40+ Awesome Vancouver Island Waterfalls

Vancouver Island is home to some of the wettest conditions in Canada, with some regions experiencing more annual rainfall than anywhere else in North America. It’s no surprise that the result is an island that is covered in a dense forest of giant trees, ferns, and mosses, as well as raging rivers and gorgeous waterfalls that cascade down lush slopes from high mountain peaks.

Waterfall chasing is a popular pasttime here, and one of the best things to do on Vancouver Island. There are so many fantastic waterfalls, of varying accessibility levels, that it can be hard to know where to start. From easily accessible roadside waterfalls right near cities to ones requiring longer treks, there are tons to choose from. I’ve compiled a list of all the Vancouver Island waterfalls I’ve been lucky enough to visit, and will continue to update this blog post as I visit more.

Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience these amazing Vancouver Island waterfalls for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.

Tips for Visiting Vancouver Island Waterfalls

When in the outdoors 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.

I also highly recommend reading up on Leave No Trace principles before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. Following these important principles basically means doing your best to leave beautiful places like these Nanaimo waterfalls as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.

When to Visit Waterfalls on Vancouver Island

Most waterfalls on Vancouver Island are primarily fed by rainwater, fortunately for local waterfall chasers Nanaimo is located in one one of the rainiest and wettest regions in all of Canada. During the months of winter when the rest of Canada is blanketed in snow, Nanaimo rains and rains and rains. For this reason winter and early spring are the best seasons to visit waterfalls in the region. Visitors to Nanaimo in the summer can expect to find many of the waterfalls listed here significantly diminished, with many waterfalls drying up almost completely during the drier summer and early autumn months.

Best Vancouver Island Waterfalls

Falls Creek Falls

Falls Creek Falls is an obscure and rarely visited waterfall located only a five minute walk from a logging road just outside of Port Renfrew. This waterfall is one of the most beautiful I’ve visited on the Island, and the fact that you’re likely to have it all to yourself makes it even more special.

Sombrio Hidden Falls

Sombrio Hidden Falls is ironically one of the most well-known waterfalls on Vancouver Island. This former hidden gem located in a beautiful mossy canyon up from Sombrio Beach has sadly become a bit of a victim of its social media popularity, and it’s not uncommon for trashy people to carve their names into the mossy canyon walls. Nonetheless, it’s an incredibly beautiful spot that pictures can’t do justice.

Mystic Beach Falls

Mystic Beach is a popular spot these days, especialy in the summer. It’s not hard to see why. This dramatic waterfall plunges off a cliff into the ocean below. The beach itself is great to explore as well, and even has a sea cave on the other end of the beach. It does take a hike to get here though, and as is typical for Vancouver Island’s wild west coast, it is pretty consistently wet and muddy. You’ll want to wear good hiking boots and clothes you can get dirty for this one.

China Beach Falls

Unknown to most, this small waterfall is found by wandering down China Beach to where a creek cascades down towards the ocean. it’s actually just the lowest drop in a series of beautiful waterfalls, but the further falls are only visible from above.

Sandcut Beach Falls

Sandcut Beach Falls is another gorgeous two-pronged waterfall on the west coast of Vancouver Island, located at the end of a short walk down through the woods and up along the beach. After it falls down the picturesque cliff, the water from Sandcut Creek carves a stream (sometimes two) through the pebble beach down towards the ocean, always shifting direction. The changing nature of the pebble beach below the falls means that Sandcut Beach Falls’ height can dramatically vary as well, meaning its worth visiting – Sandcut Beach Falls never looks the same twice.

Mary Vine Creek Falls

Mary Vine Creek Falls is located in the Sooke Hills not far from Victoria, and is located at the end of a short and fairly easy hike. Access is from Sooke Potholes Provincial Park at the end of a drive through some gorgeous old forest. A short pleasant walk up alongside Mary Vine Creek leads through the woods to this beautiful waterfall popular among local photographers.

Todd Creek Falls

Todd Creek Falls is another fantastic Victoria waterfall that’s often visited in conjunction with Mary Vine Creek Falls, as both are accessible from the same park. Todd Creek Falls is visible from the road on the drive to the Mary Vince Creek Falls parking lot, but the best views are obtained by parking in the nearby lot and walking up to the falls themselves. If you’re driving to visit one of these waterfalls, I highly recommend visiting the other as well.

Sitting Lady Falls

Sitting Lady Falls is located at Witty’s Lagoon, a bird-watcher’s paradise near Metchosin southwest of Victoria. Here it’s possible to take a two-minute stroll to this stunning Victoria waterfall, or to park a little further away and enjoy an even more pleasant walk along the lagoon, keeping an eye out for any of the 160 species of birds that can be found in the park. Whichever route you choose, the waterfall at the end is one of the best waterfalls Victoria has to offer.

Cascade Falls

Cascade Falls in Gowlland Todd Provincial Park is located remarkably close to Durrance Falls and is a common stop along the walk to Mckenzie Bight, and is one of the tallest and most impressive waterfalls close to Victoria. The trail there does involve some steep stairs down to the fall, and it’s not really possible to approach the falls themselves due to the steep gully. Still, Cascade Falls is a must-visit waterfall near Victoria.

Durrance Falls

Durrance Falls was the first waterfall I visited on Vancouver Island, and the first post ever published on this blog. A short walk along level path leads around Durrance Lake, a popular fishing and swimming spot in the summer not far from Victoria. Great views of the waterfall from above are easily obtained, though an optional challenging downclimb to the base of the waterfall is possible.

Goldstream Falls

Goldstream Falls is one of the most deceptively impressive waterfalls near Victoria, with photos completely failing to capture its size and strength. Goldstream Falls crashes into a large deep pool that in the summer is a popular swimming spot. This pool also prevents anyone with a camera from getting too close to the falls, making it look much smaller in photos than it is in reality. The walk to this spectacular waterfall in Goldstream Provincial Park starts from the Goldstream Campground and heads up alongside Goldstream River. The walk does involve a surprising amount of elevation gain as it leads to the waterfall, but the luah moss-covered ancient trees along the way more than make up for the work that’s required to visit this waterfall.

Hidden Spring Falls

Despite being the smallest waterfall near Victoria, I was really surprised to find it ranking as one of my favourites. Like the other waterfalls in Goldstream Provincial Park, Hidden Spring Falls is accessed by a short walk from the highway. Much less visited than the park’s two most well-known attractions Niagara Falls and Goldstream Falls, Hidden Spring Falls offers a quiet little forest sanctuary where you’re unlikely to see anyone else. The trail is marked on official maps, but doesn’t seem to be maintained or promoted to the same degree as the other waterfalls in the park.

MacFarlane Falls

MacFarlane Falls is a unique seasonal waterfall found in Goldstream Provincial Park, only appearing in the winter and requiring significant rainfall to get really spectacular. While some people dismiss seasonal waterfalls as not real waterfalls, the vast majority of waterfalls on Vancouver Island are fed mostly by rainwater and dry up in the summer, so the distinction between “real” waterfalls and ones fed only by rainfall seems pointless. The short walk to this lovely Victoria waterfall crosses the Goldstream River and leads past some truly magnificent trees. Even if the waterfall isn’t flowing particularly strongly, the mossy primeval forest environment is a delight.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls in Goldstream Provincial Park is probably the best-known of all of Victoria’s waterfalls, and that’s not only due to confusion between this and the much more popular Niagara Falls in Ontario. This spectacular Victoria waterfall is tucked in at the end of a gorgeous mossy canyon only a short distance from the highway. Fortunately the crashing of this fantastic waterfall drowns out any sound of passing highway traffic, making the spot a perfect nature oasis not far from the development of the city.

Renfrew Road Falls

Renfrew Road Falls is an obscure and rarely-visited waterfall located next to a logging road past Shawnigan Lake. This spot has been popular among waterfalls for a few years, but due to the incredibly easy access to this fairly small waterfall and not much else to do in the area, remains relatively unknown to the general public.

Stonehill Falls

Stonehill Falls is an attractive waterfall east of Duncan on an abandoned farm. There are talks of turning the farm into suburbs, so it may be best to visit this waterfall before it’s too late. It’s a fairly short walk with some incline that lead through the property and eventually follows the creek upstream through some beautiful forest to this understated waterfall.

Greater Christie Falls

Greater Christie Falls is one of several waterfalls located on Bush Creek that can be seen from the same hike near Ladysmith. Greater Christie Falls marks the end=point of the hike for most people, and its a magnificent place to stop before turning around. This dramatic waterfall is one of the best waterfalls on Vancouver Island, and the Christie Falls hike, which does involve some steep sections up alongside the creek, is a great way to explore some of the Island.

Lesser Christie Falls

Lesser Christie Falls is another waterfall on the Christie Falls hike, seen just before Greater Christie Falls. There are a number of smaller nameless waterfalls on Bush Creek leading up to these two main ones that can be seen on the hike.

Upper Christie Falls

Upper Christie Falls is the more rarely-seen waterfall upstream of Greater and Lesser Christie Falls. This great Vancouver Island waterfall involves hiking up a steep hill and navigating some slippery rocks to get to though, so the extra challenge of reaching this waterfall may not be for everyone.

Upper Banon Creek Falls

Upper Banon Creek Falls is a relatively newly-discovered Vancouver Island waterfall. This spectacular waterfall is accessible by a walk up a logging road and a steep uphill walk trail through the woods. In the winter this waterfall is one of the most impressively powerful in the area, but regardless it’s a great waterfall to visit year-round.

Stocking Creek Falls

Stocking Creek Falls is a charming waterfall located in Stocking Creek Park, a half hour drive south of Nanaimo. The trail leads alongside Stocking Creek through idyllic rainforest for no more than half an hour – the trail made easy by wooden platforms and bridges. This is another overlooked waterfall in the region that is absolutely stunning.

Granny Falls

Granny Falls is the best-well-known waterfall located within Nanaimo itself, and is one of locals’ most beloved spots. The short ten minute trail through Colliery Dam Park is surprisingly diverse – leading over a cute wooden bridge, up and down platforms and stairs, and through a dark culvert. Plus, it’s only a five minute drive from downtown Nanaimo. It’s also located only a few minutes away from my favourite waterfall on the list. (Keep on reading.) There are tons of reasons to love this waterfall.

Harewood Creek Falls

Harewood Creek Falls is truly one of Nanaimo’s best-kept secrets. The short walk to this hidden waterfall starts just five minutes from downtown Nanaimo in Colliery Dam Park and leads down a steep hill. After reaching the base there is some bushwhacking and a log bridge crossing of the creek required to reach the falls themselves, making Harewood Creek Falls the most challenging waterfall to reach on this list. We visited this waterfall on a rainy day when the steep hill was slick and muddy, but if visiting when it is drier I imagine this waterfall would be much easier to get to. Not everyone would enjoy the short approach to Harewood Creek Falls, but those who make it will be well-rewarded with my personal favourite waterfall on this list.

Lower Millstone River Falls

Lower Millstone River Falls in Bowen Park is another one of those hidden gems of beauty surrounded by urban sprawl that Nanaimo is so full of. This beautiful solid curtain of water (and it’s upper neighbour – see below) are accessed by a short almost-completely-level walk along a nice riverside path. It’s a super accessible waterfall that allows you to get right up close to the spray of water. Make sure to visit when water is high, as like many other waterfalls on this list, it tends to dry up during the summer months.

Upper Millstone River Falls

Upper Millstone Falls is located just a few minutes past Lower Millstone Falls, and if you’re visiting one it’s worth visiting them both. Upper Millstone Falls is unique in that the river splits into two parallel streams reuniting just before the drop, creating a beautiful mossy island in the center.

Northfield Falls

Northfield Falls is a fantastic waterfall right in the heart of Nanaimo that is best visited after some rainfall. This waterfall is located in an urban park across the street from a Save-on-Foods. It only takes a few minutes of following stairs downhill alongside Northfield Creek until the city is left behind, and this fantastic waterfall is revealed.

Ammonite Falls

A local favourite, it’s impossible to talk about Nanaimo waterfalls without bringing up Ammonite Falls. It’s definitely the most popular waterfall on this list for tourists and for locals – deservedly so. Located in Benson Creek Regional Park just fifteen minutes from downtown Nanaimo, the hike to Ammonite Falls is the longest on this list. Is the one hour hike worth it? Definitely. New staircases and viewing platforms newly built this year make the waterfall easier to access than ever, and the forest walk to get there is gorgeous. Reaching the base of the falls previously involved some difficulty – requiring down-climbing a degraded muddy slope with the help of ropes, but with the upgraded trail, as long as you’re not scared of stairs – the entire thing is a walk in the park.

Lower Shooting Star Falls

A thirty minute drive from downtown Nanaimo, Lower Shooting Star Falls really is a hidden gem, and is super easy to get to, requiring nothing more than a ten minute walk along along a flat easy trail. The trailhead is located just off of the highway at the Nanoose Bay rest stop, and follows closely alongside a small creek. The forest atmosphete of this walk is one of my absolute favourites, with looming trees reaching up and creating an insulating canopy above. Despite being as close to the highway as it is, it immediately feels like you’ve been transported somewhere much more remote and pristine.

Shooting Star Falls

Shooting Star Falls, unlike the lower falls, is accessed from upstream via another fantastic but short walk through the woods. Be warned, the trail to Shooting Star Falls isn’t well marked, and can be a little slippery in sections. Nonetheless, this is one of my favourite waterfalls close to Nanaimo.

Upper Shooting Star Falls

Just another few minutes walk upstream from Shooting Star Falls is the upper falls, a beautiful waterfall cascading down surrounded by moss, and equal in beauty to the other two falls, if not more beautiful.

Englishman River Falls

Englishman River Falls is an unique and stunning waterfall located in the provincial park of the same name. Likely one of the largest waterfalls on southern Vancouver Island, this waterfall crashes down into a deep slot canyon. the best viewpoint of this waterfall is from the bridge spanning the canyon. Its a popular spot with a huge parking lot only a couple minutes from the waterfall. It’s fantastic spot to visit but don’t expect to be able to beat the crowds.

Upper Triple Falls

Located in Errington, Triple Falls is a fantastic series of waterfalls on Morison Creek, not far from Englishman River Falls. The Upper Triple Falls is definitely the most visited and photographed, and is only a short five or ten minute walk from the trailhead.

Lower Triple Falls

Lower Triple Falls requires a little bit more work to get to than the upper falls, with the route requiring you to cross the creek twice. However, this spectacular Vancouver Island waterfall is more than worth the small amount of effort it takes to get there – and I think it might just be my favourite of the two waterfalls.

Stokes Creek Falls

Stokes Creek Falls is an amazing Port Alberni waterfall located on a trail network lovingly maintained by locals. A popular medium-length hike leads to this fantastic waterfall, passing by several notable old trees. It’s a must-visit waterfall near Port Alberni.

Ginger Creek Falls

Located not far from Stokes Creek Falls and on the same trail network, Ginger Creek Falls is nonetheless far less well known. This Vancouver Island waterfall is shockingly located only meters away from the highway into Port Alberni, but remains unknown to most. If you’re already making the hike to Stokes Creek Falls, I highly suggest visiting Ginger Creek Falls as well.

Hole in the Wall

Hole in the Wall has in recent years become a popular local attraction close to Port Alberni. Once the site of a water pipe, the hole that was created through a steep cliff is now all that remains. This Port Alberni waterfall tends to almost completely dry up in the summer, so I definitely suggest visting after rainfall. The walk here is short and easy, which helps to explain its popularity.

Rogers Creek Falls

Located just a five minute walk downstream from the much more popular Hole in the Wall, Rogers Creek Falls is my favourite of the two attractions. This fantastic Port Alberni waterfall makes for a popular swimming spot in the summer, and the very short walk to get here makes it a great stop for the visitor just passing through.

Cold Creek Falls

Cold Creek Falls is one of the least-visited waterfalls near Port Alberni. The walk there is straightforward and unchallenging, and the many drops of the waterfall combines with the lush forest surroundings create a fantastic atmosphere at the hike’s end.

China Creek Falls

China Creek Falls is one of my favourite waterfalls in the Alberni Valley, and a must-visit if you’re spending time in Port Alberni. The hike to this waterfall starts from a logging road and follows closely along China Creek, sometimes steeply and assisted by ropes. The forest along the way is gorgeous and the views at the end of the impressive waterfall crashing down make for a great reward.

Weiner Falls

Weiner Falls near Port Alberni is a fantastic place to visit on the way to Tofino. It’s a short and mostly straightforward hike until the very end, where a steep rope-assisted scramble down the hillside is required to reach the base of the falls themselves. The climb down is definitely one for the adventurous, but views from above the falls are easily accessed by anyone.

Snow Creek Falls

Snow Creek Falls is a fantastic waterfall just under an hour of Port Alberni on the south side of Sproat Lake. This attractive two-tiered waterfall is one of the road-accessible waterfalls on this list, making it very easy to see if you’re not a hiker. That said, a trail does follow up alongside Snow Creek revealing several other waterfalls further upstream.

Gemini Falls

Unofficially named Gemini Falls is the second waterfall up Snow Creek and can be reached in a minute or two of walking up the trail from the road. This beautiful waterfall is my favourite of the falls on Snow Creek.

Galleon Falls

Unofficially named Galleon Falls is the third waterfall up Snow Creek. This powerful waterfall is only a few more minutes further upstream from the other waterfalls on Snow Creek. The Snow Creek trail leads right up alongside the waterfall allowing hikers fantastic views of the waterfall from above.

Tangled Falls

Tangled Falls is the fourth and final waterfall that the Snow Creek trail leads to. Like many of the other Snow Creek falls it’s choked with deadfall, but is a beautiful sight nonetheless.

Trent River Falls

Trent River Falls is a spectacular mid-island waterfall located not far from Cumberland. The walk to this spectacular waterfall is short and straightforward until the end- which involves a steep downhill rope-assisted walk into the canyon. It’s a bit challenging but definitely doable by most people.

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.