From a summer full of visiting dozens of spectacular waterfalls, Moyie Falls definitely stands out as a highlight. This gorgeous waterfall crashes down thunderously, with blocky canyon walls rising up on either side. Almost all of my favourite waterfalls are those in canyons like these, as those steep walls block out everything except for the beauty of the falls, making it easy to forget about the rest of the world. This gorgeous waterfall is located only a short drive from Cranbrook or Kimberley, and is a favourite among local residents for good reason.
Much like many other Cranbrook waterfalls, Moyie Falls is in an area pockmarked with mines, several gold mine entrances and multiple pieces of decades-old mining equipment visible from the waterfall itself. This area has been actively mined for over a century, continuing today, as evidenced by the still-in-use mining road that must be walked down to access the falls. When the road reaches the rushing Moyie River, it’s necessary to find a suitable place to cross, so watershoes may be recommended. Due to the required river crossing, Moyie Falls may be considered inaccessible during snowmelt, and is often visited only later in the year.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Moyie Falls hike near Cranbrook 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 Moyie Falls as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Moyie Falls Round Trip Details
Distance: 2.8 KM / 1.7 MI
Elevation Gain: 45 M / 147 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 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 Moyie Falls a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
When to Visit Moyie Falls
Like many waterfalls in the Rockies, Moyie falls will be at its most powerful in late Spring. Melting snow and recent rainfall mean that the water level is at its highest, and the waterfalls at their most dramatic. That said, due to the necessary river crossing, Moyie Falls is most popular in late summer and autumn when the water level is lower. I suspect most people would find crossing the river challenging too early in the year, as when I visited in the summer I still found the water higher than I expected. Especially if you’re visiting Moyie Falls with children, I would wait until late summer at least.
How to Get to Moyie Falls Trailhead
Moyie Falls is located about a half hour from Cranbrook, or forty five minutes from Kimberley. To get there drive south from Cranbrook along the Crowsnest Highway for about ten minutes until turning right at the east-to-miss turn onto Lumberton Road. Follow this well-maintained gravel road as it winds up the hills, and enjoy the views. After driving for about seven kilometres, you’ll reach a point where the road diverges, with the well-maintained gravel road turning sharply right, and a slightly less friendly dirt road continuing straight ahead. I initially missed the left turn at this intersection, which leads directly into the small dirt parking area with room for about a dozen cars.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking to Moyie Falls
From the parking area, walking down the hill along a mining road.
The road is initially blocked by a yellow gate that can be easily walked around.
Heading down. The rushing river can be heard down below.
The river needs to be crossed. While it is possible to follow the road and cross here, I suggest following this smaller trail upstream to where the river is wider and more shallow.
Following the trail until I find a suitable place to cross.
The best place to cross. The path can be seen on the other side of the river where it continues upriver.
Continuing upriver as steep canyon walls begin to rise up on either side.
Beautiful Moyie 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 Moyie Falls near Cranbrook! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.