6 best waterfalls near Kamloops
There are quite a few waterfalls in Kamloops to check out which might be surprising since Kamloops is known for being a city with a very dry climate.
When we moved from Vancouver to Sun Peaks near Kamloops for the winter season, I was looking for things to do in Kamloops and managed to get out and explore waterfalls near Kamloops when we’re not skiing.
On our adventures so far we have found some of the best waterfalls near Kamloops, BC.
We managed to do some exploring before the snow fell and some more since. It’s fair to say there are tonnes of exploring to do around Kamloops and it’s definitely much quieter than the areas around Vancouver (although I do miss the coast!).
Here are some of the best waterfalls near Kamloops and where to find them.
AllTrails is my go-to hiking app for finding, planning, and navigating while I’m out on the trails. With offline maps on AllTrails+ you can be confident you’re still on the right track, even without mobile signal.
Best Waterfalls near Kamloops
These waterfalls near Kamloops, BC are perfect whatever the weather! Most of them involve short hikes so they’re easy to get to too.
1. Whitecroft Falls, near Sun Peaks
Just down the road from us in the village of Whitecroft, there’s a bit of a hidden gem of a waterfall. We visited over Christmas when the falls were partly frozen and I can’t wait to go back to the Sun Peaks waterfall later in the winter when it’s more frozen (and perhaps again in the Spring!).
The Whitecroft Waterfall near Kamloops is a short 5-10 minute walk from a pull-out where you can park and it’s easily accessible even in the winter.
I was surprised at how tall the waterfall was and it looked great in the snow.
2. Jamieson Creek Falls
Another waterfall to the north of Kamloops is Jamieson Creek Falls.
Like the Sun Peaks waterfall above, Jamieson Creek Falls is another great place to visit all year round. The hike to reach the falls takes about 30-40 minutes and the trail is almost flat so it’s a great hike to do with kids near Kamloops.
Directions: Follow Westsyde Road for 20km, then turn left onto Jamieson Creek Main Haul Road and follow this for 13km.
3. Peterson Creek Park falls
Very close to Kamloops is Peterson Creek Park which has around 30km of hiking trails. There are trailheads all over the city so the length of your hike to reach the falls depends on where you start.
The grassland trails in this park take you up to many a great viewpoint of Kamloops and the waterfall is the cherry on top of the cake.
Stick to the trail around the waterfall as it’s very easy to slip or get stuck if you don’t.
4. Chase Creek Falls
Chase Creek Falls is one of the falls we visited just before the snow started falling. Right off the highway, Chase Creek falls involves a couple of minute’s hike through the forest.
For such a short walk it’s surprising how tall the waterfalls are and if you’re driving through or visiting Chase it’s well worth using this as a place to stretch your legs
Wells Gray Provincial Park Waterfalls
Though a bit of a further drive away from Kamloops, Wells Gray Provincial Park is well worth making the drive.
Wells Gray Provincial Park, just outside of Clearwater, is full of beautiful waterfalls. In fact, there are over 40 waterfalls to explore! They’re also some of the best waterfalls in BC! To get there, simply head north towards Jasper and follow the signs to the park.
Here’s a quick snapshot of three of the BC waterfalls you must visit in Wells Gray Provincial Park.
5. Helmcken Falls
The most famous falls in Wells Gray, Helmcken Falls cascades down 141m into the canyon below. So great is the height of Helmcken waterfall that it’s actually the fourth largest waterfall in Canada. The fact you can access it just steps from the road is really an added bonus.
We visited this fall in the summer a few years ago on our road trip from Vancouver to Banff. It’s arguably even better in winter!
6. Spahats Creek Falls
One of the most dramatic waterfalls to in the park, Spahats Creek Falls drops down from a keyhole in the rock face, 80 metres above the Clearwater River. It’s another of the ones that are easily accessible from the road so if you’re visiting Wells Gray Park then make sure to stop and see it.
7. McDiarmid Falls
Another of the many great waterfalls in Wells Gray Park is McDiarmid Falls. This is one of the quieter falls in the park as it’s further away from the entrance and involves a hike, whereas most of Wells Gray’s falls are accessible within a short walk.
The McDiarmid Falls hike starts on an old road but as you hike into the forest you’ll descend into a valley (and thus climb on the return). At 6km long, this hike will take most people around 1.5 – 2 hours to complete.
Other beautiful places to visit near Kamloops
Make time for other beautiful scenery other than waterfalls by visiting some of the towns and lakes near Kamloops. Some of my favourites are listed below.
Final thoughts on the best Kamloops waterfalls
If you’re looking for beautiful places in Kamloops, be sure to check out these waterfalls as they’re the best waterfalls near Kamloops BC.
Some of them offer great waterfall hikes near Kamloops and others are easily accessible from the road.
My favourites are the Sun Peaks waterfall which I think is one of the coolest places to put on your what to see in Kamloops list, especially in winter, and the waterfalls in Wells Grey Provincial Park are always super impressive!
If you’re someone who loves to chase waterfalls, then be sure to check out this guide to the best Whistler waterfalls and the best waterfalls in Alberta as well as these cool waterfalls near Revelstoke not too far away!
Last Updated on June 27, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
