This lakeside hike in BC follows an old railway to one of Canada’s highest waterfalls

Autumn is a great time of year to chase some waterfalls, so why not make the trek to the oldest park in the province to behold one of Canada’s highest falls?! Situated in the breathtaking Strathcona Park, Della Falls is surrounded by lush forest and towering mountain peaks, and sits next to two pristine alpine lakes. Truly a scene for the books!

With fairly mild winters, Strathcona Park is an enchanting destination during the colder months, marked by snowcapped slopes and plateaus.

The park offers visitors two developed areas to explore: Buttle Lake and Forbidden Plateau, as well as surrounding wilderness for those looking for a backpacking adventure.

According to BC Parks, the hike to Forbidden Plateau is an ‘easy’ one, taking visitors through vibrant sub-alpine meadows via a boardwalk and gravel trail.

The hike to Della Falls is much more challenging, but offers some of the most rewarding views in the province.

Hike to Della Falls

In total, the hike is 16 kilometres long, taking approximately seven hours to complete. The scenic trail is accessible by boat or canoe (approximately 45 minutes to the trailhead) from the eastern end of Great Central Lake, northwest of Port Alberni.

According to BC Parks, the trail follows an old railway up Drinkwater Valley to the base of the falls. With a drop of 440 metres, Della Falls is one of the top 10 highest waterfalls in the world.

Hikers will also pass by historic sites from the area’s early days of logging and mining, as well as Love and Della Lakes.

Note that the lake-to-trailhead area is susceptible to high winds, so exercise caution when crossing the lake!

Prefer a shorter hike but still want to take in some breathtaking falls? Lady, Lupin, and Lower Myra Falls are all much closer in proximity to the park entrance!

So there you have it, Vancouver! Enjoy chasing waterfalls this season.

Della Falls

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.