Elk Falls

From Highway 19 in Campbell River, follow Highway 28 west for 5km to the signed turn off to Elk Falls Park (do not turn at the campground). Follow this road across a bridge spanning three massive penstocks, and go right at the park entrance sign. Park and follow the trail leading upstream for a short distance, then branch right at the sign for the Elk Falls viewpoint. When you reach the first junction, turn right and follow to the viewpoint.The 89 foot tall Elk Falls and the successive canyon are the centerpieces to Elk Falls Provincial Park just outside of Campbell River on Vancouver Island. The Campbell River plunges effortlessly into a moist defile carved out by what was once a magnificent cataract. Since 1948 when the John Hart dam went online, the vast majority of the Campbell River has been diverted for hydroelectric generation, leaving the falls just a shadow of its former self. Though the volume of the river can increase noticeably during the peak of the snow melt season, rare are the days when the river is allowed to flow unimpeded any longer. However, the diversion of the river does allow the waterfall to retain a very consistent flow all year long, so no matter the conditions it remains constant.