Fat from meltwater from glaciers high up in the Bugaboo Mountains, Bugaboo Creek tears its way via valley bottom down into the Rocky Mountain Trench where it joins Columbia River north of Radium Hot Springs. Of the two notable waterfalls on its length, Lower Bugaboo Falls is the most easily accessible, located just off of Highway 95 via short detour, making it a perfect hike for those looking to take a break from the long car ride through the Columbia Valley.
Lower Bugaboo Falls leaps over a rocky cliff, impressively crashing into the ground below. The views of the falls at the end of the trail are spectacular, with rocky ledges just above the falls allowing the bold to get as close as they dare.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Lower Bugaboo Falls hike in the Columbia Valley 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 Lower Bugaboo Falls as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Lower Bugaboo Falls Round Trip Details
Distance: 3.3 KM / 2 MI
Elevation Gain: 148 M / 486 FT
Hiking Time: 1 HR
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 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 Lower Bugaboo Falls a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
When to Visit Lower Bugaboo Falls
I visited Lower Bugaboo Falls in late summer / early autumn when most waterfalls are at their lowest, but glacier-fed Lower Bugaboo Falls was incredibly impressive at this time of year, so I can’t imagine there’s any wrong time to visit. The one thing to watch out for on the trail if hiking in summer is the bloodthirsty horde of mosquitoes that live on one section of the trail, Read on to see how to avoid this section.
How to Get to Lower Bugaboo Falls Trailhead
The trailhead for Lower Bugaboo Falls is just under an hour south of Golden, half an hour north of Radium Hot Springs, or two hours north of Cranbrook. If driving from the south, at Brisco turn west onto Brisco Road and follow it as it crosses the river and makes several turns, driving past the trailhead for Brisco Falls, another incredibly jaw-dropping waterfall worth stopping at. After 12km the turnoff into the Lower Bugaboo Falls parking area will be on the left. If driving from the north, turn west at Spillimacheen onto Westside Road. After 2 km Westside Road intersects with Giant Mine Road and turns left. The gravel road winds through the woods for a further 6 km until the parking area is visible on the right.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking to Lower Bugaboo Falls
The small parking area for Lower Bugaboo Falls
The start of the trail for Lower Bugaboo Falls.
The trail is initially pretty straight and level. Patches of yellow on the leaves around me announce the turning of the seasons.
Peekaboo views back towards the Rocky Mountain Trench as the trail goes up and down some small hills.
An important fork. Turning left leads through a level swampy area infamous for its killer mosquitos, whereas the much more scenic right path does have some elevation loss and gain as it heads down alongside the water to view Lower Bugaboo Falls from below before climbing back up steeply to the top of the falls. Many people make it a loop by choosing a diferent path on the way back.
Some of the lovely views from the right path as it heads down towards the water.
Approaching the creek to view the falls from below. Scroll up to the pictures at the top of this blog post to see the view from here.
Climbing back up steeply – the only downside of choosing this trail. Fortunately the steep section is short.
Reunited with the other trail, the path heads to a ledge overlooking Lower Bugaboo Falls.
Incredible views of the roaring waterfall.
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 Lower Bugaboo Falls in the Columbia Valley! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.