15 Best Crowsnest Pass Waterfalls: Everything You Need to Know

The Crowsnest Pass is one seriously underrated part of the Alberta Rockies. Tucked inbetween Kananaskis Country to the north and the Castle Region to the south, the area is full of some majestic mountain summits, serene waterfalls, plus the unique towns that make up the Crownest Pass – all of which are worth exploring in their own right. With so many fantastic Crowsnest Pass activities it can be hard to decide where to go, but as far as I’m concerned – nothing beats a Crowsnest Pass waterfall on a hot summer day.

If you’re looking for some of the best things to do in the Crowsnest Pass, keep on reading. The Pass is full of incredible waterfalls that are worth your time. Ranging from short and easy hikes to more involved ones, all the way to waterfalls you can see without even leaving your car, there is sure to be a waterfall on this list that is perfect for everyone.

Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience these 15 amazing waterfalls in the Crowsnest Pass for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.

Tips for Visiting Crowsnest Pass Waterfalls

When in the outdoors 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.

I also highly recommend reading up on Leave No Trace principles before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. Following these important principles basically means doing your best to leave beautiful places like these Crowsnest Pass waterfalls as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.

When to Visit Crowsnest Pass Waterfalls

Most waterfalls in the Crowsnest Pass are best visited during spring, when they are primarily fed by melting snow, though many continue to flow well later in the year. While some waterfalls in the Rockies are fed by glacial melt, meaning that they flow bost in the hotter temperatures of the summer, there are no longer any glaciers remaining in the Crowsnest Pass.

Best Crowsnest Pass Waterfalls

Lower Sentry Cave Falls

Lower Sentry Cave Falls is a stunning and unique seasonal waterfall found at the base of Sentry Mountain. It’s one of the easy Crowsnest Pass waterfalls to get to on this list because it requires no hiking. Every Spring, fueled by snowmelt, it gushes dramatically out of the side of Sentry Mountain – seemingly from nowhere. Once all the snow finishes melting Lower Sentry Cave Falls dries up for the summer. Make sure time your visit accordingly, otherwise you’re bound for disappointment. Though approaching the base of Lower Sentry Cave Falls requires no hiking, if you’re looking for some exercise you can view it from above hiking up nearby Bald Hill. (If you’re looking for even more of a challenge, Crowsnest Ridge also offers great views of the waterfall from above.) As it can only be visited early in the year, Lower Sentry Cave Falls makes for an excellent start to a season of waterfall chasing in the Crowsnest Pass! Keep on reading to discover some more waterfalls to check off the list once you’ve visited this one.

Crowsnest Creek Falls

Crowsnest Creek Falls is another delightful roadside waterfall located just on the western edge of the Crowsnest Pass in the Livingstone PLUZ. A small bench makes this waterfall the perfect place to stop and have a picnic while taking in the relaxing views of Crowsnest Creek making its way down to Crowsnest Lake. Plus, this small waterfall is located on the same road as the hike up Island Ridge, one of my favourite Crowsnest Pass hikes I’ve done to date. The road is a bit rough (like most in the Crowsnest Pass) and follows alongside Crowsnest Creek until reaching the waterfall.

Allison Creek Falls

Allison Creek Falls is a top Crowsnest Pass hike for a reason. The short and easy hike to this picturesque waterfall is a great hike for adventurous families, requiring a couple of shallow creek crossings along the way – and offering lovely views the entire way up. Starting at Chinook Lake in the Crowsnest Pass, the trail circles around the lakeshore before following the creek upstream to an unique staircase-like waterfall consisting of a series of cascades leading up to what remains of an old dam. Pair this waterfall with a nice dip or paddle in Chinook Lake for a perfect outing.

Star Creek Falls

Star Creek Falls is a short Crowsnest Pass waterfall hike for the adventurous. The scenic trail makes its way alongside gorgeous Star Creek for less than a kilometre before reaching the first of several log “bridges”, followed by a steep scramble up alongside Lower Star Creek Falls assisted by a chain. After rounding the corner at the top of this short but exciting section, a steep and scenic canyon opens up on either side rewarding hikers with some magnificent views. The short section of canyon just before reaching Star Creek Falls is one of my favourite spots in the Crowsnest Pass, and is why the hike to Star Creek Falls is one of my top-rated Crowsnest Pass hikes. Its also possible to hike an upper loop around the canyon without actually entering it, viewing Star Creek Falls from above. This alternative hike, though steep, is a lot milder than the scramble through the canyon. In my opinion the hike to the base of star creek falls via the canyon is the much more fun option.

Lower Star Creek Falls

Did I mention Star Creek Falls was a two-for-one? Lower Star Creek Falls is a lovely waterfall that must be passed along the way to the upper falls. This waterfall consists of a series of small cascades that make their way down directly next to chain scrambling section of the hike. If you’re not up for the scramble up the rest of the way, the base of Lower Star Creek Falls is the perfect turnaround point as it can be reached easily without much difficulty. Lower Star Creek Falls can’t be seen from the alternate route up above the canyon, so the only way to see this Crowsnest Pass waterfall is by following the trail up alongside Star Creek.

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls is one of the most charming and pleasant walks in the Crowsnest Pass, located at the end of the Miner’s Path, a historic trail once used by local miners. The entire walk there is clearly lovingly maintained by the local community, and the creekside walk through the lush and verdant forest is easy and enjoyable. The waterfall at the end only improves an already fantastic walk. Rainbow Falls is one of the best Crowsnest Pass waterfalls to visit with young kids due to the short and challenge-free trail. Hikers looking for an additional challenge can continue along the trail beyond Rainbow Falls all the way up Saskatoon Mountain, one of my favourite Crowsnest Pass hikes.

York Creek Falls

York Creek Falls is one stunning waterfall that is definitely worth your time. Located south of the town of Coleman, York Creek Falls is one of the least-visited but also one of the best Crowsnest Pass waterfalls on this list. It’s incredibly easy to reach the top of this gorgeous waterfall, but making your way around to the view the waterfall from the other side requires crossing York Creek. This symmetrical waterfall is exactly what most people imagine when they picture a beautiful waterfall. Located just a few minutes walk from the bumpy and potholed York Creek Road, if you’re taking the time to check out this waterfall you might as well also visit the next waterfall on the list – Solitude Falls.

Solitude Falls

Solitude Falls is not the easiest Crowsnest Pass waterfall to reach, as following the faint and overgrown trail requires keen eyes. This may not be the waterfall walk for you if you look well-signed nicely manicured trails. That said, the much shorter walk to view the waterfall from above is a piece of cake. I highly recommend continuing down to the base of the falls though – the trail isn’t technically challenging, and the reward of getting up close to this stunning and rarely-visited Crowsnest Pass waterfall makes it well worth it.

Drum Creek Falls

Much like Rainbow Falls, the trail to Drum Creek combines beautiful Crowsnest Pass natural scenery with interesting local mining history. Drum Creek Falls is located at the end of a beautiful mossy canyon – one of my favourites in the Crowsnest Pass. What makes this Crowsnest Pass hike even better are the fascinating Hillcrest Mine ruins that the trail passes through along the way. After leading past the ruins the trail leads down a steep switchbacking hill towards beautiful Drum Creek. This is one of the least-frequented waterfalls in the Crowsnest Pass, but it’s beauty is easily on par with any of the other waterfalls on this list.

Lower Drum Creek Falls

Lower Drum Creek Falls is another two-for-one located just slightly downstream of the larger main falls. If you’re visiting the one, you might as well also visit the other.

Aurum Falls

Aurum Falls is one of several stunning waterfalls on scenic Gold Creek worth visiting. Located in the Livingstone PLUZ not far from the Frank Slide Interpretive Center, this Crowsnest Pass waterfall is located only a short distance from the road. Aurum Falls is one of the largest waterfalls you can visit in the Crowsnest Pass, and definitely is one not to be missed. Sadly the land on the opposite side of the creek is private property, so the views of the waterfall are slightly detracted from by the large house located behind the falls. If you can get past that fact, the natural beauty of this Crowsnest Pass hidden gem more than makes up for it. Continue reading for two more lovely waterfalls also located on Gold Creek, all of which can be combined into one fantastic day of Crowsnest Pass waterfall chasing.

Fool’s Gold Falls

Fool’s Gold Falls is a small waterfall located just slightly downstream of the much larger Aurum Falls, and if you are visiting the one waterfall it’s more than worth making the short diversion to visit the other.

Flake Falls

Flake Falls is another modest Crowsnest Pass waterfall located on Gold Creek, reachable by a short and pleasant walk through the woods along a hilly trail. Just before reaching this charming waterfall is a lovely view of Gold Creek with Turtle Mountain peeking out in the distance. This is a lovely secluded spot in the Crowsnest Pass that requires no real work to get to, plus the small primitive campsite located right next to the waterfall is the perfect place for a picnic, making this a great Crowsnest Pass waterfall for families to visit.

Lille Falls

Serene and picturesque Lille Falls is often visited by hikers on their way to visit the site of the former town of Lille. Whether it’s your final destination or just a stop along the way, Lille Falls makes pie a perfect to stop and enjoy a snack while taking in the lovely view. The walk to Lille Falls is along a wide and largely flat trail, making it a perfect walk for groups or families.

Lundbreck Falls

I’ve really been saving the best for last here. Not only is Lundbreck Falls is probably the most spectacular of Crowsnest Pass waterfalls, it’s also one of the absolute easiest to access. Located just off of Highway 3 near the town of Lundbreck at the east end of the Crowsnest Pass and at the very edge between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains, it’s the perfect candidate for a short detour if you’re driving through the area. There’s no hiking required at all. Check out the viewing platforms on either side of the falls, or if you’d like to feel the spray up close take the stairs down and enjoy the falls from the base.

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.