Seeking Waterfalls

The Falls at Big Hill Springs Park

If you're looking for quaint waterfalls in the midst of prairie foothills, head to Big Hill Springs Provincial Park.  While at the park, the falls you'll see are small, but adequate for scenery during a small family walk and are perfect for photos. 

Walking paths are not marked in the park, but it is easy to find the collection of falls that flow from a brook nearby to the parking lot area.  To see them all, follow the brook upstream along the trail.  If you want a longer outing, keep following the trail until you reach a steeper slope.  This trail will loop around the outskirts of the park, bringing you to the parking lot and a view overlooking the valley.

To get there, head to Highway 567 which is north of Calgary and west of Airdrie.  7 kilometres east of highway 22, you'll find the south bound turn off for the provincial park.   

Ribbon Falls

Ribbon Falls, located in Spray Valley Provincial Park in Kananaskis Country, are nestled in a valley between Mount Kidd and Mount Bogart.  The falls originate from Ribbon Lake, flowing several stages over the lake's headwall and ending at a 25 meter sheer rock face to ground level.  The falls have several stages not visible from ground level, but are viewable and impressive should you gain a higher vantage point.  Along the trail to the main falls are other smaller falls and shallow river canyons along  Ribbon Creek.

The trail to the falls is just over 10 kilometres in length and is suitable for any hiker or biker, due to its good condition and slight incline.  Bikers can only go 4 kilometres, but bringing a bike adds to the return trip (if bringing a bike, head in later in the day to enjoy a good uninterrupted speedy descent). A backpacking campsite is also available for use near the falls for anyone wishing to spend an overnight.  If wanting more, venture above the falls to Ribbon Lake or scramble to Mt. Bogart via the creek gully. 

To get to Ribbon Falls, take the Nakiska Ski Hill turnoff on Highway 40.  Park at the Mt. Allan and Ribbon Creek trailhead, following the signs.  Take the trail at the west end of the parking lot, passing the gates.

Cat Creek Falls

Cat Creek Falls are located in the Cat Creek Hills, just north of Highwood, Kananaskis Country. Although small, they can be found along a quaint interpretive trail leading into a steep canyon.  The 3 metre falls have a small pool, deep enough for a dip as well.  However, the falls are popular and easily accessible, leading the small viewing landing to be easily filled up with visitors.   

To visit Cat Creek Falls, head to the Highwood area of Kananaskis along highway 40.  When you reach Cat Creek, park at the lot on the west side of the road.  A number of marked and unmarked trails lead into the canyon, follow these trails (keeping the Cat Creek in sight) for a short 10-15 minutes to the falls.  If adventurous, you can climb the steep canyon sides for a view over top the winding Cat Creek Canyon.  However, no other falls are accessible due to the steep drop-offs.

Falls at Aster Lake

The Falls at Aster Lake flow through several steps of Foch Creek from the lake proper, through the forest west of Mount Sarrail.  The water is an interesting murky dark grey colour due to silt runoff from the Foch and Malgin glaciers that feed Aster Lake.  Seeing the all the falls will require a bit of bushwacking and climbing around the river, but the extra effort is well worth it.

To get to Aster Lake falls, you'll need either lots of energy for a day trip or visit them while staying at the Aster Lake backcountry campground.  The falls are located along the trail to Aster Lake, just before the campground.  To get to Aster Lake, you'll need to gain a headwall from Hidden lake, which lies on a trail just beyond the western shores of Upper Kananaskis Lake, in Peter Lougheed Park. It would be a significant and lengthy day-hike, so camping is recommended.  You'll need a park pass as well.  Be sure to check out the spectacular Fossil Falls along your way, as well as the various scrambles in the area.

Crescent Falls

Located in the David Thompson area, Crescent Falls are a sight to behold.  We have yet to visit the falls in the summer -- but in the winter -- the roar of the falls is unmistakable underneath the ice and snow that blanket the Bighorn River.  As with many falls in the David Thompson, Crescent Falls are off the beaten path (highway), but easily accessible by car or by hiking a short distance.

Crescent Falls are located 22 kilometres from Nordegg and boast their own campground area.  You'll have to travel about 6 kilometres along an unpaved road to reach the falls area.  This road is not plowed in the winter time, so travel at your own risk (of getting stuck!).  The steep hill on the last part of the road to the parking lot may be difficult to ascend on the return trip if ice is present.  For a short but worthwhile trip to the falls, park at the lookoff point over looking the canyon about halfway to the end of the road.  You'll have a 30 minute hike along the canyon edges to the fall lookoff.  Well worth the adventure.  Or, you can drive to the falls viewpoint.

If you're even more adventurous, check out the upper falls area to the west beyond the main falls. You should be comfortable with off-trail hiking however.

Panther Falls

Panther Falls are a hidden treasure in  Banff National Park, near the Icefields Centre at the Northwest end of the park.  The falls flow along the Nigel River and skirt beneath highway 93.  To get a good view of the falls, you'll certainly get wet from the powerful spray, but it's well worth it.

Seeing these falls will take only a bit of work.  First park at the Bridal Veil Falls viewpoint, at about 12km south of the Icefields Centre.  A wooden sign pointing at Bridal Veil falls is apparent on the side of the road.  From there, look for a washed-out section of the gravel shoulder, leading down towards the river.  Follow the trail below til you go as far as you can north on the trail, you'll find Panther Falls beckoning around a corner.  Stay close to the edge of the hillside and view the falls from  either river side or from higher up. 

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls are a roadside attraction while traveling along the northern section of the Icefields Parkway in  Banff National Park.   If heading to the Icefields Centre or the Columbia icefield, check out these falls along the way, located 12 kms south of the Icefields.  The falls descend for quite a distance, and the normally visible area form the road is actually halfway down the falls!  For an alternative view, see the North Saskatchewan lookoff.  These falls share names with another Bridal Veil Falls, located near Lake Agnes and another in the area of Hope, BC.

Also, you can descend to the bottom of the valley along a pathway just past the gravel slope on the far side of the road.  Look for a spring run-off area and head down from there.  Of course, hidden below are Panther falls.  Albeit smaller than Bridal Veil, a fun discovery for those who choose to explore.

Sunwapta Falls

Like Athabasca falls, Sunwapta falls are located just off the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park.  Visiting the falls, you have two options.  First, you can visit the upper falls located near the parking lot and the turnoff from Hwy 93.  Or, you can venture 2kms down a wooded trail to the lower falls, which are a less-visited attraction.  The falls flow from the Sunwapta River, a few kms south before the river joins with the large and powerful Athabasca River.  A rest and picnic spot is also available for travelers.

To visit the falls, head north from Lake Louise 176 kilometres along the Icefields Parkway.  If coming from Jasper, it's a 54km jaunt along Hwy 93.

Athabasca Falls

Athabasca Falls are a powerful sight.  Located along the Icefields
Parkway, the falls boast twenty-three metres of powerful flowage from the Athabasca River.  Athabasca falls is a short walk from a roadside turnoff, allowing for an interesting leg-stretcher of a walk. Flowing from the Athabasca glacier, the river is gradually cutting into it's surroundings at the falls, which will eventually collapse over time.  The high quantity of glacier silt is also a typical culprit. 

To get to the falls, go south from Jasper about 30kms.  At the Junction of Hwy 93A, follow the signage to the falls parking lot.  If coming from Lake Louise, it's a modest 200kms from the Transcanada highway and the southern entrance to the Icefields Parkway.

Tangle Creek Falls

Another one of  Jasper National Park's roadside attractions, Tangle Creek falls  flows unmistakeably on the side of Highway 93, the Ice Fields Parkway.  The falls are three to four levels and flow westward into the Sunwapta River.  No hiking is necessary, just park and view.

To get to the falls from the south, head just past the Icefields Centre on Hwy 93.  Watch for Tangle Creek on the east side of the road while descending a large mountain to the Kitchener Mountain Area.  Tangle Creek falls lie 96 kms from Jasper and 134 kms from the Transcanada in Banff National Park.  While in the area, check out the many other falls along the Icefields Parkway.