Morison Creek near Errington on Vancouver Island is a sleepy little creek with a couple of surprises up its sleeve. This creek is home to some absolutely beautiful Vancouver Island waterfalls that are mostly known only to lcoals. Triple Falls is a set of three waterfalls that are easy to get to and are a must-visit spot if you’re in the area. The first waterfall (Upper Triple Falls) is about ten minutes from the start of the wide and flat trail, and is the most popular of the three falls. Though plenty of people do turn around here, it is possible to cross the Morison Creek via a fallen log (or to walk through the creek) in order to continue downstream to see the admittedly unimpressive Middle Triple Falls and the far more beautiful Lower Triple Falls. All in all, the trip takes about half an hour of walking, though you’ll want to spend some time sitting and enjoying the falls as well.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience Triple 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.
Lower Triple Falls on Vancouver Island
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 Triple Falls as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Triple Falls Round Trip Details
Distance: 0.7 KM / 0.4 MI
Elevation Gain: 20 M / 65 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 hike to Triple Falls a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
When to Visit Triple Falls
Like all waterfalls on Vancouver Island, the best time of year to visit Triplek 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 and though many of them do dry up in the summer. During the warm months Triple Falls tends to dry up to not much more than a trickle. Though still worth visiting at that time of year, don’t expect Triple Falls to look anything like pictured here,
How to Get to Triple Falls Trailhead
The trailhead for Triple Falls is located in Errington, about 45 minutes in either direction from either Nanaimo or Port Alberni. After driving for about 35 minutes from either city you’ll reach Errington Road. Look out for signs for Koi Fish and TNT Aquatics at the business nearby. Turn south onto Errington Road. Continue along Errington Road before turning left onto Dobson Road. After three minutes turn left onto Catherine Place. Near the end of the road on the right hand side you’ll see the trail peeling off into the woods. Park here and begin the walk to Triple Falls.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking to Triple Falls
The small trail to Triple Falls leading away from the road into the woods.
Not far from the trail is the neighboring private property. Please respect the locals and stay on the trail. The last thing we want is locals trying to close access because of hikers causing problems.
Take a right at an intersection to stay on track for Triple Falls.
Approaching Upper Triple Falls from above.
Upper Triple Falls looking fantastic.
Reaching the lower falls requires crossing the creek. If you’re not afraid to get a little wet, it’s not too tricky to wade through between the two drops – alternatively a fallen tree a little downstream makes for a perfect bridge.
Popping out on the other side. Triple Falls looks great from downstream.
The trail continues following the creek downstream to Lower Triple Falls.
The trail goes around Middle Triple Falls without getting a particularly good view but it is possible to take a short detour to approach the middle falls.
The middle falls are very unimpressive – probably in winter after heavy rainfall they are a bit more interesting – in my opinion it’s worth just continuing straight on to the much nicer lower falls.
Lower Triple Falls from above. The blocky stone near here makes for a near-perfect natural staircase to walk down to the creek below.
Getting the really good view of Lower Triple Falls does require wading across the creek however.
Lower Triple 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 Triple Falls on Vancouver Island! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.