A waterfall as captivating as this would ordinarily be deserving of a day trip all on its own – but given that it’s a mere few minutes from the highway, it’s perfect when combined with other stops along the way in the Crowsnest Pass. It’s a stop I make frequently when driving through, and hopefully it will be one you enjoy as well.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience Lundbreck Falls in the Crowsnest Pass for yourself, including how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.
When hiking it’s important to avoid harmful practices such as disturbing plants or rock-stacking, or removing any natural object from flowers to rocks, as it’s important to leave the environment as natural as possible for the animals and for fellow hikers to enjoy in perpetuity. As many flowers as there are, there are few enough that if we all took one, then there wouldn’t be any left. Take only photos, leave only footprints.
If you haven’t heard of Leave No Trace principles, they’re also really essential to read up on before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. Following these important principles basically means doing your best to leave beautiful places like Lundbreck Falls as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
When to Visit Lundbreck Falls
Lundbreck Falls is on the Old Man River, meaning year-round it never dries up. Frankly, there is no bad time of year to visit. It freezes up beautifully in winter, creating a wonderland of snow and ice. Spring is when it’s at its most powerful from all the snowmelt. In summer all the plants are lush. In autumn some of the surrounding leaves start to turn orange and it’s possible to see fish jumping. Whatever time of year you’re passing by, it’s worth taking the short detour to visit the falls.
How to Get to Lundbreck Falls
Lundbreck Falls is an hour and fifteen minutes from Lethbridge, or two hours from Calgary. If you’re driving from the West it’s an hour from Fernie. There are two turn-offs for Lundbreck falls just west of the town of Lundbreck. If you’re driving from the East then the first turn-off is just at the bottom of the hill the highway goes down just after town. The second turn-off is a couple minutes later – just in case you miss the first. Both are well signed and should be difficult to miss if you know what you’re looking for.
There are parking lots immediately on either side of the falls, and it’s possible to enjoy the view of the falls without even getting out of your car. While I have definitely seen people do this, if you can it’s definitely worth walking down to the base.
Click here to open the exact location in Google Maps.
Following the small footpath down from the parking lot to the Olman River. From the bottom an obvious trail leads close to the falls. In spring when water levels are at their highest the trail can partially disappear, so waterproof shoes may come in handy.
Approaching the base of the falls. I love how lush and wet everything is down here – it hardly feels like you’re in Alberta. It’s not uncommon to see local photographers taking their clients down here for engagement or grad photos – it really is an unique spot!
Recommended Hiking Gear
Water is a must whenever I’m hiking, especially if the sun is going to be out. My favourite water filter I’ve used is the Katadyn BeFree 0.6L, which unlike other water filters I’ve used packs up really small and lightweight. For hikes where I know there won’t be any readily available water sources along the way, I make sure to bring my own. The Hydrapak Stow 1L bottle is my go-to, for the same reason that it’s made of a soft plastic that folds up and doesn’t take up any more extra space than necessary in my pack. Finally, Aquatabs are another great option for purifying water, with one tablet being suitable for one litre of water. I previously used the Grayl water filter while travelling internationally, and though I found its hard body more convenient for day to day use and easier to drink from, it has a little too much bulk for my fast-and-light style of hiking.
The secret to all my photos of gorgeous sunset and sunrise mountaintop views? A lot of hiking in the dark. And let me speak from personal experience when I say that the last thing that you want to happen when hiking is to be caught in the dark without a headlamp. I used the Black Diamond Spot 400 for years and it worked great – until I lost it on top of a mountain somewhere. The only downside to it was having to worry about the batteries dying, though there’s also a slightly more expensive version that has a rechargeable battery. Nowadays I’m using the Petzl Actik Core, which is a bit pricier than the more budget-friendly Black Diamond, but is also brighter, more comfortable (in my opinion), and has a hybrid power system that is rechargeable but can also take AAA batteries if needed.
You won’t see me using trekking poles on shorter hikes often – but on long hikes and backpacking trips, as well as certain scrambles, they are an absolute lifesaver. I’ve invested in a high quality ultra-lightweight pair of MSR DynaLock Ascent carbon poles which, while pricey, I don’t regret one bit. If you’re not entirely sure how much use you’re going to get out of a pair of trekking poles, the best budget-friendly option would be the Trekology Trek Z 2.0. Amazon does sell a lot of cheaper Made in China-style trekking poles for cheaper, but these usually are much much heavier and not worth buying.
All the best and most long-lasting cables and power banks I’ve ever owned have been Anker. I once had a phone cable from them that lasted me over three years of daily use! That’s why I keep an Anker PowerCore Essential 20K power bank on me. Like many people I use my phone for a lot of stuff when hiking (checking in with family, using online maps, taking photos, flying my drone) so I like to be prepared for that low battery warning by having a backup power source on me just in case.
The only socks I ever buy for myself are from Darn Tough, and I almost always make sure to wear them when hiking. After years of having no problems only wearing these comfortable and rugged socks for hikes, I accidentally wore a pair of no-name socks on a hike last year and ended up with blisters on both feet. Safe to say I’m back to sticking with the Darn Tough. And the best part? They have a lifetime guarantee, meaning that if they ever wear out you can send them back for a brand new pair. For hiking footwear I go between a pair of lightweight approach shoes for quick and dirty mountain ascents or anything involving scrambling and more heavy-duty boots for longer treks. I’ve worn a couple different versions of the lightweight but super durable Arc’teryx Konseal FL 2 approach shoes for a few years now and am very impressed with the durability. I also really like the thick toecap that keeps me protected every time I stumble into a root or large rock. For longer, tougher, or muddier treks I rely on my LOWA Camino EVO GTX, which I find insanely comfortable and made of very high quality.
I wear my Ar’teryx Gamma Lightweight Pants on every single hike I go on, and on many days when I’m not hiking. After several years of abuse they are still holding together extraordinarily well, with only a few small holes from where I’ve fallen down and some slight stains from being repeatedly coated with mud. They’re lightweight, breathable, and super comfortable. For lightweight and breathable hiking tops I’m a big fan of both the Patagonia Capilene Shirt and the MEC Core Shirt. My Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody shows up in a lot of my photos. It’s super lightweight and packable, and does a great job of cutting the wind while also being pretty breathable. I also have an Arc’teryx Atom Hoody and Arc’teryx Beta LT that I pull out for cooler or wetter conditions.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to Lundbreck Falls in the Crowsnest Pass! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.