High Falls Creek hike has no shortage of views near Squamish

It's easy to understand why High Falls Creek gets raves. With three spectacular waterfall viewpoints and countless vistas of the Tantalus Range and Squamish River valley, it's one of the top falls hikes in southwestern British Columbia.

Of course, it takes some effort to gain those views. With an elevation gain of about 600 metres, the High Falls Creek Trail is steep and relentless. There's also a fair bit of road-walking at the end, if you want to make a loop of it.

The trailhead lies along the Squamish Mainline. To get there from Vancouver, drive north on the Sea to Sky Highway and turn left on Squamish Valley Road, opposite the Alice Lake Provincial Park turnoff in Squamish. At the fork with Paradise Valley Road, keep left in order to stay on Squamish Valley Road. The road eventually turns to gravel. Just after you pass B.C. Hydro's Cheakamus Generating Station, you come to the bridge over High Falls Creek. You can park in the pullout before the bridge.

On the other side of the bridge—and across the road from the 22-3/4 mile marker—a faded sign and flagging tape mark the trailhead on the right side of the road. Fixed chains and cables assist you in getting up the trail's steepest sections. Past the highest bluff, you come to a fork in the forest. Go right, eventually emerging from the woods to follow small cairns up a rockslide.

At the top of the rockslide, you'll find the High Falls Creek logging road (Branch 200). Head left on the road, rising quickly to a viewpoint and then dropping steadily to the valley bottom. Along the way, there are views up the Squamish River valley not seen from the trail. At the bottom of the road, turn left on the mainline to get back to your vehicle.

The 12-kilometre loop takes around 5.5 hours.

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