Brandywine Falls between Squamish and Whistler. Photo credit: Justin Kenneth Rowley on the Inside Vancouver Flickr pool.
Vancouver is known as a rainy city. But all that rain feeds our rivers and streams. And those rivers and streams sometimes come crashing downhill as spectacular waterfalls. Here are ten of the best waterfalls to visit near Vancouver. A few of them require a short hike, but most are within five minutes of the parking lot.
Twin Falls
Lynn Canyon in North Vancouver is home to a few different waterfalls. Hike downstream from the suspension bridge to reach Twin Falls. You can see them on either side of the Twin Falls bridge.
Cleveland Dam
The spillway from North Vancouver’s Cleveland Dam isn’t a natural waterfall – it’s human-made. But it’s still pretty spectacular. Be sure to visit both the top of the dam and the viewpoint in the canyon.
Cypress Falls
Tucked away in residential West Vancouver, you’ll find Cypress Falls. There are two waterfalls to see on Cypress Creek. The first one is about 10 minutes from the parking lot. To reach the upper falls, continue uphill on the trail another 20 minutes.
Shannon Falls
Head to Squamish to see Shannon Falls. It plunges 335 meters down a granite cliff. It’s a short 5-minute walk to the base of the falls from the parking lot. Be sure to visit both the upper and lower viewing platforms to see it from different angles.
Shannon Falls in Squamish. Photo Credit: Tourism Vancouver / Landsea Tours Ltd.
Brandywine Falls
If you drive the Sea to Sky Highway, take a break at Brandywine Falls between Squamish and Whistler. This 70-meter tall waterfall has carved a canyon out of volcanic rocks. It’s an easy 5-minute walk from the parking lot.
Alexander Falls
This off-the-bean-path waterfall is on the way to Whistler Olympic Park. It’s 43 meters tall and tumbles down five rock tiers. It’s very easy to access too: park right next to the viewing platform. In the winter, you can even snowshoe down to the base to see it covered in ice.
Alexander Falls near Whistler Olympic Park. Photo credit: HappiestOutdoors.ca
Nairn Falls
Visitors to Whistler should make a short detour north to Nairn Falls on the way to Pemberton. This raging waterfall has carved a curving path through a tight granite gorge. It’s a 45-minute hike to the viewing platform, but it’s easy and flat.
Gold Creek Falls
The easy trail to Gold Creek Falls is one of the most popular trails in Golden Ears Provincial Park in Maple Ridge. The walk takes about an hour each way. There’s a viewing platform at the falls, but bring a rain jacket as the falls can drench you with mist!
Cascade Falls
It’s worth making the drive out to Mission to visit Cascade Falls. It’s a short 5-minute hike to the falls. Once you get there, walk out on the suspension bridge to see the falls from all angles.
Bridal Veil Falls
This waterfall spreads out in a cascade across a broad rock face that some people say looks like a bride’s veil. It’s 60 meters high, so it’s pretty impressive. You can find Bridal Veil Falls just off highway 1 east of Chilliwack.
