Rosewall Creek to Therriault Falls

The route shown is the full trail length, from the parking lot north east of Route 19A all the way to the Therriault upper falls area. The trail was recorded just on the return leg. I provide many photos of the trail conditions and notable bits of scenery, including all aspects of the falls and various river crossings on giant logs (caution!).

This deep valley is truly primeval, and you will half-expect dinosaurs to emerge out of the forest or creek. The walls of the canyon are so steep and tree and undergrowth so thick that this is always a cool place to be even on the hottest summer days. You will be hard-pressed to find a sunny spot at which to stop except in the creek.

This trail is labeled as difficult due to many trail hazards, from large trees fallen across the winding trail to narrow sections of the path along slippery drop-offs into Rosewall Creek. You will need to use your hands to safely navigate this trail and some hand-lines (ropes) are provided in some areas to steady yourself against a fall into the creek. At the falls area near the end of the trail, the route is steep and slippery over large rocks. Finding a safe perch for a picnic lunch or resting spot can be tricky, and so take your time in this area and progress slowly. The lower falls are the more beautiful of the falls area and you can save yourself a 15-minute steep scramble by stopping at this spot and not continuing up the trail from there. There are some nice rocks to sit on with a view of these lower falls, but be careful climbing down to them.

Search and Rescue teams are called several times a year to help hikers on this route, and the biggest cause of accidents and usually lengthy (6-hour-long) evacuations by stretcher are broken or twisted ankles. The valley is too steep for access by helicopter. The footing is poor in many locations, so plan to go slowly and carefully, taking as much as 2 hours each way up this 4km-long trail (including stops to enjoy the scenery). A 4-hour round trip is a minimum for the almost 8 km round trip. I also highly recommend hiking boots with good ankle support.