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Fancy a refreshing spring hike to kick off the season? The journey to Della Falls is a scenic one, and you’ll hike through a stretch of the oldest provincial park in B.C. to get there. Considered the highest waterfall in Canada at 440 metres, it’s quite the reward!
Designated a provincial park in 1911, Strathcona Park is comprised of breathtaking mountain wilderness, dotted with lakes, rivers, and streams.
“Summer in Strathcona is usually pleasantly warm, while winters are fairly mild except for the higher levels, where heavy snowfalls are the norm,” says B.C. Parks on its website. “From November through March, snowfalls can be expected on the mountain slopes and alpine plateaus.”
Strathcona Park’s dramatic valleys and peaks date back almost 400 million years, when violent volcanic eruptions once disrupted ancient seafloors.
Today, there are plenty of recreational opportunities year-round, including lake day activities at Buttle and Upper Campbell Lakes, backcountry camping at Buttle, Kwai, Helen MacKenzie, and Croteau Lakes, and Elk and Ralph Rivers.
The hike to Della Falls is not for the faint of heart. Totalling three to four days to complete (16 km from the end of Great Central to the base of the falls), the journey primarily follows an old logging and mining road. Hikers can opt to lengthen the trip to six days by crossing Great Central Lake by canoe as opposed to powerboat, which offers even more incredible views along the way.
According to Discover Vancouver Island, the hike is typically recommended from July to September, depending on the snowfall. However, the higher water levels from the spring melt and can make for an extra rewarding view of the falls, as long as you’re prepared to potentially hike through some snow.
Strathcona Park is open year-round, though it’s a good idea to check current trail conditions before making any travel arrangements.
Note that hikers can expect winter conditions on trails above 900 metres of elevation.
So, if you’re up for a trek and a bit of planning, it’s definitely worth exploring B.C.’s first provincial park this spring.
How to get there: Take the ferry to Nanaimo and drive one hour and 30 minutes to Campbell River, then continue on the Gold River Highway/BC-28 W to Strathcona Provincial Park. Then, take a boat or canoe from the eastern end of Great Central Lake to the western to the trail entrance.
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