Tethys Falls

Turn off the Trans-Canada Highway on Donald Road (signed for the town of Donald), then after a kilometer, turn left onto the Bush River FSR. Follow the Bush River Road for 63km then turn right onto the Valenciennes River FSR shortly after crossing the Valenciennes River. Follow the Valenciennes Road for 18km then bear left onto the Mons Creek - Icefall FSR and follow it for another 9km to where a small sign can be seen indicating the parking for Icefall Lodge. As of August 2010, Mons Creek had washed out the road 1/2km before the parking. From the parking area, find the trail across the flood plain to Icefall Brook (faint) and locate the log footbridge to cross (do not attempt crossing by fording, the creek is too large and swift). Once across, follow the trail (may be flagged) for about 120m to where the trail bears left on an old roadbed. The Icefall Canyon trail (unmarked) heads right along the same former road at this point. Follow the rough, generally overgrown trail towards Icefall Canyon. The falls will be visible after about 1.3km. The Icefall Canyon trail is a rough, very much work-in-progress trail which may be difficult to follow at times and should not be attempted by those looking for an easy walk. The road to the trailhead is not maintained regularly either, high clearance vehicles are recommended.Tethys Falls is the first waterfall found in the Icefall Canyon proper. Though nowhere near the size of the other waterfalls in the area, it makes an impression for its unique formation. A high volume of water emerges from a crack in the mountainside and immediately plunges 134 feet to an alluvial fan before cascading to join the already swollen waters of Icefall Brook. What makes this waterfall so interesting is that not only does it emerge directly from the side of the cliff, but the volume of water emerging is greater than all the other similar springs in the valley. It may be that the volume is great enough that the falls will flow all year long, despite the surface of the falls likely freezing into a solid sheet of ice during the winter months.The name we have proposed for this waterfall comes from Tethys, the mythical Greek Titan Goddess of fresh water and known to the ancient Greeks as the mother of the major rivers of the world (such as the Nile). While the stream producing this waterfall isn't nearly large enough to be considered the source of Icefall Brook, that it is a large tributary that seemingly emerges from nowhere, the name seemed fitting.