Quick Facts
Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 120′ / 37 m
Length of Hike: Roadside
The Record
Keystone Canyon is one of those places that is hard to describe. On the way into Valdez, I had been driving for about an hour and a half. It’s about 5 hours from Anchorage via road. Even if I had been driving for longer, I think I would still have had my breath taken away as I entered Keystone Canyon. It was drizzling a bit, giving the canyon a special atmosphere. The road winds through the canyon, at times crossing over the Lowe River. Cliffs climb above you on both sides of the road.
And then the waterfalls start appearing. Bridal Veil and Horsetail Falls are the two named waterfalls. As I’m driving along, though, I see another waterfall. I don’t know if this one has a designated name, and I wasn’t sure what the creek’s name was. It’s Keystone Canyon Falls to me. The mountains above the gorge climb about 5500 feet in the matter of about 4 miles. So while you’re probably seeing about 120 feet of waterfall in this picture, there’s likely more waterfall hidden above.
I often mention whether you should go out of your way to see a waterfall…In this case, it’s taken to extremes. I was headed to Valdez for a day-long glacier/wildlife cruise. As I mentioned, the drive from Anchorage to Valdez is about five hours, and there are long stretches of beautiful nothingness. You could fly, but then you’ll miss these waterfalls. On the way, you’ll get some great views of Wrangell-Saints Elias National Park, and a “short” detour from the road to Valdez will lead to Liberty Falls. In addition to Bridal Veil Falls and Horsetail Falls, there’s also Crooked Creek Falls in Valdez. With all of the additional beauty, it’s a good reason to drive, but you’ve got to set time aside just for this.
Directions
- There isn’t any other way to enter Valdez via road than on Alaska Route 4. From Anchorage, you’d follow AK-1 for a really long time to the junction of AK-4.
- Turn right and head south on AK-4, and then after an hour or so, you’ll enter Keystone Canyon. It’s clearly signed. It’s hard to miss the different waterfalls.
Waterfall Record 
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