Helmcken Falls in August 2010

My gosh, is Helmcken Falls cool. At 463′ tall, it’s nowhere near the tallest waterfall. And yet, I find that Helmcken Falls is an extremely impressive waterfall. There is something truly amazing about it.

First, the flow of this falls is very strong, and that was visiting in August. I can only imagine the flow in May or early June. Second, the geology here is truly cool. The rock walls behind the falls only enhance the beauty. As I was standing there, I realized that there were extremely sharp drops. Even at the viewpoint I was standing at, you have to be very careful. It’s hard to explain Helmcken Falls in a way that appropriately creates the amazing picture that you see in front of you, so just go and check it out!

To check it out, there are different viewpoints. One of them is the viewpoint I was standing at, which is pretty far from the crest of the falls, but leads to impressive views nonetheless. You can walk along the trail closer to the crest, and some people seem to suggest it’s even cooler.

Directions:

1. 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.  Once you reach the bridge over the Mushbowl, keep going to the parking area for Helmcken Falls.  From there it’s a short walk to the viewing area.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 463′
Length of Hike: N/A (very short)

Where in the World is Helmcken Falls?