Mamquam Falls is a pretty waterfall in Squamish at the end of an impressive gorge. It has beautiful glacial-fed waters, so looks amazing, even on moody, grey days. You can do the trail as a loop and it is short, and relatively easy to reach in all seasons.

This location is sometimes called a “hidden gem” but it is pretty popular on Instagram for the last couple of years, and you can find it on all trails so it’s not hidden. The main thing to note is the waterfall is right next to a power station, so this might not be the wilderness experience you’d expect from the photo angles folks share on social media.

Mamquam Falls – the basics

Distance: 2.2 km for the loop
Cumulative Elevation gain: 80m
Time: 30-40 mins (we recorded 33 mins moving time on strava)
What to bring: The 10 Essentials.
Facilities: Drop toilet and picnic area
Dogs: It’s a bit short for a dog walk. Keep dogs leashed as there are cliffs and fast-flowing waters.
How hard is it? Easy-ish. It’s short, but the trail down below the falls is steep and not really suitable for young children.
Extra note: This location will have a new “Squamish Canyon” trail from 2025. But the developers say there will still be free access for hikers and kayakers. It’s just this trail may be different next year.

Mamquam Falls Map

The map below doesn’t quite show the full loop – we returned via the bridge and road.

Waterfall Details:

Mamquam Falls is the largest waterfall along the Mamquam River. It plunges into a bowl with cliffs on either side at the end of a pretty gorge. The river is regulated for hydroelectric power, so although you can see the waterfall year round, it is smaller than it would be naturally.

Type of waterfall: Plunge
Waterfall drop: 19m (62 ft)
Stream: Mamquam River

Mamquam Falls – Getting Started

The trailhead (click for google map) is at the end of Powerhouse Springs Road, off the Mamquam River FSR near Squamish. It is super close to Mount Crumpit, so you could add this as an extra kilometer from Crumpit Woods. The road is doable without 4×4, just take it slowly and be ready for oodles of potholes.

If you want to see the falls quickly, head straight to the bridge by the Altantic Power station. The loop we did goes off to the left from Powerhouse Springs Road, then turns right when you see the lego-like concrete blocks. Follow that trail down to the Mamquam River.

There is a picnic area down by the Mamquam River Kayak site. This is managed for kayakers by the Mamquam River Access Society but is not for camping, and there is no garbage disposal, so make sure to pack out whatever you bring and leave no trace. This part of the river was famous for kayakers long before hikers/tiktokers found it.

From the picnic area the trail curls around and heads alongside the river. The forest is typical BC coastal rainforest – mossy, green and gorgeous.

Mamquam River

You can walk right down to the edge of the Mamquam River. Just be careful as this river is swift and hazardous. We visited when the salmon were running further downstream, but we did not see any salmon up here.

From here you can hear the waterfall, and you’ll start to see it through the trees. The river is fed by meltwater from the Bishop Glacier on the east side of Mount Garibaldi, and the Mamquam Icefield. Those glaciers scrape and erode rocks into rock flour which is what gives the water the iceberg-blue colouring.

Mamquam Falls Viewing Platform

The best place to view the falls is on a concrete platform at the edge of the gorge. The tree to the left conveniently hides the power station. This might not be particularly wild, but it is a beautiful sight.

Be really careful on the trail from the viewing platform back up the the concrete bridge above. It is quite eroded and very steep (not really suitable for small kids or grandmas.) I spotted a culturally modified tree here as well as some cool slime mold.

Once you make it up to the bridge, you can look down on Mamquam Falls, and into the gorge. It’s pretty spectacular from here.

Other fabulous Squamish Waterfalls

I’ve made a map so you can find amazing waterfalls near Squamish and around BC. Green means you don’t have to walk, Blue is for waterfalls with easy walks and Dark Blue means you’ll need to do a slightly longer/harder walk to reach them.

Three of my favorites near here are:

• Shannon Falls – super easy as it’s right by the highway.
• High Falls Creek – You need to scale a cliff with a rope for this gorgeous waterfall
• Crooked Falls – An intermediate (but short-ish) trail to this stunning twisted waterfall

My controversial take; Although it was cool to see Mamquam Falls, I don’t think it is worth driving all the way to Squamish just for this. The other nearby waterfalls are all more impressive and feel wilder. Having said that, if you don’t mind the ugly concrete bridge and the power station, this waterfall is still gorgeous. The best way to visit Mamquam falls is as an add-on to another hike/road trip/adventure.

It sounds like there will be a new trail called the Squamish Canyon in 2025 that will make this area more accessible to the hundreds of tourists that visit. So watch out for that!