Geraldine Falls

The Geraldine Lakes trail starts 5.5 kilometers up the Geraldine Fire Lookout Road, itself accessed from Highway 93A about a kilometer north of Athabasca Falls. The first lake is 2 kilometers from the trailhead, and the base of the falls are reached in another 3 kilometers, passing Lower Geraldine Falls along the way. Take note that the hike to this waterfall is moderately strenuous and involves about two kilometers of hiking across extensive boulder fields, so plan accordingly and be sure to bring plenty of food and water.Those who have the stamina to press on from Lower Geraldine Falls will be able to not only take in even more stunning scenery than that seen along the shores of Lower Geraldine Lake, but in reaching the central headwall below the largest of the Geraldine Lakes, will be able to take in this spectacular waterfall churning almost 500 feet over a dark red wall of bedrock. The falls begin as a series of lower-profile cascades which drop for about 150 feet in all before intersecting the primary headwall in the valley and veiling 350 feet in one tremendous veiling leap. The upper tiers of the falls are more difficult to see because the trail climbs away from the creek as it ascends to Second Geraldine Lake, but it can be seen from a distance from about a kilometer down the valley from the foot of the falls. Though the falls are not fed by major icepack, there are several small glacial remnants feeding the Geraldine Creek basin, as well as four major lakes feeding into the creek above the falls, so stream flow remains fairly consistent for the majority of the year. During the winter months due to the high elevation the falls freeze over entirely.This waterfall, despite its significant stature, does not appear to have ever been given an official name so it is usually colloquially referred to after the nearby lakes and creek.