Sombrio Hidden Falls

The hidden waterfall at Sombrio Beach on Vancouver Island is one of the most special and beautiful spots anywhere on the island, but also one of the most infuriating to visit. The recent social media-fueled explosion of popularity of the once-hidden waterfall means that more than ever people are leaving garbage lying around, and even worse, carving their names into the emerald canyon walls, selfishly ruining what is supposed to be a wonderful experience for others. There’s no way to put the cat in the bag though; Sombrio Hidden Falls isn’t a secret anymore, and well it shouldn’t be. A destination as idyllic as this should be enjoyed by many, but the people who damage it should be tarred and feathered. it goes without saying that if you see any garbage lying around – pick it up. And if you see anyone carving their name into the walls – photograph them, stop them, or preferably both.

The walk to Sombrio Hidden Falls is fantastic, starting off through second-growth forest until it reaches beautiful Sombrio beach, one of the most iconic (and popular) beaches on Southern Vancouver Island’s west coast. Next comes the longest section of the walk – though you’ll wish that the picturesque views walking down Sombrio Beach would last longer. Be warned, walking on the large pebbles that make up the beach requires a bit more effort than the trail. It’s all good exercise though. Eventually, turn up to follow a creek from the ocean to its source somewhere deep in the forest. As you walk steep mossy canyon walls will rise up around you, and as you approach the waterfall the temperature noticeably drops by several degrees. This is a special place. Treat it as such.

Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Sombrio Hidden Falls hike 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 Sombrio Hidden Falls as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.

Sombrio Hidden Falls Round Trip Details

Distance: 3.3 KM / 2 MI

Elevation Gain: 62 M / 203 FT

Hiking Time: 1 Hr

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.

  More tips for hiking in bear country.

• 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.

  More information on staying safe in the outdoors.

• 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 Sombrio Hidden Falls a more enjoyable experience for the next person.

When to Visit Sombrio Hidden Falls

Like all waterfalls on Vancouver Island, the best time of year to visit Sombrio Hidden 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 but a lack of rainfall in summer means that Sombrio Hidden Falls can dry up and be a bit underwhelming. As well, it’s important to keep in mind that Sombrio Beach is one of Vancouver island’s most popular beaches in summer. It can get very crowded. You may also be interested in checking out the tide chart for the area. While the falls are accessible even at high tide, exploring the beach is more fun when the tide is low.

How to Get to Sombrio Hidden Falls Trailhead

Sombrio Beach is about an hour and a half from Victoria, and about twenty minutes from Port Renfrew. Stopping at Sombrio Beach i just one of the many things to do while driving between Victoria and Port Renfrew. The turnoff from the highway is a somewhat nondescript old logging road, so after seeing signs for Sombrio Beach make sure to keep an eye out for the turn. The dusty gravel windy road leads down for just under 2 km, and is generally in pretty good condition, though some cars may want to take it slowly.

Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.

Hiking to Sombrio Hidden Falls

The trail down to Sombrio Beach heading down from the crowded parking lot.

Large stumps from what was once a majestic old-growth forest can be seen scattered between the newer growth. It’s all downhill along the wide trail.

The trail forks. Head left, following signs for East Sombrio for the fastest and most direct route. It’s also possible to head right, which will just deposit you further up the beach extending your walk down to the falls.

A small bridge just before the trail dumps you out at the beach.

Sombrio Beach. Head left to walk down the beach towards the waterfall.

Exploring tidepools along the way. Look but don’t touch. Note the end of the beach and the cliffs visible in the distance. Use this as a landmark. It’s until near the end of the beach that you’ve reached the turn for the waterfall.

Just before the end of the beach, this creek carved a path for itself down to the ocean. Turn here and follow the creek upstream.

There are a number of logs here.

Following the creek upstream for only a couple minutes leads into the beautiful lush canyon. Expect to get your feet wet walking inside.

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 Sombrio Hidden Falls on Vancouver Island! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.