Widgeon Falls

Updated November 2024 - The canoe rental shop is currently closed and scheduled to open May 20, 2025. Contact Xwum for more details.

It isn't often that you can combine a day of hiking with a beautiful canoe trip through marshlands. The route to Widgeon Falls combines both of these as you paddle along Widgeon Slough to the campsite before begining a 3km one-way hike to the scenic waterfall.

Start your trek by paddling across Pitt Lake towards the Widgeon Slough. Make your way along the waterway keeping an eye out for ducks, herons, deer, and even bears along the shorelines. After paddling for about 30 minutes, you'll reach a fork in the creek. Stay to your left and continue paddling. Depending on the time of year, you may have to get out of the canoe and pull the canoe through sections as the creek can become quite shallow.

Eventually, you will arrive at the campsite. Pitt Lake is the only tidal lake in Western Canada and make sure to pull the canoe up onto shore far enough if it's low tide.

The trail portion begins to the right of the campsite. Follow the service road along for 20 minutes, watching for a sign on the right side of the trail that says 'Widgeon Falls'. At this point, you can either continue along the service road which will take you to the falls or take the trail which ends up following along the shores of Widgeon Creek. The trail is a nice change from the basic service road and provides several views of Widgeon Creek.

Follow the trail through the forest of Cedar, Fir, and Maple trees. After an hour of hiking, the trail reaches the lower falls which is a perfect spot for wading in the water on a hot, sunny day. Continue hiking along the trail for another 10 minutes to reach the upper falls. The water has flowed over these rocks for hundreds of years, carving smooth paths and sculpting them into their current forms. This is the perfect location to stop for lunch.

Keeping in mind the canoe trip back down Widgeon Creek, make sure to leave enough time to return. Perhaps take the quicker route along the service road back to the campsite instead of the trail. Make your way back through Widgeon Slough and across Pitt Lake to the Grant Narrows boat launch area where you started.

Widgeon Lake

If you camp at the Widgeon Creek Campsite, you can hike beyond the falls and up towards Widgeon Lake. This hike from the campsite takes approximately 5 hours round trip which does not leave enough time if you are trying to do the entire trip from the parking lot to the lake in one day. The peaceful lake surrounded by granite bluffs is the perfect reward for a hiking and camping trip over a long weekend.