Waterfall Record

This is a portion of a waterfall with a rainbow.

The Waterfall Record

Cypress Falls, British Columbia

This is a waterfall in Cypress Falls Park near Vancouver in British Columbia. Trees cross the stream.
A waterfall in the park in August 2010
This is Cypress Falls, a 30 foot / 9 meter tall waterfall just outside Vancouver, British Columbia.
A different waterfall, most likely Cypress Falls, in June 2023

Quick Facts

Accessibility: 7/10 (easy/moderate)
Height of Falls: 30′ / 9 m
Length of Hike: 1.9 miles / 3.1 km round-trip

The Record

Tucked away in a very nice residential area of West Vancouver, Cypress Falls Park offers a fun escape with a charming set of waterfalls. My first visit back in 2010 was a true lesson in navigation. After finding a place to park and hoping the neighbors didn’t think I was doing anything suspicious, I set off into the woods. In reality, the hike to the falls should only take about 15-20 minutes, but that’s only if you manage to stay on the right path.

I definitely did not. I remember walking for what felt like a long time, eventually realizing that I wasn’t hearing any flowing water, which is never a good sign when you’re looking for a waterfall. After turning around and taking a different turn, I was lucky enough to finally hear the sounds of the creek and followed them to a section of Cypress Falls. It was getting quite dark in the forest by then, but the hike was enjoyable. My adventure concluded when I exited the park at a completely different point from where I started, requiring a walk down the street to get back to my car. The key takeaway from that first visit was clear: there are virtually no trail indicators.

Fast forward to a return trip in June 2023. This time, with a group of others, the experience was a bit different. We found a much more impressive waterfall, making me wonder if it was the same one from 2010 seen from a better angle, or a different cascade altogether. While the main path seemed a bit clearer this time around, I still found that the signage was not as clear as it could have been. Cypress Falls Park remains a beautiful and worthwhile hike for anyone in the area, but it’s best to go without a strict time limit. Be prepared for a bit of an adventure, as the confusing trails are just part of its unique, wild charm.

Directions

  1. From BC-99 in West Vancouver, take exit 4.
  2. Take Woodgreen Drive to Woodgreen Place, which I found using a GPS.
  3. There is a clear parking area for the falls. From there, follow the signage, though it may require a bit of wandering.

Where in the World is Cypress Falls?

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