Weiner Falls, named after Swedish-born Nils Weiner, an early settler in the area, is an absolutely spectacular waterfall near Port Alberni, and one of my favourite waterfalls on Vancouver Island. Weiner Falls is located not far from Sproat Lake, and is a great short hike to do between Port Alberni and Tofino. Just a short drive down a logging road, the trail to Weiner Falls is largely easy and straightforward, with the only exception being a challenging rope-assisted scramble down the steep hill near the falls. The climb down requires some careful footwork, as you’re using various tree roots and branches on your way down. That said, it’s a lot of fun. If you’re looking for something a bit less adventurous, it’s very easy to end your hike from the viewpoint above the falls. The views aren’t as good, but it’ss till a great Vancouver Island hike.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Weiner Falls hike near Port Alberni 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 Weiner Falls as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Weiner Falls Round Trip Details
Distance: 1.8 KM / 1.1 MI
Elevation Gain: 80 M / 262 FT
Hiking Time: 30-45 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 Weiner Falls a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
When to Visit Weiner Falls
Like all waterfalls on Vancouver Island, Weiner Falls is absolutely gushing during the rainy months of winter and is comparably more mellow during the summer when water levels are low. That said, during the rainy season the climb down to the base of the falls is a lot more difficult as it can become muddy and slick. As impressive as the waterfall is in winter, I prefer it in summer when it’s more calm and the water more inviting. (swim anyone?)
How to Get to Weiner Falls Trailhead
The trailhead for Weiner Falls is about a twenty minute drive along the Pacific Rim Highway from Port Alberni in the direction of Tofino. After crossing the bridge over the Sproat River just out of town, continue for 5.9 km until reaching an intersection with Della Cafe and Sproat Lake Landing on the left side of the road. Turn right at the intersection down a logging road and keep right at the fork. The road is standard logging road – plenty of potholes. It’s in good condition though and as long as you drive slowly you’ll be fine. Drive up the small hill and turn left. Follow this road for about half a kilometer before turning right just before a bridge. If you cross a bridge you’ve missed the turn. From here the road narrows a bit as it heads up for another couple minutes before reaching a wide area for parking.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking to Weiner Falls
The small parking area off of the logging road just before it curves up underneath the power lines at right. There’s a map of the trail attached to a tree at the trailhead.
The trail is basically a straight line most of the way, with some slight hills.
There’s a couple smaller trails that branch off to the right. They lead down to the creek but offer no way up to the falls. Continue straight along the path.
Finally at the top of a hill the old road starts to peter out and a small cairn on the right marks the turnoff towards Weiner Falls. From here the waterfall is only a minute or two away.
Turn left at the first intersection.
The second intersection. Head right to reach the top of the falls, which is accessible to anyone, or head left to climb down to the base of the falls.
Starting the climb down to the falls. It’s steep.
Weiner Falls coming into view. The ropes lead all the way down making balance easy, but there is still some tricky footwork.
Clambering down the slope towards Weiner Falls.
When I visited Weiner Falls the water was just low enough to make it easy for me to cross the creek without getting wet.
This Almond-scented millipede, easily recognizable by its distinct yellow spots, was spotted enjoying the waterfall as well. When threatened it releases cyanide gas, hence the almond smell.
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 Weiner Falls near Port Alberni! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.