Sunshine spurs snowmelt in local mountains and prompts waterfalls to gush. With the impulse in spring to put all aside and head outdoors, the Georgia Straight recently drove north along the Sea-to-Sky Highway to take the pulse of two torrents in particular: Nairn Falls near Whistler and High Falls in the Squamish Valley.

On our arrival at the provincial park that encompasses Nairn Falls, campsites adjacent to the Green River were just reopening for the season. The river’s headwaters lie in Green Lake, the largest of four basins grouped on the summit where snowmelt from Whistler, Blackcomb, Rainbow, and assorted other peaks collects. Water from Alpha, Nita, and Alta lakes flows south into the nearby Cheakamus River, which, in turn, feeds into the Squamish River as it nears Howe Sound.

Conversely, outflow from Green Lake tips in the opposite direction and follows an erratic course via Lillooet and Harrison lakes until it, too, finally blends with the Pacific via the Fraser River. Either way, icy water is once again on the move in a steadily swelling tempo that crescendos in mid-June.

Now is the ideal time to experience this spring freshet, if only from the sidelines. At Nairn Falls, that means following a gentle 1.5-kilometre trail that traverses the hillside above Green River as it leads to the maw of the cascade in about a half-hour. Although this is a family- and dog-friendly route, caution should be taken with small children along narrow sections; after arriving at the fenced plateau, you will see white water tumbling past with a contagious energy.

If that vigour leads to a desire for more exploration, seek out either the Green River Trail, which begins beside campsite 92, or a recently constructed section of the Sea to Sky Trail beside campsite 74. Both trails eventually lead to One-Mile Lake in Pemberton—with side options along the way for steeper hiking and mountain-biking paths—through a monotone fir forest offset with some colourful botanical features, such as a stand of papery white birch and daubs of delicate fairy slipper orchids atop the mossy understorey.

What rewards as much as anything at Nairn Falls is the sense of standing at the foot of a true massif. Opposite the falls, and defining the river’s far shore, sits 2,591-metre-high Mount Currie, one of the dominant summits in the Garibaldi Ranges, perhaps more easily appreciated in proximity than any of its companion peaks.

Closer to home, though far more remote in ambiance, sits the Squamish Valley, the site of dozens of waterfalls, most of them hung like shoelaces on the granite hem of Tantalus Range peaks. And what rugged, glacier-clad cloud rakers these are. Some of the finest viewpoints of this vast sweep lie slightly above the valley floor beside High Falls Creek at an elevation comparable to midpoint on the Grouse Grind—and just as taxing to reach. Whereas the Grind offers no viewpoints to compensate for the exertion expended, the trail that climbs above High Falls Creek enfolds observers in a mesmerizing spell.

Just don’t come too close to the rim of the canyon through which the creek tumbles with enough force to shake the ground while drowning out all thought. This is perhaps what Jimi Hendrix meant when he wrote “My worries seem so very small / With my waterfall,” a feeling that persisted during the Straight’s most recent visit, in the company of seasoned outdoors explorer Gordon White. The author of Stein Valley Wilderness Guidebook expressed amazement at sharing the trail with so few others. “I love the blend of unique geological and vegetative features found here, such as the lodgepole pine, which is unusual this far west,” he said. “This ranks as one of the top five day hikes in the Lower Mainland.”

Part of the enjoyment of discovering High Falls Creek Trail is the journey into the backcountry that lies close to Squamish yet is far less visited than local routes in Stawamus Chief Provincial Park. At the outset, a paved road winds along the Squamish River’s narrow floodplain beneath a bower of bigleaf maples. Daisy, elderberry, and thimbleberry blossoms colour the route. Drive slowly to take full advantage of alpine vistas while the forest is not yet in full leaf. The gravel road skirts the river as valley views—replete with waterfalls—tempt drivers to avert their gaze to the sky above. But stay alert; everyone will get an eyeful on the High Falls Creek Trail that lies just past a B.C. Hydro power station.

Where Nairn Falls’ trails are dog-friendly, this route is not. Neither is it suitable for youngsters. However, with its network of fixed cables to assist in steep sections at the trail’s start, scaling this route may well spark an “Aha!” moment in older kids with reference to hiking’s appeal, particularly when they enter a realm where the ground trembles from the thundering force of tumbling water. Enlightenment rarely comes so refreshingly easy.