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9.5 Cascade Falls
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Looking down on the gorge and falls
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Up close and personal
View of upper cascade section
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Location: Boundary Forest District, Christina Lake region
Height: ~100 ft. (~30.5m)
Access:  
Distance: 0.4 mi (RT) (0.6km)
Elevation: 1550 ft. (+100 ft.) (~473m)
Season: Apr-Jul
Difficulty: 
Lat/Long:49.01809, -118.21695
Directions:From the U.S. border on Hwy 395, drive north for 2.2 miles (3.5km) to the bridge crossing the Kettle River (or south from the Hwy 3 jct for 0.3 miles (0.5km). Park at the turnout along the highway.
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Cascade Falls in Christina Lake, British Columbia is one of the jewels of the West Kootenays. This was easily the highlight of our trip through the West Kootenay region of B.C. During the spring, the Kettle River thunders through a narrow gorge on its way into the U.S.A. The main drop is about 60 ft., but including the upper cascades, we think the total length of the cascades is around 100 ft. or more. Later in the summer, the power of the river is greatly diminished. We definitely recommend seeing Cascade Falls in the springtime when the river is high.
Access to Cascade Falls is quite easy. Along Hwy 395, at the bridge over the Kettle River, there is a signed trail leading up some steps into the Cascade Canyon. There are many great viewpoints of the gorge and cascades along this trail. The main trail leads up to the top of the falls. Spur trails lead to many scenic viewpoints. It is possible to get right up next to the waterfall, where you can feel the power of the water. It is an amazing experience.
Sadly, Cascade Falls is an endangered species. A proposal has been made by Sea Breeze Power Corporation to the BC government to create a dam and a 25MW hydro-electric power facility on the Kettle River above the falls. Such a project will destroy the gorge and Cascade Falls. Yet another beautiful waterfall and scenic location will be ruined forever. This proposal has been in the works for over 10 years, but is now in its final stages and a decision is expected soon. This project could also endanger certain species of fish living in the Kettle River, and it also would affect U.S. residents depending on water from the Kettle River watershed.
Most local residents in Christina Lake oppose the creation of the dam. When we were here in May 2005 on a Sunday afternoon, there were quite a few other people out enjoying the beauty of this canyon and waterfall. This shows the popularity of the Cascade Canyon among local residents and visitors to the area. This canyon should be made into a provincial park, not destroyed by a dam. This is of particular concern for myself, since I grew up in nearby Rossland BC. It is unimaginable how anyone could even think of destroying such a beautiful place.
Zoom out on map to see all nearby waterfalls:
Other waterfalls nearby:
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