Crooked Falls & Squamish Valley

Vancouver is one of the best cities in the world for outdoor enthusiasts to visit; there are many incredible hikes and trails that allow you easy access to this incredible untouched wilderness. There aren’t many big cities in the world that can compare to Vancouver when it comes to access to nature. Along the sea to sky corridor (from Vancouver to Squamish) there are many incredible hikes to attempt, and we decided for our first hike of the summer to travel further up the Squamish River Valley to visit the beautiful Crooked Falls.

This hike is still a little bit off the beaten track, and while it has gained popularity in the last few years, it is still an underrated place to go exploring. To access the trailhead you follow the road up along the Squamish River Valley, right to the point where the pavement ends and the logging road begins; from here it is only another 2.5 km drive along the gravel road to reach the trailhead.

I will be spending the summer of 2019 back in Canada, and have some ambitious plans to attempt many of the incredible hikes that the Coast Mountains have to offer, including a trip up to Panorama Ridge in Garibaldi Provincial Park. The best way to train for hiking and climbing mountains, is to hike and climb mountains. Crooked Falls was the perfect place to begin this summer of adventures.

A round trip journey to the falls takes about 3 hours, so it it was a good way to warm up for some of the longer hikes we have planned for later in the summer. The hike is rated as moderate difficulty, and while there is a pretty significant uphill portion right at the start, the trail is well maintained and very manageable. Along the way, there are 2 great places to view the Squamish River valley below, surrounded by the snowcapped mountains of the coast mountain range.

The reward was worth it; Crooked Falls was quite an incredible sight to see with your own eyes. The waterfall drops 198 meters (650 feet) and there are a few different spots where you can get a perfect vantage point to view the falls. We didn’t have to share the view or the trail with too many other people, and it was a perfect day for a hike into the mountains. Once we got back down to the car, we found a great spot along the river to take pictures of the falls from below. We arrived back in Squamish about 30 minutes later, and decided that we needed to stop off at A Frame Brewing as a reward for our afternoon of hiking.

It’s amazing how many incredible natural wonders are located within a few hours of Vancouver, and Crooked Falls is one of the better hikes that you can attempt during your visit. From Vancouver, it is only an hour an a half to the trail. We have many more great adventures planned for this summer, so stay tuned for more pictures coming in the next few weeks. Until then, we hope you enjoy these pictures from Crooked Falls and the Squamish Valley.

Crooked Falls & Squamish Valley