Obscure and rarely visited, Shooting Star Falls (and Upper Shooting Star Falls) are fantastic set of waterfalls close to Nanaimo that prove yet again that on Vancouver Island you don’t need to drive far out of the city to get a fantastic dose of nature. These gorgeous Vancouver Island waterfalls are located at the end of a short but poorly marked walk through some absolutely magical mossy forest with lots of big trees. The route down to Shooting Star Falls is steep at points, but this section can be avoided by not going all the way to the base of the falls. The base of the upper falls is far more easily approached. If you do plan on making it down I would recommend good footwear, and would avoid doing it when it’s wet and muddy.
Did you know that there are actually three waterfalls on this creek? Lower Shooting Star Falls is another lovely waterfall that is accessed from a different section of the creek, but is close enough that it can easily be visited on the same day.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience Shooting Star Falls on Vancouver Island 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 Shooting Star Falls as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Shooting Star Falls Round Trip Details
Distance: 0.7 KM / 0.4 MI
Elevation Gain: 30 M / 98 FT
Hiking Time: 30 Mins
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 walk to Shooting Star Falls a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
When to Visit Shooting Star Falls
Like all waterfalls on Vancouver Island, the best time of year to visit Shooting Star 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, with many of them drying up in the summer.
How to Get to Shooting Star Falls Trailhead
Shooting Star Falls is located in Nanoose, about 25 minutes north of Nanaimo, making it a great waterfall hike near Nanaimo, and perfect as a day trip. If driving on the Island Highway from Nanaimo, look out for the Nanoose Rest Area on the left side of the road. After passing the rest area, take the next left off of the highway and onto Summerset Road. If driving from the north this is the first right turn immediately after passing Arlington Liquor Store. From Summerset Road keep left at the fork to turn onto Sea Blush Drive. Continue for 2.5 kms before turning left onto Shooting Star Place. Follow Shooting Star Place and park at the end of the road, where the trail to Shooting Star Falls starts.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Walking to Shooting Star Falls
Parked at the end of Shooting Star Place. The trail quickly turns off to the right from here.
Crossing some wooden boards and entering the trail through the woods to Shooting Star Falls.
The trail widens into a bit of a clearing. Continue walking straight to see the trail continuing through the trees on the other side.
A fork in the trail. From here Upper Shooting Star Falls can be heard to the right, so it might seem intuitive to head right. This is the wrong way, as it doesn’t lead down to the falls. Go left here, passing by the falls.
The trail stays relatively close to beautiful China Creek. The trees here are draped with moss and absolutely beautiful.
The trail is a little hard to follow at points. It heads straight along the top of a bit of a ridge running parallel to the creek
After passing the sound of Shooting Star Falls, the trail reaches a logical endpoint on the ridge and backtracks down towards the waterfall.
Shooting Star Falls coming into view as the trail heads down the hillside.
The path can be seen continuing at right onwards to Upper Shooting Star Falls. To clamber down to the base of Shooting Star Falls aim left of this large old tree.
It’s rooty and steep on the final descent towards Shooting Star Falls, and I wouldn’t recommend this section if its muddy and wet. After spending time at the base of the falls I headed back up a little to continue on to Upper Shooting Star Falls.
Back up on the main trail and continuing towards Upper Shooting Star Falls, following the trail upstream.
Now above the lower falls, the creek is visible next to the trail.
Upper Shooting Star Falls. An old stave pipe is visible in the ground at right.
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 Shooting Star Falls on Vancouver Island Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.