An easy stroll to a spot overlooking a powerful waterfall on Bugaboo Creek.

Trailhead
The trail begins next to the Forestry recreation trail sign.

Trail
The trail is easy to follow. It takes you on a pleasant stroll through a young forest, sprinkled with large old fir that have obviously been through a fire some time ago. After a kilometre, the trail starts dropping into a series of valleys and ridges. [read more]

At 1.1 kilometres, there is a trail that turns sharply left and drops down to the valley floor. BUT, if you continue straight on the trail to the lookout, you will find the trail along the creek has been opened up by some serious brushing by a work crew a few years ago. Follow the obvious trail down to the creek’s edge, where you get a good view of the falls from downstream. The trail then climbs steeply up to join the old trail about 100 metres before the lookout.

On the return trip, the creekside trail leaves the old trail just after a very large downed fir, which has had a section removed where it blocked the trail. There might be orange flagging to mark the turn.

The old trail, which turns left at 1.1 kms, is still open and has been worked on, too. It will be the trail of choice in icy conditions.

Cautions

There are a couple of sinkholes next to the trail just past the junction.
Be careful on the edge of the cliffs above the falls.
There is a rough trail down to the water’s edge near the falls, but it involves a very steep downclimb, and is not for everyone. (Like, my dog.)

From the lights in Golden, drive south on Highway 95 for 63.0 km to the hamlet of Spillimacheen. Turn right on the Westside Road and cross the Columbia River valley. After 2.3 kilometres, turn left on the Westside Road (do not take the Giant Mine Road). Follow the Westside Road for another 3.9 km, which will take you across Bugaboo Creek and up a steep hill with a switchback. Near the top of the hill, look for the old Forestry recreation trail sign for Lower Bugaboo Falls. If you reach the 8 kilometre sign, you’ve gone about 300 metres too far.

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