The best short hike to a beautiful waterfall is located in Golden Ears Provincial Park, Gold Creek Falls.
With its wide gravel trail and minimal elevation, the 5km round trip is a great way to move the legs and the view is amazing.
How To Get To Gold Creek Falls
You can get there by searching "Golden Ears Parkway" in Google Maps
W A R N I N G
Google Maps can be misleading, the end destination of where the parking lot is to get to Gold Creek Falls, which is reached by the Lower Falls Trail, actually is at this red square. Continue along the Golden Ears Parkway and you will cross a wooden bridge and the parking lot is seconds away.
It would be best to go during the day when there is a lot of sunlight. On the drive to Golden Ears you will notice as you pass the houses that there are some very tall trees and no street lamps.
It could be hazardous to drive in and out of the park with little sunlight.
It's convenient that it's a short distance is because you will not have cell phone service or it will be very poor heading into the park and throughout the hike. With that, I recommend taking screenshots of anything you may think you will need to reference later.
The trail is well marked and groomed, it would be very hard to get lost.
There will be an opening to the left side of the trail where you can carefully make your way closer to the waterfall.
Once you're done taking in the waterfall, you can make your way to the top!
Carefully maneuver yourself back to the trail and continue upward.
The trail will be simple to follow, a few minutes and you will reach the top and the view is just as pretty.
I wouldn't say you need proper hiking shoes but closed toed shoes would be good since there's a lot of loose rocks and dirt. I wore my Nike runners. It can be slippery, so, proceed with caution.
This is definitely my new favourite short hike!
I hope you found something helpful here and didn't get lost like I did trying to get to this trail!
Thanks for reading,
Michelle