Quick Facts
Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 66′ / 20 m
Length of Hike: 0.2 miles / 0.3 km round-trip
The Record
Wells Gray Provincial Park is famous for its towering waterfalls that plunge dramatically into deep canyons. When you think of waterfalls here, you often picture the breathtaking, slender plumes of Helmcken Falls or Spahats Creek Falls. But then there’s Dawson Falls, a waterfall that plays a bit differently. Instead of soaring height, its power lies in its immense breadth. While still an impressive 60 feet tall, it is far wider at 300 feet.
True to the park’s accessible nature, visiting Dawson Falls is rather easy, involving just a short walk from a dedicated parking area. However, I remember a bit of a puzzle when it came to finding the best spot to take it all in. The park offers multiple viewpoints, and my memory is that the one closest to the falls, while offering an impressive sense of its power, is not the best for photography or appreciating its full scale. It’s almost too close, and you can only see a section of the wide, churning cascade.
I found that the best perspective, the one that truly captures the waterfall’s grand scope, was actually from the viewpoint located nearer to the parking lot. This spot, a little further back, allows you to see the entire width of the falls in a single, panoramic frame.
Directions
- From Clearwater, head north on Clearwater Valley Road for about 40 km/25 miles to the parking area for Dawson Falls. Along the way, you will have passed parking areas for Spahats Creek Falls and Moul Falls. If you reach the bridge over the Mushbowl, you’ve gone to far, though you’ll be able to re-encounter Dawson Falls on the return drive.
Waterfall Record 
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