When the waters of China Creek leap over the edge of China Creek Falls down into the frothing pool below, they do so with an incredible amount of force. China Creek Falls is one of the most powerful waterfalls in the Port Alberni region, and this spectacular waterfall is probably at the top of my list of must-do things in the area. It really can’t be missed.
The trail to China Creek Falls follows fairly closely alongside the impossibly turquoise China Creek as it makes its way upstream through beautiful Vancouver Island rainforest. Tall, verdant, moss-draped trees drip water on the heads of unsuspecting hikers as they pass below. As it approaches the waterfall, the China Creek trail gains elevation sharply, heading up a steep hillside overlooking the creek before descending straight to the falls. Caution is definitely required on the steep sections, and I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the trail for small kids. Ropes are conveniently strung up for most of the steep sections which are of a definite help.
There isn’t a lot of area to move around once at the small rocky bank at the base of the falls and it would be challenging to approach the falls any closer, but the view of China Creek Falls is fantastic nonetheless. China Creek is powerful here, and the falls a spectacular display of the water’s strength. It’s the perfect place to find a not-too-sharp rock to sit on and take it in for a while.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the China Creek Falls hike near Port Alberni for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.
When hiking it’s important to avoid harmful practices such as disturbing plants or rock-stacking, or removing any natural object from flowers to rocks, as it’s important to leave the environment as natural as possible for the animals and for fellow hikers to enjoy in perpetuity. As many flowers as there are, there are few enough that if we all took one, then there wouldn’t be any left. Take only photos, leave only footprints.
If you haven’t heard of Leave No Trace principles, they’re also really essential to read up on before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. Following these important principles basically means doing your best to leave beautiful places like China Creek Falls as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
China Creek Falls Round Trip Details
Distance: 3.5 KM / 2.2 MI
Elevation Gain: 62 M / 203 FT
Hiking Time: 1.5 HRS
Hiking & Safety Tips
- Prepare for the possibility of wildlife encounters. There are almost no grizzly bears on Vancouver Island, but black bears are still common. Bear bells are proven to be an ineffective bear deterrent, and are even actively discouraged by Parks Canada. The best way to let bears know you’re around is simply to use your voice. Make sure to keep a respectful distance from wildlife and never feed the animals. It may seem kind but it doesn’t just kill wildlife and put people in danger, it’s also in many cases illegal.
- Research current trail conditions and make sure you are well-informed about the route before you leave, and assess if it is within your capability. Be aware of what time it gets dark and check the weather forecast. Make sure to tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return. Every year as more and more people try hiking for the first time, the number of rescues goes up. Being prepared is the best defense.
- Pack everything you need for a successful hike, including enough water and energy-rich snacks. Remember to pack out everything you pack in though – don’t expect to find a convenient garbage can halfway up the trail. Bring appropriate layers (remember you’ll warm up once you start hiking) and sun protection. Hiking poles may be helpful but are not required. In addition to not leaving any garbage on the trail yourself, I highly recommend bringing a garbage bag and collecting any trash that you do see on the trail. You’re guaranteed to make the hike to China Creek Falls a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
When to Visit China Creek Falls
Like all waterfalls on Vancouver Island, the best time of year to visit China Creek Falls is during the rainy months of October to April. During the peak of the rainy season on Vancouver Island, waterfalls can be guaranteed to be fat and gushing with water and though many of them do dry up in the summer, China Creek Falls can be expected to flow decently year-round.
How to Get to China Creek Falls Trailhead
The China Creek Falls trailhead is located about ten minutes south of Port Alberni on Franklin River Road, which starts near the Alberni Inlet trailhead. The area is being actively logged, and the road is busy on weekdays with logging trucks, so caution is required. Remember to yield to logging trucks – they can’t brake as fast as you can. Shortly after the paved road passes a large industrial area on the left it road turns to gravel. Just under a kilometre further look out for the yellow gate on the left, and pull to the side here without blocking the gate. The trail starts through the trees just near here.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking to China Creek Falls
Parked just off the side of the road near the yellow gate. The trail begins through the trees just past where I’m walking.
The easy-to-miss start of the trail just off the side of the road.
The beautiful forest is covered with verdant moss even in winter. The trail here is straightforward and easy to follow, and the surrounding views charming.
The trail heads along the top of a short ridge with drop-offs on either side. China Creek can be seen down below, and even an extra waterfall downstream if you look through the foliage at the right moment.
Turning left at a junction, following the sign pointing to “falls”.
The trail stays relatively close to beautiful China Creek. The trees here are draped with moss and absolutely beautiful.
Not the most trustworthy bridge I’ve crossed in my life but it’ll do.
The beautiful green of the river is hard to beat.
Sadly large sections of the forest right next to the trail were cut last year. Future hikers will get to see new forest rising up, but I’ve heard that more cuts alongside the trail are planned for the near future as well.
As always, proper footwear is essential in order to stay on the muddy sections of trail without trampling all the surrounding plants.
A rope around this gigantic tree makes the start of the ascent easier.
Further ropes continue to aid hikers as the trail rises up the hillside looking down on China Creek.
What goes up must come down, and here it does so steeply. Caution is required. China Creek Falls can definitely be heard from here, and pops into view while climbing down the hill.
Carefully climbing down the steep rocks.
Beautiful China Creek Falls.
Recommended Hiking Gear
Water is a must whenever I’m hiking, especially if the sun is going to be out. My favourite water filter I’ve used is the Katadyn BeFree 0.6L, which unlike other water filters I’ve used packs up really small and lightweight. For hikes where I know there won’t be any readily available water sources along the way, I make sure to bring my own. The Hydrapak Stow 1L bottle is my go-to, for the same reason that it’s made of a soft plastic that folds up and doesn’t take up any more extra space than necessary in my pack. Finally, Aquatabs are another great option for purifying water, with one tablet being suitable for one litre of water. I previously used the Grayl water filter while travelling internationally, and though I found its hard body more convenient for day to day use and easier to drink from, it has a little too much bulk for my fast-and-light style of hiking.
The secret to all my photos of gorgeous sunset and sunrise mountaintop views? A lot of hiking in the dark. And let me speak from personal experience when I say that the last thing that you want to happen when hiking is to be caught in the dark without a headlamp. I used the Black Diamond Spot 400 for years and it worked great – until I lost it on top of a mountain somewhere. The only downside to it was having to worry about the batteries dying, though there’s also a slightly more expensive version that has a rechargeable battery. Nowadays I’m using the Petzl Actik Core, which is a bit pricier than the more budget-friendly Black Diamond, but is also brighter, more comfortable (in my opinion), and has a hybrid power system that is rechargeable but can also take AAA batteries if needed.
You won’t see me using trekking poles on shorter hikes often – but on long hikes and backpacking trips, as well as certain scrambles, they are an absolute lifesaver. I’ve invested in a high quality ultra-lightweight pair of MSR DynaLock Ascent carbon poles which, while pricey, I don’t regret one bit. If you’re not entirely sure how much use you’re going to get out of a pair of trekking poles, the best budget-friendly option would be the Trekology Trek Z 2.0. Amazon does sell a lot of cheaper Made in China-style trekking poles for cheaper, but these usually are much much heavier and not worth buying.
All the best and most long-lasting cables and power banks I’ve ever owned have been Anker. I once had a phone cable from them that lasted me over three years of daily use! That’s why I keep an Anker PowerCore Essential 20K power bank on me. Like many people I use my phone for a lot of stuff when hiking (checking in with family, using online maps, taking photos, flying my drone) so I like to be prepared for that low battery warning by having a backup power source on me just in case.
The only socks I ever buy for myself are from Darn Tough, and I almost always make sure to wear them when hiking. After years of having no problems only wearing these comfortable and rugged socks for hikes, I accidentally wore a pair of no-name socks on a hike last year and ended up with blisters on both feet. Safe to say I’m back to sticking with the Darn Tough. And the best part? They have a lifetime guarantee, meaning that if they ever wear out you can send them back for a brand new pair. For hiking footwear I go between a pair of lightweight approach shoes for quick and dirty mountain ascents or anything involving scrambling and more heavy-duty boots for longer treks. I’ve worn a couple different versions of the lightweight but super durable Arc’teryx Konseal FL 2 approach shoes for a few years now and am very impressed with the durability. I also really like the thick toecap that keeps me protected every time I stumble into a root or large rock. For longer, tougher, or muddier treks I rely on my LOWA Camino EVO GTX, which I find insanely comfortable and made of very high quality.
I wear my Ar’teryx Gamma Lightweight Pants on every single hike I go on, and on many days when I’m not hiking. After several years of abuse they are still holding together extraordinarily well, with only a few small holes from where I’ve fallen down and some slight stains from being repeatedly coated with mud. They’re lightweight, breathable, and super comfortable. For lightweight and breathable hiking tops I’m a big fan of both the Patagonia Capilene Shirt and the MEC Core Shirt. My Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody shows up in a lot of my photos. It’s super lightweight and packable, and does a great job of cutting the wind while also being pretty breathable. I also have an Arc’teryx Atom Hoody and Arc’teryx Beta LT that I pull out for cooler or wetter conditions.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to hiking to China Creek Falls in Port Alberni! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.
You are wrong there are lots of grizzly bears on Vancouver Island..it’s the black bears that are disappearing..sadly