Waterfalls make for excellent endings to hikes. Whether it’s due to the crashing force of the water, the fine mist that cools you down, or just the fact that you’re done hiking. Whatever the case, finding waterfalls in the wild is always fun.
If you’re on the quest for your next #WaterfallWednesday Instagram pic (or you just want to see some awesome waterfalls), check out this list of all the known waterfalls in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. If we forgot any, let us know!
North Shore
Kennedy Falls
Kennedy Falls is a fun trail that brings you through epic forest settings and a massive 600+ year old red cedar to bring you to an impressive cascade of water at Kennedy Falls (more info).
Difficulty: Moderate
Time needed: 4 to 5 hours
Dog friendly: Yes
Cypress Falls
Cypress Falls is the perfect waterfall hike to do during the winter months when other trails at higher elevations are buried under snow. Just a short walk takes you past two beautiful waterfalls (more info).
Difficulty: Easy
Time needed: 1.5 hours (3km)
Dog Friendly: Yes
Norvan Falls
A relatively easy walk through the forest in Lynn Valley will take you to Norvan Falls. The first part of the hike is quite boring, but once you get past the 4km mark, the trail gets more interesting. (more info).
Difficulty: Easy (but long)
Time needed: 4 – 6 hours
Dog friendly: Yes
Twin Falls
The Twin Falls are located in the Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge park. Once you get over the bridge, follow the trail signs towards the Twin Falls. (more info).
Difficulty: Easy
Time needed: 30 minutes
Dog friendly: Yes
Lower Mainland
Crystal Falls
Crystal Falls is a scenic waterfall that drains into the Coquitlam River and is along a short, easy hike trail that is also popular with dog walkers and mountain bikers (more info).
Difficulty: Easy
Time needed: 2 hours (7km)
Dog friendly: Yes
Saw Blade Falls
A lesser known waterfall hike that is pretty easy to accomplish in Coquitlam. When running strongly, this waterfall is pretty amazing to look at and can make for a great backdrop for photos. (more info).
Difficulty: Easy
Time needed: 3 hours (8km)
Dog friendly: Yes
Swan Falls
Part of the Halvor Lunden Trail near Buntzen Lake in Anmore, this trail takes you on an amazing hike with lots of elevation gain, spectacular views, and a pretty awesome waterfall (more info).
Difficulty: Difficulty
Time needed: 8 hours (18km)
Dog friendly: Allowed on-leash
Fraser Valley
Steelhead Falls
You can walk the entire 10km length around Hayward Lake in Mission, or you can make a beeline straight for the Steelhead Falls. If you have camera skills, this waterfall can look amazing through a lens (more info).
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1 hour (~2km)
Dog friendly: Yes
Bridal Veil Falls
A nice little place to stop in Chilliwack if you’re on the way to the interior. This is a short walk up a small hill to a very impressive waterfall. (more info)
Difficulty: Easy
Time needed: 30 minutes
Dog friendly: Yes
Cascade Falls
A very scenic waterfall in Mission with a cool suspension bridge (that is FREE) which crosses the river, just in front of the falls. The hike is pretty easy but can be slippery (more info).
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 30 minutes
Dog friendly: Yes
Rolley Lake Falls
You can walk around the Rolley Lake in Mission area for a glimpse at a series of small waterfalls, located along a trail that goes from the Rolley Lake Campground. The lake area gets busy, so go early! (More info)
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2 hours (5km)
Dogfriendly: Yes
Gold Creek Falls (Golden Ears)
Previously known as Lower Falls, this is a nice short hike with a big pay-off at the end. It’s more of a walk than a hike and is a fun outing for a family or anyone new to hiking (more info).
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2 hours (5.5km)
Dog friendly: Yes
Kanaka Creek Cliff Falls
Located in Maple Ridge, the Cliff Falls are located in a park with lots of little trails to explore. The area is a great way to spend a sunny day in the summer or to get kids excited about nature (more info).
Difficulty: Easy
Time: ~2 hours (4km)
Dog friendly: Yes
Sea to Sky
Crystal Falls (Lions Bay)
Join the locals and take the Lions Bay Loop from the General Store on a little hike around the woods of Lions Bay. The waterfall is beautiful and worth scrambling along the wet rocks to get closer (more info).
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2 hours (4.5km)
Dog friendly: Yes
High Creek Falls
With a stunning waterfall and several gorgeous views of the Squamish Valley and Tantalus Range, High Falls Creek is one of the most scenic hikes in the area. The trail is difficult, so be careful (more info).
Difficulty: Intermediate (some scrambling required)
Time: 5 hours (12km)
Dog friendly: No
Upper Shannon Falls
Everyone has seen Shannon Falls, but not everybody can say they’ve seen it from above! Take the trail up to the top of the Falls for some nice views and little pools to cool your feet in. (more info)
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: ~4 hours (7km)
Dog friendly: Yes-ish
Whistler
Alexander Falls
One of Whistler’s most spectacular waterfalls is Alexander Falls, located in the Callaghan Valley region. The waterfall is easy to access by car and the viewing platform is located just beyond the parking lot (more info).
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 10 minutes
Dog friendly: Yes
Brandywine Falls
Like Alexander Falls, Brandywine Falls is easy to get to from the highway. Some people like to scramble down for a closer look… (more info).
Difficulty: Easy/Intermediate
Time: 5 min / 1 hour
Dog friendly: Yes, on-leash
Waterfalls by boat
If you’d rather paddle to your destination, these three waterfalls provide you with a kayak or canoe option. They are worth the extra work!
Granite Falls
A long kayak (or even longer canoe) up Indian Arm will get you to the amazing Granite Falls. A nice place to camp (first come first serve), but if you’re feeling extra strong you could try it in a day.
Difficulty: Hard on the arms
Time: 3-6 hours depending on pace (18km)
Dog friendly: No
Silver Falls
Located about two thirds of the way up Indian Arm, this waterfall can be easily missed. The Tsleil-Waututh Nation (People of the Inlet) believe that it is not appropriate to look at Silver Falls (more info).
Difficulty: Intermediate
Time: 2-4 hours depending on pace (12km)
Dog friendly: No
Widgeon Falls
A great canoe or kayak trip from
Pitt River up Widgeon Creek. The waterfall is a spectacular place to spend an
afternoon lounging on hot rocks (more info).
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2-4 hours
Dog friendly: Yes, if the dog swims or can fit into the canoe!
If you want to go on even more of an adventure, check out the World Waterfall Database to see all the waterfalls discovered in Vancouver. The ones off the beaten track tend to be a bit harder to get to…
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