors, receiving over half a million visitors per year. While placid and picturesque, however, its steep cliffs, rushing river and forested areas pose a challenge for visitors unfamiliar with rugged terrain. Although much of the cliff access is fenced off with warning signs posted, people sometimes climb the fence and go out of bounds to cliff jump, putting themselves at significant risk.
“It is extremely dangerous to cliff jump in Lynn Canyon,” said Fire Chief Mike Danks, District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services. “Not only are there underwater rock hazards not visible from above the surface, but there are also extremely strong currents. Even in the summer the water is very cold and hypothermia can set in quickly.”
Police and firefighters say visitors to Lynn Canyon need to be cautious and use good judgement, as water levels and conditions can change very quickly, and the Canyon cliffs are steep, slippery, and in some areas unstable.
