See other waterfalls on Vancouver Island.

The BC Hydro dam is just upstream at the outlet of Comox Lake. There is a siren at the park that will sound when more water is being let out the dam warning the water will rise quickly. Signs around the park say to get back from the water quickly if the sirens sound.

Where is Nymph Fall Nature Park?

The parking lot for the park is at 4481 Forbidden Plateau Road. The gravel parking lot holds about 20 vehicles but there is a wide shoulder on the road that offers a bit more parking area. It can get very busy in the summer.

What is the hiking like?

The park has a variety of trails in it from the main trails to the falls being smooth, wide, easy trail for all abilities. Other trails in the park range from easy to medium as they get narrower, include roots, and have steep sections down the river. Many difficulties and distances of hikes can be made with all the different trails.

More Photos

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An old water pipeline has been removed leaving a massive hole in the rock. Water from the stream on the other side pours through the hole reconnecting to Roger’s Creek.

See our list of Waterfalls on Vancouver Island.

How to get to Hole in the Wall

There is not much parking for Hole in the Wall. It is on Mosaic land and not an official regional trail but there are a few spots on the side of the highway.

Across the highway there is parking near Coombs Country Candy as well. Be very careful crossing the 3 lanes of highway here to get to the trailhead.

The trail leads into the woods and you should see a small wooden sign saying ‘Hole in the Wall’. Once the trail comes out of the woods, stay right and follow the main trail until you get to a smaller trail leading downhill with another wooden sign. At the bottom of the hill will be an open area and the falls.

The map below is on Gaia GPS, a great GPS app for computers and phones. You can download the GPS track or view it on Gaia GPS on your phone.

Trails near Hole in the Wall

Stokes Creek Falls is near Hole in the Wall and while it’s a bit longer of a hike, has a much larger waterfall to see from a bridge crossing the stream.

The Alberni Inlet Trail is also a great place to go for views of the inlet. It’s long enough to hike for days if you like.

The Vancouver Island Waterfalls page is a good one to check out also for more waterfalls around the island.

Leave No Trace

Please leave Hole in the Wall better than you found it and back out your garbage. The inukshuks are fun to look at but aren’t leaving the place how you found it.

Take photos.

Leave footprints.

Comments and Questions

Have you been to Hole in the Wall? When is the best time of year to go?

More Photos

The post Hole in the Wall Trail first appeared on Pack & Trail.

See our list of Waterfalls on Vancouver Island.

How long does it take to hike to Stokes Creek Falls?

The walk to Stokes Creek Falls is an fairly easy 1.4 kilometers. The trail goes up and down about 260 metres. One the day we visited, we spent a lot of time taking photos along the way and it took about 1 hour to reach the falls.

When nearing the falls there’s a fork down the hill or off to the left. Down the hill takes you straight to the falls. Off to the left crosses the Stokes Creek and around a small loop and then back down to the falls.

Where can I park when hiking to Stokes Creek Falls?

Parking for Stokes Creek Falls is just up the highway from the Hole in the Wall trail along the Alberni Highway on Roger Creek Road in front of the orange gate. The gate is often closed so don’t go past it or you may get locked in. Park where you can off to the side of the road.

Are there other waterfalls around Stokes Creek Falls?

There are other waterfalls both before and after the main falls on the loop. If you stay left in the loop you will cross the creek above the falls near other smaller falls.

If you stay right at the fork you will pass a small set of waterfalls on the way to the main falls that are quite pretty but are only a foot or 2 tall.

Just down the highway, another trail leads to the Hole in the Wall waterfall as well.

On wet days, all the streams are running.

What is the best time to visit Stokes Creek Falls?

The whole area around Stokes Creek is full of small water falls and streams when it has been raining heavily. The main falls are still beautiful at any water level but if you want to see waterfalls everywhere you look, go shortly after heavy falls.

To see the most definition in the main falls, don’t go right after a heavy rain. There is a ton of water coming over the falls!

Map

The map below shoes the track on the Gaia GPS map. Click on Stokes Creek Falls and the Data button to download a GPX or KML file to use with your GPS app.

More Photos

The post Stokes Creek Falls first appeared on Pack & Trail.

We’ve been to many waterfalls on Vancouver Island and will be visiting many more. Check out the tips for photographing waterfalls at the bottom of the page.

• 
  Trent River Falls
  Trent River Falls is a short hike from the trailhead on the Highway 19 just south of Cumberland, Vancouver Island. The falls are about 20 metres tall and end up… Read More »Trent River Falls
• 
  China Bowls
  China Bowls is a beautiful section of the Perseverance Creek in the Cumberland Community Forest. How to get to China Bowls To get to China Bowls is pretty straightforward. There… Read More »China Bowls
• 
  Nymph Falls Nature Park
  Nymph Falls Nature Park is a 61 hectare park on on the upper Puntledge River. Many kilometers of trails of all levels run up and down the park. Some trails… Read More »Nymph Falls Nature Park
• 
  Hole in the Wall Trail

  An old water pipeline has been removed leaving a massive hole in the rock. Water from the stream on the other side pours through the hole reconnecting to Roger’s Creek.

• 
  Stokes Creek Falls

  A 1.4 kilometre hike to a large waterfall near Port Alberni BC.

• 
  Upper Banon Creek Falls
  Banon Creek Falls is a well-known, easy to access waterfall off Chemainus River but this is not that waterfall. Most people haven’t seen this one: Upper Banon Creek Falls. Upper… Read More »Upper Banon Creek Falls
• 
  Christie Falls
  Christie Falls is a beautiful Vancouver Island waterfall not far from Ladysmith, BC. The photos below are a day after heavy rain so the falls aren’t normally this large. Directions… Read More »Christie Falls
• 
  Hike in Nanaimo: Ammonite Falls from Doumont Road
  Ammonite falls is a beautiful decent-sized waterfall right very close to the heart of Nanaimo. This route from Doumont is slightly more difficult than the route from Jameson Road. This… Read More »Hike in Nanaimo: Ammonite Falls from Doumont Road
• 
  Bonnell Creek Falls in Nanoose
  My girlfriend and I wanted to go for an adventure of the hiking type on Valentine’s Day. More specifically, we wanted to go find a waterfall. My dad mentioned some… Read More »Bonnell Creek Falls in Nanoose

Map of Vancouver Island Waterfalls

Find any of these waterfalls and more on the Gaia Waterfalls map.

Tips for Photographing Waterfalls

Pack dry clothes

A change of clothes back at the car is great for waterfall trips. Even if you it’s a dry, sunny day. Sitting at the base of a waterfall is a very wet place to be. Even better bring a good waterproof jacket if you don’t want to get soaked in the first place.

Bring a tripod

To get the smooth, silky photos of waterfalls that look so good, you’ll need a tripod. Set the timer delay to 2 seconds or use a remote release so you don’t have to touch the camera while it’s taking a shot. Use a very slow shutter speed like 1 second or slower and you’ll get the smooth flowing water look.

Bring lens cloths

Everything gets wet photographing waterfalls, especially your camera. Bring many lens cloths so you can dry your lens in between shots. Either that or don’t sit in the spray from the falls, but what fun is that?

Watch your footing

Often waterfalls are in deep ravines or around the base of cliffs. They are in wet and slippery areas. Pay attention to where you are moving. No one needs to fall off a cliff for the ‘gram.

Post a comment!

Where are your favourite waterfalls? Are you trying to find a waterfall and having trouble? Leave us a comment and we’ll dig into it. Hidden waterfall photo mission? Yes please!

The post Vancouver Island Waterfalls first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Upper Banon Creek Falls is what I call them anyways. The folks at the District of North Cowichan said they don’t have a name but if you know more about that, let me know in the comments!

Upper Banon Creek Falls

The main falls are at the top of the set and are actually the easiest to get to. There are numerous falls above and below the main set but are difficult to get to. I recommend just going the main falls.

Is there a trail to Upper Banon Creek Falls?

No. It’s not far from the logging road to the falls but it’s a bushwhack, there is no trail. The first part is about 100 metres of thick overgrown clearcut. After that it’s about 500 meters up a steep hill through second growth trees. Here there is lots of blown down trees to navigate and thick salal. If you have a GPS to navigate to the falls it is not hard to navigate.

How to get to Upper Banon Creek Falls

Use these directions at your own risk. Logging roads change constantly and are always coming and going. A GPS is the easiest way to find your way around and always have a map and compass with you.

1. Turn off the highway south of Ladysmith onto South Watts Road

2. Drive past the water station

3. Drive past the power lines

4. Drive right at the T intersection (if you drive straight you’d go over a small bridge)

5. Take the second left up the hill – this road goes up the hill and then gets quite rough

6. Up hill through alder trees

7. Park at sharp right hand turn

Click Upper Banon Creek Falls or “View this” on the map below to take you to the GPS tracks and waypoints for this waterfall.

Vancouver Island Waterfalls

Upper Banon Creek Falls is one of many Vancouver Island Waterfalls but here are a few others near Ladysmith:

Christie Falls

Stocking Creek Falls

The post Upper Banon Creek Falls first appeared on Pack & Trail.

The photos below are a day after heavy rain so the falls aren’t normally this large.

Directions are below the photos.

Directions to Christie Falls

There are multiple ways to get to Christie Falls. None of them are that difficult.

Christie Falls from Arroyo Road

I find this route easiest to follow. Drive to Christie Falls then Arroyo in Ladysmith. The road turns to dirt and goes through a gate which is often closed. There are two roads off to the right which lead to the fish hatchery. Follow either of these roads to the right.

Follow the route of the Great Trail (Trans Canada Trail) to the fish hatchery.

At the fish hatchery, turn upstream and follow the small trail parallel to Bush Creek. Follow this trail up to Christie Falls.

Christie Falls from Oyster Sto’Lo Road

Drive to the end of Oyster Sto’Lo Road off Highway 1, just north of Ladysmith. The dirt road off the right side of the end with the gate is the trail.

Follow this trail to the powerlines and go directly across the powerlines.

Follow this dirt road (west) all the way to the gravel-covered Great Trail (Trans Canada Trail).

Turn left (south) on the Great Trail and cross the 2 bridges to get to the fish hatchery.

Find the trail that leads upstream beside the creek and follow it to the top.

Christie Falls from Haslam Creek

This route is longer than the other 2.

Follow the Great Trail south from Haslam Creek all the way to the fish hatchery. Follow the trail from the hatchery upstream to Christie Falls.

Past Trips to Christie Falls

Christie Falls in September

Haslam Creek to Christie Falls

Other Vancouver Island Waterfalls

Vancouver Island is packed with good waterfalls. Every city has at least a few. See Vancouver Island Waterfalls for more.

The post Christie Falls first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Ammonite falls is a beautiful decent-sized waterfall right very close to the heart of Nanaimo. This route from Doumont is slightly more difficult than the route from Jameson Road.

This route to Ammonite Falls is a bit hard to explain. Driving up to Doumont stop at the first yellow gate on your left. There will be two trails that head into the bush from here, one goes to the left around a mount of dirt, the other a small single track to the right. Take the single track to the right.

Continue on this trail until you see a main double track and cross over it. There should be a trail continuing on just to the left of where you came to the double track. After a few meters on this track hang a right and head downhill to the stream. In the summer you can usually just cross straight over but in the winter you may have to cross over the leg that’s just to the left.

Follow the trail up the steep bank on the other side and continue on until you get to the quarry.  Head out along the right side of the quarry for a few hundred meters until you see a trail back into the woods. Take this wider trail until you hit a clearing and can hear the falls. Hang a right at the clearing to head down to the falls or continue straight on to Mini Ammonite.

Ammonite is just one of many amazing Vancouver Island waterfalls.

Ammonite Links

http://trailpeak.com/trail-Ammonite-Falls-from-Doumont-near-Nanaimo-BC-4727

The post Hike in Nanaimo: Ammonite Falls from Doumont Road first appeared on Pack & Trail.

There are 2 main ways to get to Ammonite Falls. One from Doumont Road and the other Jameson (off of Kilpatrick and Jingle Pot).

Directions to Ammonite Falls from Jameson Road

This route is the easier way in to the falls compared to the Doumont route. Drive all the way to the end of Jameson Road. There is about 25 meters of dirt road before you get to the yellow gate. Make sure you park down the hill from the yellow gate in the proper parking lot. Your car will most likely be towed if you park by the gate.

Follow the dirt road off into the bush and get lost… I mean find the falls!

Stay on the main road at the first fork. Don’t go up to the left.Stay on the main road at the second fork. Don’t go down to the right.

The road will get a little steeper uphill here but not much. There will be a bit of a clearing at the end and the it turns to single track. Go straight into the trail and immediately hang a right to go over a little hump in the trail and then down the other side. You might be able to hear the creek by now. Keep this on your left and follow this trail. You’ll end up at a blue sign nailed to the tree. Keep to the left of this sign. You’ll go down another small hill and find yourself in a clearing at the end of a dirt road. Just head straight across the road and follow the little trail. You’ll end up just above Ammonite Falls.

Relax and take some photos at the viewpoint above the falls or continue down the rope and across the stream to get a real close look.

Variation: Hang a left at the clearing at the end of the old road and hike down a steep but short section of trail to Mini-Ammonite, a very, very small set of beautiful falls just above the larger Ammonite Falls.

Ammonite Falls Links

Nanaimo Information has a great page about Ammonite Falls.

The post Hike in Nanaimo: Ammonite Falls from Jameson Road first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Where’s the gate?

I had been dirt biking by the Arlington years before and assumed it was quite easy to get back to. The Pub is on the highway, but the gate was not where I remembered it being. The road to the left of the pub is called Sea Blush Drive and it carries on a lot further into the bush than I thought. We drove right to the end of road thinking it was the obvious place for a gate to be. There was an entrance to some trails, but not the gate I was looking for.

Not able to find the gate, we started walking along the power lines at the end of Sea Blush Drive, taking every turn we could find, exploring the trails there.

Hiking along all the trails we could find in the direction we thought was suitable for waterfalls to be in, we hit Sundew Main, the main logging road in the area. We followed that to the start of the road and eureka, we found the gate. It just so happened to be at the end of Sundew Place, one of the side roads off Sea Blush Drive.

Armed with the knowledge that the trail to the waterfalls would be just 10 minutes up this road, we took a couple pictures, turned around, and started walking.Almost a kilometre up Sundew Main we found the double track trail that branches off the main on the right-hand side. We followed this trail straight down to the waterfalls.

Taking another right turn 5 minutes down this trail will lead you to a pretty view off the entire chain of waterfalls. There are a few sections, which are separated by large pools. The tallest level of these waterfalls is at the bottom. We headed back to the main trail and carried on (continuing straight if you didn’t take this detour), and then descended a very steep section with a long rope. It was fairly muddy here the day we went and I imagine it always is. Don’t slip here, it’s very steep.

Once at the bottom of the steep section, we were right beside one of the pools. To the left were two smaller falls and one larger set to the left. Overhead was something that is still a mystery to me.  A net about 3 meters by 3 meters was suspended 5 metres above the water. It hangs lower now since one of the trees it is tied to had fallen some time ago. I’ve come up with a few theories for what this net is for but none have made a lot of sense.

To the right of the ledge we stood on was another rope leading down a drop, which was steeper but shorter. To the left was a very steep, rocky section that didn’t really go anywhere. But I got curious and crossed this part. Then promptly decided there was nothing to see and got stuck trying to get back. After some awkward footwork and finding some mossy, almost nonexistent finger holds I pulled myself back to the other side.We had lunch here, right beside the waterfalls, and washed it down with some almost-hot hot chocolate (apparently my stove fuel canister was getting low).

Right after lunch, we headed straight back up the rope and jogged a bit on the dirt road and trails back to the car.

All in all, it was a pleasant day trip and highly recommended for those seeking some picture opportunities or a short trip around in the bush. Careful with younger and older folks as the descent down to the falls is very steep!

-Ross

Related Links:

Bonnell Creek Falls on Trailpeak.com

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