Where it is
Canyon Heights is in the District of North Vancouver, on the slopes below Grouse Mountain, just north of Edgemont. The BC Geographical Names register places it southeast of the south end of Capilano Lake, and it is usually described as the streets between the Capilano River and Mosquito Creek, from about Montroyal Boulevard up to the forest. People draw the edges a little differently, so on this page Canyon Heights means that area, and the figures and homes above are drawn from listings there that name it.
A little history
The name points to the Capilano canyon on its western edge. Much of it was built in the years after the Second World War, as the North Shore grew. In 1954 the Cleveland Dam was completed at the top of the canyon, holding back Capilano Lake, which still supplies a large share of Metro Vancouver’s drinking water. The dam is named after Ernest Cleveland, the Greater Vancouver Water District’s first commissioner.
The outdoors
Few neighbourhoods sit this close to the mountains. Capilano River Regional Park, with the Cleveland Dam and miles of canyon trails, runs along the west side; Grouse Mountain and its Skyride are a few minutes up Nancy Greene Way; and the Baden-Powell Trail crosses the slopes above. Mosquito Creek and its trail border the east.
Everyday life
Canyon Heights is quiet and residential, with few through roads. For shops and cafés, most people drive or walk down to Edgemont Village, and Lonsdale and the Lions Gate Bridge are a short drive south. It is a neighbourhood for people who want space, trees and the mountain at the end of the street, more than a walk to the shops.
The homes
Canyon Heights is almost all detached family homes on generous lots: post-war houses, many renovated or rebuilt, and newer homes. Upper streets can be steep, and some homes have views over the city and the water. Lots near the canyon and the creeks often back onto forest.
For detached lots, the Province’s new housing rules may change what can be built: see BC’s new housing rules and your lot.
Schools
Canyon Heights is in the North Vancouver School District, and Canyon Heights Elementary is in the neighbourhood, on Highland Boulevard. Catchments depend on the exact address, so check before you make an offer. Why catchments matter · Private schools
Buying in Canyon Heights
- District, not City: Canyon Heights is in the District of North Vancouver, with its own zoning, permits and taxes. District or City of North Vancouver
- The lot: slope, drainage and retaining walls, and setbacks from the creeks and the canyon. Homes near the forest also call for a look at wildfire guidelines and tree rules.
- The house: its age and systems, and any old oil tank, common in homes of this era.
The numbers above tell you what the market is like today. A walk-through with me tells you whether a particular home is worth its price.
