Sharing is caring!

Breathtaking Waterfall Hike – Full Guide – Crooked Falls Near Vancouver

Crooked Falls trail is an absolute must see bucket-list waterfall hike near Squamish, BC that locals are trying to keep secret. Our blog post is the full hiking guide to Crooked Falls trailhead directions, hiking trail maps and tips on how to best complete this outdoor adventure hike.

Of all things to do in Squamish, the Crooked Falls hiking trail is one of the most epic experiences you'll find while exploring the surrounding landscapes in search of picture-perfect waterfalls. Crooked Falls is probably a hike you've never been to, or maybe not even heard of. None of the guidebooks listing hikes near Vancouver, hikes near Whistler or hikes near Squamish will have this GEM on their pages. None of the attraction sites listing waterfalls near Vancouver, waterfalls near Squamish, or waterfalls near Whistler, would have it either.

Understandably so as Crooked Falls hike is not an easy one, and is not considered to be a “touristy” location. This Squamish trail has been only recently “discovered to the public” and brought to light by one of our local bloggers – Happiest Outdoors. We've followed the “hunch” and truly loved what we've found!

Yes indeed, Crooked Falls trail is well hidden in a somewhat off-the-beaten-path secret location. Yet, after visiting this stunning waterfall trail, we are absolutely convinced that it should be added to any serious hiker's must-do bucket-list.

***This post may contain affiliate links and we may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. All product recommendations and feedback are ours and based on personal experience. Please refer to ourDisclosure Policy. 

Check out more EPIC hikes in the Squamish-Whistler-Pemberton area:

• Joffre Lakes Trail: Practical Guide to Successfully Hiking Most Popular BC Alpine Park
• Howe Sound EPIC Views from Jurassic Ridge at Murrin Provincial Park – Squamish Best Hikes

.

.

Directions to Crooked Falls Trailhead

There is no such thing as Crooked Falls trailhead. The path to Crooked Falls is in fact a part of a longer more difficult hike to Siqurd Peak. So you won't find a spot on the map marked “Crooked Falls trailhead”. Instead, look for the following GPS / Google Maps anchor point: Siqurd Valley Trail Trailhead, Ashlu Rd, Brackendale, BC V0N 1H0

If you are heading to Crooked Falls trailhead from Coquitlam Centre, it will take you about 1:40 to 2 hours to get there.

Important Note: the last 10 km or so leading to the trailhead is an unpaved gravel road with quite a bit of natural dust. We would not recommend you drive a convertible on this road unless you can cover your face not to breathe in the dust.

There are few wooden bridges along the route, which are one-way. Also be careful, as the road has plenty of sharp turns, while the wildlife is vibrant here! On our way to Crooked Falls, we've seen deer, cougars, and rabbits, right on the road + a grizzly bear alert.

Once you pass the final bridge through the Squamish river, you'll find plenty of parking around Squamish Riverside Campsite. Park there on the side of the road. Make sure to hide all valuables and lock the car before you take off onto the trail, as there are literally no people around.

The trailhead to Crooked Falls is about 50 meters up the road.

.

Crooked Falls Trail Near Squamish – Quick Facts

.

.

Let's start by re-stating that this beautiful hike near Squamish is NOT an easy one. You'll score close to 0.5 km elevation, and will have to climb over huge boulders and fallen trees. It is totally worth it!

There are bio-washrooms located just off the parking lot at Squamish Riverside Campsite. There are no food / water options and no amenities. This place is seriously wild.

To prepare for Crooked Falls epic hike near Vancouver you'll need:

• Good and comfortable hiking shoes
• Hiking poles
• Bear spray – Crooked Falls, Siqurd Valley, and surrounding wilderness are Grizzly Bear country. It is illegal to shoot them.
• Bug spray
• Water & snacks
• Your best Photo Camera! If you are planning to take photos next to the falls, it is advised to have a waterproof case.

.

Crooked Falls Trail

Once again, of all the waterfalls near Vancouver we've visited, we consider Crooked Falls trail to be one of the hardest. We do not recommend to have kids under 10yo with you, even if you are planning to have your babies and toddlers in a carrier or a backpack.

The trail is steep with a number of frankly dangerous climbs over boulders and fallen trees. Sometimes you need to dive under a fallen tree. There are some areas you'd need to crawl through rocks almost vertically (although that's not a mountain climbing exercise)

.

.

There is no cellphone connection once you get on the trail. We've used AllTrails app to lead the way – what's amazing the app works even off the grid.

The hike was about 3.2 km one way. All in all, it took at close to 3 hours for the to-and-back hike.

We've done it in early June – no snow on the trail. We would not recommend coming in winter months, or when it is raining, as the trail conditions might be quite dangerous.

The first half of the Crooked Falls trail is quite easy. At 1.5km mark you come to your first epic viewpoint to find a breathtaking view of Squamish River Valley and Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park.

Take a good break here, have a snack, take some great shots for your Instagram fans. ..and get ready, as the second part of the trail is going to be brutal with some very steep elevation gains.

We did not have our son with us this time. We do not recommend this trail for kids under 10yo. Even for an older child, it might be quite difficult if they are not used to hiking elevation. We also do not recommend this trail to anyone with mobility concerns, joint problems or recent injuries.

.

.

The Epic Crooked Waterfalls

So you made it to the falls! yey! Congratulations! Stunning, isn't it? You just feel the force of nature in the falling current. So close. Almost like a heartbeat.

There are three major viewpoints that guarantee phenomenal photos.

Main Crooked Falls Viewpoint

Main viewpoint is rather neat. You can make cool photos of the Crooked Falls itself. What we liked about this viewpoint is that is is not too wet, as the wind carries the splashes away. Your camera is safe here.

Lower Crooked Falls Viewpoint

If you go lower down the current, you'll find another smaller viewpoint. From here it is great to take a shot from bottom-up to show the full size of the waterfalls.

We've seen on some pictures bloggers climbed down to the large boulders to take a shot within the waterfalls here. …we do NOT recommend this, as the rocks are quite slippery, and currents too strong.

In addition at this lower viewpoint, the splashes are too strong and the mist is heavy. We got instantly soaked. So we did not take any shots here as we did not have the waterproof camera case with us.

Behind the Crooked Falls Viewpoint

.

.

.

To get here you'll need to hike to the right of the main viewpoint. A small hidden trail will lead you over a little hill and a bit down to a huge boulder.

That's where you can make those epic “behind the falls” photos with the rushing currents splashing right into spectacular views of Squamish River Valley. This spot is not the best however to take a portrait shot due to lighting conditions – the faces and figures are simply too dark in contrast with the landscape behind you.

Once again we caution you NOT to climb down the rocks to make “that super-perfect shot” as the rocks are extremely slippery.

Check out our recent blog post on overall hiking safety: “Hiking With Kids: 12 Simple Safety Rules Every Parent Should Follow“. Although that post is kids-focused, many of the points apply to this hike as well.

Leave No Trace and Outdoor Ethics refresher: Leave No Trace & Outdoor Ethics – Zero Impact Family Adventures

.

.

Concluding notes

Crooked Falls is truly a Hidden Gem of Squamish Hikes. We strongly believe that this spectacular waterfall near Vancouver, with its breathtaking views of Squamish River Valley, and powerful energy of the water, does deserve more attention from hiking community.

Check out some of the photos we've taken:

Enjoy the trail! Comment on this post once you've done the hike and what's your opinion!

In addition, we are always looking for more ideas of epic hikes near Vancouver to explore – share! Know any other stunning secret waterfalls near Vancouver – Share! New and exciting Squamish hikes are also welcome! Any other waterfalls near Squamish too!

Don’t miss out on the new exciting outdoor adventures in Beautiful British Columbia or anywhere else in the World! Sign-up for our newsletter!

More cool hikes in Squamish-Whistler-Pemberton area:

• Joffre Lakes Trail: Practical Guide to Successfully Hiking Most Popular BC Alpine Park
• Howe Sound EPIC Views from Jurassic Ridge at Murrin Provincial Park – Squamish Best Hikes

.

Latest outdoors and travel experiences in British Columbia:

.

Cheerfully yours,

Alexandra, Alex & Cosmos

.

Share your pictures on social media! tag #PerfectDayToPlayHike to be featured on our Instagram!

.

Sharing is caring!