Glacier National Park in BC is known for its high-elevation hikes with stunning panoramic views of dramatic glaciers and high mountain peaks, most of which involve over 1000m of elevation gain, and would typically not be classified as “easy hikes”. For hikers looking for short and easy day hikes in Glacier however, the walk to Bear Creek Falls is one of the best options. Just off of the highway which cuts through the park, Bear Creek Falls is also one of the best things to do if you’re just driving through and looking for a quick stop, with the short hike taking only 20 minutes each way. Before pouring down Bear Creek Falls, Connaught Creek parallels the Highway 1 through Glacier National Park’s main valley, where it’s fed by turquoise meltwater trickling down from the countless glaciers above. The dramatic glacier-fed waterfall crashes down explosively at the end of the trail, soaking any hikers that dare get too close.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Bear Creek Falls hike in Glacier for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.
Note: The Bear Creek Falls hike is located in Glacier National Park, meaning that a valid park pass is required. Day passes can be purchased at the park gates and are per day per person, but if you’re staying a week or longer, it’s more cost-effective to just buy an annual pass instead.
Before visiting Glacier National Park it’s essential to read up on the Parks Canada rules that must be followed to avoid tickets and/or fines. 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 Bear Creek Falls as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Bear Creek Falls Round Trip Details
Distance: 1.7 KM / 1 MI
Elevation Gain: 67 M / 220 FT
Hiking Time: 40 Mins
Hiking & Safety Tips
- Prepare for the possibility of wildlife encounters. Bear spray is a must whenever travelling in bear country, as well as learning how to use it. Though your chance of an aggressive bear encounter is low, it is always better to be prepared with bear spray. Bear bells are proven to be an ineffective bear deterrent, and are 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 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 Wapta Falls a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
When to Visit Bear Creek Falls
I visited Bear Creek Falls in late summer/early autumn and it was incredibly impressive. Like nearly all waterfalls in the rockies, Bear Creek Falls is at its most dramatic in spring when it’s fed by melting snow. That said, the spectacular blue colour I saw was from the glacial meltwater that feeds the waterfall throughout the year. If you visit in the spring when more of the creek is snow, I expect it wouldn’t be quite as nice a colour. Unlike some waterfalls which pretty much become trickles by late summer, the glacial meltwater keeps Bear Creek Falls flowing incredibly well, and I can guarantee an impressive waterfall no matter when you visit.
How to Get to Bear Creek Falls Trailhead
The Bear Creek Falls trailhead is just off of Highway 1 in Glacier National Park, either an hour east of Revelstoke or an hour west of Golden. The small turnoff is easy to miss, so I highly suggest using the Google Maps pin. There’s a Bear Creek Falls sign just before the turnoff if you’re driving from Revelstoke, but I didn’t see one on the other side of the highway.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking to Bear Creek Falls
The start of the hike down towards Bear Creek Falls from not far off of Highway 1.
The trail begins heading downhill towards the creek, and continues to do so for almost the entirety of the hike to Bear Creek Falls.
There are some glimpses through the trees into the valley in the distance, but mostly the walk is through beautiful forest.
More downhill. Some sections are a bit steeper than others, but it never gets crazy.
Connaught Creek comes into the view. From here the trail follows closely alongside it until reaching Bear Creek falls.
Bear Creek Falls. The trail here goes up a little on the right where the bank is steep before coming back down just around the corner.
Bear Creek Falls. The rocks near the falls are slippery, and everything is soaking wet from spray. If I’d visited the waterfall earlier in the year when it’s larger I don’t know how I would have managed to get any photos close to the waterfall, it was hard enough keeping my camera dry as is.
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 Bear Creek Falls in Glacier National Park! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.