Flood Falls near Hope is a fabulous and very easy to reach waterfall, right by the Highway between Hope and Chilliwack in Canada. Like Bridal Falls, which is along the same stretch of road, it takes very little effort to visit it; But for some reason it is not quite as famous as its watery neighbour. You do need to walk uphill a teeny bit to reach the base of the falls. But this mini hike is through a gorgeous mossy, forest that is full of artwork by local artists.

This is a great waterfall to visit to stretch your legs when you’re on a road trip. We were heading to Manning Park on this occasion, but it’s perfect if you’re heading for a wine tour in the Okanagan, or even an epic road trip to the Rockies.

Flood Falls – Map

Flood Falls – the basics

Distance: Less than 1km there and back
Elevation Gain: 70m (ish)
How big is the waterfall? The water drops 300m, although you can only see the bottom section from below the waterfall.
How much time do you need: You can rush in and out in about 20 minutes. You’ll want to stay a bit longer to admire the view though
Facilities: There is a car park, picnic benches and flushing toilets (plus pit toilets if you prefer a back-country experience!?)
How easy is it: Very easy. There is a little elevation gain, but we met some young kids on the trail. It’s good for grannies and little’uns.
Extra Tip: You could easily visit both this and Bridal Veil Falls in one trip. They are very close to each other.

Flood Falls – Getting Started

This lovely waterfall is (like Bridal Veil Falls) located right next to Highway 1, in the Fraser Valley, very close to Hope. If you know when to look, you can even see it as you drive past – it is a 300m drop(!) from high up on the mountain. To find the trailhead, leave the exit the Trans-Canada Highway at exit 165 onto Flood-Hope Road. If you’re lucky, there are some thimbleberries to taste, right where you park.

Masks in the trees

Some local artists have adorned the trees along this trail with art (mostly masks). So as you walk through the mossy forest, remember to look up! Some of them reminded me of the little tree spirits you see in Studio Ghibli animes.

You really need to keep your eyes peeled for some of them! I loved this red tengu-like mask that is hidden at the top of a hollowed out tree.

I won’t post all of them, so when you visit you can have fun searching for them. We found 9…but maybe you can spot even more!?

Boot in a tree

Right before we reached the falls we found a boot in a tree! I am not sure if this is part of the Flood Falls art. It looked like a well loved walking boot that had been nailed up there.

Flood Falls Views

This is a very short walk, so in no time at all, you’ll find yourself look up at the long, skinny splash of water. In some ways the falls are best views from far away, so you get a better idea of how far up the mountain they go.

They are lovely up close too!

There is a pool of water at their base, but it is very easy to cross the small stream to view them from the other side of the river. We stopped here for a snack as it was so quiet. There were only a couple of other waterfall chasers when we visited.

There is another good viewpoint to the left of the falls, with a bench for you to sit on wile you take in the views.

It was a little drizzly when we visited Flood Falls, but I loved the way the mist surrounded the mountains, hugging the trees. It’s a gorgeous area to look up and see all the moss and bright green vegetation on the cliffs above the waterfall.

Once you’ve had a peek, it’s a quick walk back (downhill the whole way) back to the trailhead to go on to your next adventure.

This is a short, sweet stop along the Trans-Canada Highway. If you are staying in Hope (or one of the many nearby RV/Campsites) this is a fabulous waterfall that you can reach with so little effort. Or, if you are in a massive rush, keep your eyes peeled as you drive along the highway, as you can get a quick glimpse of the waterfall from afar as you zoom past.

I hope you like the look of this gorgeous waterfall as much as we did! Or, if you’re looking for other fantastic Waterfalls near Vancouver, there are lots more!

Click on the pins below to save them for later.