9 Breathtaking Waterfalls Near Vancouver That Make For The Perfect Adventure

Get ready to fall in love with these views.

Editor

There are countless waterfalls in B.C. and most are totally breathtaking, but they get even better in the summer. Getting outside on a hot summer day can get sweaty, and these waterfalls can cool you down.

The best part about hiking to a waterfall is that you can enjoy the sun, and then go for a dip.

Here are some waterfalls that are close to Vancouver, making for an ideal weekend adventure.

Norvan Falls

Price: Free

Address: 4900 Lynn Valley Rd., North Vancouver, BC

Why You Need To Go: The 14-kilometre hike is worth it when you reach these falls. It has a gorgeous pool at the bottom, and lots of space to sit and enjoy a snack before you trek back.

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Kennedy Falls

Price: Free

Address: North Vancouver, BC

Why You Need To Go: The trail is 11.3 kilometres but rated as moderate, so not too exhausting. This fall is beautiful because it flows down the rocks instead of dropping straight down, creating a magical scene.

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Shannon Falls

Price: Free

Address: Squamish, BC

Why You Need To Go: It's a bit further of a drive from Vancouver but well worth it. Once you park it's a super quick walk to the falls, only a 1-kilometre round trip!

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Elk Falls

Price: Free

Address: Vancouver Island, BC

Why You Need To Go: A ferry ride over to the island in the fall is a stunning adventure in itself. You can make a day out of it and visit this epic waterfall, which you can get a perfect view of from the suspension bridge.

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Cypress Falls

Price: Free

Address: West Vancouver, BC

Why You Need To Go: It's a short drive to these falls, and the forest that you walk through to get there is like a jungle. Pay attention and you'll spot a cool abandoned pickup truck in the middle of nowhere.

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Gold Creek Falls

Price: Free

Address: Golden Ears Provincial Park, BC

Why You Need To Go: You can get two viewpoints of this waterfall on your hike, one at the top and one below. The water is bright blue and you can feel the mist on your face.

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Brandywine Falls

Price: Free

Address: Whistler, BC

Why You Need To Go: If you want to make the trip shorter, you can do the short trip from the parking lot to the lookout and still get a great view of the huge waterfall. You can also go right to the bottom, where you'll feel super tiny next to the 70-metre fall.

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Sawblade Falls

Price: Free

Address: Coquitlam, BC

Why You Need To Go: The hike to this waterfall is three hours but rated as easy. It's also a beautiful trail through the provincial park that leads to this peaceful fall.

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Helmcken Falls

Price: Free

Address: Thompson-Nicola, BC

Why You Need To Go: Although this waterfall is over five hours from Vancouver, it couldn't go without a mention. It is so spectacular that the drive is worth it. On a sunny fall day, this is one of the most beautiful waterfalls around.

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Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.

  • Editor

    Morgan Leet (she/her) is an Editor for Narcity Media Group. After graduating from Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication, she jumped into fulfilling her dream as a journalist, merging her passion for travelling with writing. She got her start working in the print media world on Canada’s East Coast, then joined Narcity with a move to B.C., leading the launch of West Coast coverage. Her focus now is managing a large group of freelance writers, bringing human-forward and opinion content to the site.

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