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Star Creek Falls is an easy 1.8km loop in Crowsnest Pass that has beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and various scenic views of the waterfall. The best time to check out the trail with summer conditions is June to October but it can be a nice snowshoe trail in the winter.
ADVENTURE STATISTICS
Time Required: 30-40 Minutes
Location: Crowsnest Pass
Distance: 1.8km loop
Highest Elevation: 1400m
Elevation Gain: 90m
Difficulty: 3/10 – Minimal elevation gain
Season: Year-round. Summer conditions from June to mid-October
Additional Requirements: N/A
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
From HWY 3 West: Turn left (South) off HWY 3 onto 77th St into Coleman, AB, then take a right onto 18th Ave heading West. Take 18 Ave, 17 Ave and 16th Ave West for 3.9km then take a left on 54 St. Follow 54 St for 450m to the trailhead.
WHAT TO BRING
- Comfortable Footwear: Hiking shoes. Snowshoes in the winter time.
- Water: Always take water when heading out on any hike, long or short.
- Snacks: Bring some of your favorite snacks to enjoy along the hike as well as a light lunch if you want to have a picnic at the falls. Some of our favorite snacks are trail mix, bananas, beef jerky and licorice.
- Weather appropriate clothing: You will be exposed to the elements throughout this hike. Check the weather forecast and plan accordingly.
- Sunscreen: If it is sunny and you’re like Mattson, who easily burns, bring sunscreen!
- Insect Repellent: Insect repellent can greatly improve your hiking experience.
- Bear Spray: You are in bear country. Always hike with bear spray that is easily accessible.
- Camera: There are numerous photo opportunities you won’t want to miss.
- This Guide: Print a copy of this guide to reference throughout the hike
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Wildlife: You will be hiking in bear country. It is always advisable to check in at the local Visitor Information Center to learn of any trail closures due to wildlife. Carry bear spray in an easily accessible location. Travel in groups of multiple hikers and make lots of noise to avoid an unexpected encounter.
Leave No Trace: It is important that we enjoy the outdoors responsibly and sustainably. Some key principles to consider when hiking to “Leave No Trace” are:
- Plan ahead and prepare: Proper planning allows adventurers to hike safely while minimizing damage to the land.
- Travel on durable surfaces: Stick to the trail when possible. If there is no trail, or you must travel off trail, stay on durable surfaces to reduce your impact.
- Dispose of waste properly: Pack it in, pack it out.
- Leave what you find: Leave rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts and other objects of interest as you find them.
- Respect wildlife: Observe wildlife from a distance. Never feed wild animals.
- Be considerate of other visitors: Be courteous to others to allow everyone to enjoy their outdoor experience.
To learn more about “Leave No Trace” visit http://www.leavenotrace.ca
HIKING DIRECTIONS
Summary: This hike is a “relatively” easy to follow loop. With minimal elevation, two bridges to cross the creek and two different views of the waterfall it is well worth the short 1.8km total hike.
Step-By-Step Guide:
This hike is great for kids and hikers of all skill levels. It begins at the end of 54th St. There is a clearing on the side of the road with room for some parking before the gravel road begins to ascend (Route marker #1 on the map). This parking should be utilized by anyone that doesn’t have high clearance or a 4×4 vehicle. After that short ascent up the road, you will come to a clearing where the trail forks left or right into the trees. The right fork will take you up to a nice high viewpoint of the falls and then around the back of them. Left will take you down to the creek, where you also get a very good view of the waterfall from down lower. We took the right fork and did the loop counterclockwise.
A short ascent through the trees will take you to a small rocky lookout of Star Creek Falls plummeting into the gorge eroded into the landscape (Route marker #2 on the map). Be careful near the edge of the lookout, it has a cliff like drop off and a very rocky base at the bottom. Back track from the lookout a bit to continue along the trail counterclockwise.
From there the trail continues behind the waterfall and crosses the creek at an upper bridge. You then wrap around to the other side of the gorge where you can look back for a different view of Star Creek Falls (Route marker #3 on the map). Keep following the trail and it will descend to the creek where there is another bridge to cross.
Depending on the water level of the creek, some people will walk upstream to get as close to Star Creek Falls as possible. If you choose to do this, take caution on the rocks as they are very slippery and jagged.
From the bridge, the trail continues back to the initial fork in the trail and it’s a quick walk back to your vehicle. Hope this guide helps and you get a little less lost than we did 🙂
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Thank you for choosing Epic Trip Adventures as your guide. We are committed to continually updating our guides to be as relevant and accurate as possible. If you have feedback to improve this guide please leave it in the comments below.
We also want to hear about your Star Creek Falls adventures. If you have stories, pictures or even a link to your own adventure video please share them below!
Have fun out there!
– ETA