Lynn Canyon Park.

Lynn Canyon is the North Shore in miniature: a deep forest gorge, a creek the colour of sea glass, waterfalls, and a suspension bridge that bounces just enough to make everyone laugh nervously. Unlike its famous neighbour at Capilano, it is free, and it sits in a public park with a café, an ecology centre and a network of short trails that reward a half-day visit.

Autumn is a particularly good time to come. The forest is mostly western red cedar, hemlock and Douglas fir, a wall of dark green all year, but scattered through it are bigleaf maples whose enormous leaves turn a clear yellow in October and drift down onto the trails, the rocks and the surface of the pools. Against the moss and the grey stone, the effect is striking, and the lower crowds and softer light make for better photographs than in July.

A classic loop starts at the main entrance, crosses the suspension bridge, turns left down the stairs to Twin Falls, crosses the footbridge there and climbs back up the far side through the forest to the Ecology Centre. It takes about an hour and includes a lot of steps. With energetic children, add the detour to 30 Foot Pool, a deep green basin below the bridge where the creek slows and the rocks make a natural amphitheatre.

The ecology centre is small but free and has friendly exhibits for young visitors, and the café serves a decent hot chocolate. The caveats are serious ones: the trails are steep, slippery and busy, the parking lots are tiny, and the creek is dangerous — people have died jumping into pools that look calm. Admire the water from the paths, check the district’s page for trail closures, and come early.