Waterfalls of the West Kootenays! (And where to find them)

WalkingtheWestKootenays
Aug 7, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Feb 3

In this post we explore the many beautiful waterfalls you can visit in the West Kootenays, we are so blessed with ample opportunity to experience these natural waterfalls with great accessibility and breathtaking beauty. Some of the waterfalls listed are good for walking with kids, while others are a more demanding hike. This West Kootenay waterfall list is ever expanding, with new waterfalls added as we find them.

This list is organized into 5 geographic areas to help you on your West Kootenay waterfall hunt. You could do a themed weekend of waterfall trekking, or make it a summer goal to walk with your children to as many as you can.

I hope you find this list helpful for your west Kootenay hiking adventures! Suggestions? Questions? Corrections? please comment below, or email walkingthewestkootenays@gmail.com

Check out our list of favourite hiking books! <-----

See you on the trail!

Castlegar / Arrow Lakes

Glade

From Castlegar take highway 3A for 12 km. Hop the Glade ferry, turn right onto main road running parallel to river. Park at paved end, or drive up this old road. slight left at Trans Canada Trail sign. You're almost there, dip down into creek bed just before road takes a sharp cornerup the mountain. These waterfalls are easy to visit with children.

Tulip Creek

You will find these falls 3.5 km up Deer Park FSR. From Castlegar, drive across the bridge to Robson and turning left, follow Broadwater Road to Syringa Provincial Park. Just before the park entrance, turn right onto the gravel Deer Park Road. Drive about 3.5 km until you come to a culvert and the road widens allowing for parking. Follow the foot path beside the pull out, following the creek. These waterfalls are easy to visit with children.

Cayuse Creek

Find these falls on the Deer Park FSR, past Tulip Falls. Here is the most fun waterfalls of all, a natural waterslide with smooth rocks are formed that take you into a beautiful swimming hole. From Castlegar, drive across the bridge to Robson and turning left, follow Broadwater Road to Syringa Provincial Park. Just before the park entrance, turn right onto the gravel Deer Park FSR road and follow this for 10km. Deer Creek FSR crosses Cayuse Creek. The waterfall is immediately below the bridge.

Deer Creek

Follow the Deer Park FSR for 13.5 km (directions as above, past Tulip Creek and Cayuse Creek) and turn right onto Deer Creek FSR. Follow this for 3.5 km then turn left onto a dirt track. Park at the trailhead. This hike is easy and an excellent choice for a hot day. The falls are two tiered and depending on the time of year there is a pool for swimming at the lower falls.

Allen Dale Creek

This waterfall can be seen right from the road, a popular rock climbing area, it does dry up during the summer months. It can be found on Broadwater Road just north of Scotties Marina.

Little McPhee

Drive north on Hwy 3A and, before the Brilliant Bridge, turn right on Ootischenia Road. Follow golf course signs. Left on Corrigan Road. Left on Aaron Road. Right on gravel road with gate before the golf course (take note of gate closure times) Follow 4kms, stay left at the fork. Left into the parking lot before the Substation. Hike the signed Skattebo Reach trail for 2.25 km, pass the Brilliant Overlook and Doukhobor Waterline trailheads. Turn right at Little McPhee Creek Waterfall trail junction.

Nelson

Cottonwood

These waterfalls are found within a beautiful Japanese garden oasis. Tucked at the south end of Nelson, parking is just around the corner from the Ford dealership.

Sproule Creek waterfalls (not the main sproule creek hiking trail)

A short walk and no elevation, this rarely talked about falls is worth the brief effort to see. Leave Nelson on highway 6 toward Castlegar. After crossing the Kootenay Lake bridge near Taghum, take a right onto Reibin Road. Drive to the parking lot next to the creek where you will find an unmarked path leading up the meadow on the right hand side of the creek. Follow this path for about 300 metres until you reach the fall.

Slocan Valley

The Basin

In Pass Creek

Wilson Creek

Pass Creek

Norns Creek

Lower Norns creek

Koch Creek

Springer Creek

Located in the village of Slocan. Can be accessed via the Springer Creek Campground, make your way up, across the highway for falls after falls.

Vanishing falls

Located in Slocan Park

Lone Falls

The 18-metre high falls are located around 20 km north of Nakusp, on Hwy 23, at the Rest Area on the right hand side of the road, just before Halycon Hot Springs. Since this is a paved rest stop, the waterfalls are easily accessible for everyone.

Kuskanax Creek

Victoria/Gardiner

Located near Nakusp.

North Shore & Up the Lake

Fletcher Creek

6 km south of Kaslo, just off Highway 31 it is signed from both directions. Turn onto Fletcher Creek Frontage Road, park. Start walking towards the creek, the trail is has a sign. Trail switch backs down to the bottom, you can clearly hear the falls once you park. There is a beautiful day use and camping area. The beach can be really windy and the falls makes for some nice misty photo ops! These waterfalls are easy to hike to with children.

Canyon Creek

Trail / Rossland / Salmo / Ymir

Wild horse

Stewart Creek

Stewart Creek rest area is located approximately 23 km south of Nelson, BC and 15 km north of Salmo, BC on Highway 6. The area is a shaded and cool rest stop with picnic tables, outhouse and of course, a lovely waterfalls. These waterfalls are easily accessible with children.

Bear creek

Beaver creek

Beaver Falls is a beautiful waterfall which in the late summer is a popular swimming hole, while in the spring a dramatic plunge through a steep canyon. It is recommended to take the Falls Road East off the Highway 3B in Beaver Falls and follow it to the end. The path leads down to the bridge/waterfall.