Most boaters think of Campbell River as a great stop to reprovision before continuing north or south, but did you know that Campbell River has some interesting sites for the adventuresome sightseeing tourist as well?
Elk Falls, which thunders into a deep canyon below a steel suspension bridge, is an easy taxi ride from downtown Campbell River, a short 5.5-km/3.4-mile trip and well worth the visit. Ask the taxi driver to take you to the parking lot at the BC Hydro Discovery Centre, where you can access the trail to the falls and suspension bridge. You will find picnic tables and benches in the park, so pack a lunch to enjoy an extended stay in this beautiful park setting.
While the suspension bridge at Elk Falls is shorter than the Capilano Suspension Bridge near the city of Vancouver BC, Elk Falls is equally impressive. Walking across the steel constructed suspension bridge over a vertical rock wall canyon, with impressive falls dumping into Campbell River below, is quite breathtaking. The bridge is 197 feet across and hangs 210 feet above the river.
The trail to the falls from the BC Hydro Centre is a short 1.2-km walk on a well-maintained trail. From the suspension bridge, you can continue on a trail that takes you to an area above the falls, use extreme caution and don’t get too close to the river’s edge!
For the more energetic hiker, you can connect to the 3.8-km (2.3-mile) Millennium Trail Loop and/or the Canyon View Trail, which takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to complete. For trail details and access points, check the BC Parks Elk Falls Hiking Guide at https://bcparks.ca/elk-falls-park/hiking/
For transportation contact:
- Bee Line Taxi 250-287-8383,
- Waivin Flags 250-287-8294, or
- CR Shuttle 250-914-1010
Photos Credit: Lorena Landon
