Imagine living in a quiet neighborhood, set in picturesque mountains, with what one visitor described as “the waterfall no one knows about” in one’s backyard. The town is Pemberton, British Columbia—a much more modest alternative to bustling Whistler—and the waterfall is Pemberton Creek Falls, a 200-foot double-shot chute. If it were set in a national park or near a major city, the site would be crawling with visitors. But for now the falls remains a somewhat hidden gem—and well worth the stout, ½-mile climb.

The hike

There are few signs guiding visitors to the falls, but most access via Fernwood Drive, a residential dead-end street in the hills above downtown Pemberton (see map). (Note: There is no parking on the street, but there are some spots just around the corner at nearby Staehli Park. It is also possible to access the hike via the network of other mountain bike trails in the area, though the description below is more straightforward.)

From the end of the road, head west on the Waterfall Trail as it drops to the Pemberton Creek drainage, a perennial mountain stream. Take either the switchbacking trail with wooden fencing or a creekside path over a short bridge up to a junction, where mountain bike trails come in from the right. Stay left but then keep on the lookout for a small sign for the Waterfall Trail, which—perhaps counterintuitively at first—winds well away from the creek’s edge. Follow the trail marked with red ties, avoiding the temptation to drop to a small bridge and more well-worn path below (this is an access route to the so-called “Fat Tug” bike trail). Instead bear left and ascend sharply, cresting an initial cut then finding the winding path as it snakes up around mossy knobs and through dense forest, ever ascending.

Climb to a spot atop cliffs well above the creek below, but then catch the onward path as it bears right, away from the cliff’s edge. (Note: If you continue straight here you will soon come to a sketchy cliffside with nasty exposure; this is NOT the trail.) From here the Waterfall Trail bounds north and comes to an unmarked four-way junction.

Bear left, continuing to steadily gain elevation. It is a few minutes further to another crest and an apparent spur heading left, dropping to a wily finger that juts out into the canyon below. After a short drop, the path peters out at a cliffside overlook with a fantastic look at the spectacular Pemberton Creek Falls. The 200-foot waterfall, flowing well year-round, drops in two tiers and produces a cool spray that often reaches as far as the viewpoint.

When ready, return the way you came, keeping a close eye out for the unmarked four-way junction (bear right). (Note: If you miss the junction and stay straight, that is okay too—as the path follows the Fat Tug bike trail, which skirts a set of water tanks and drops back to meet the Waterfall Trail again.) Allow at least an hour for this moderately-strenuous hike.