Sea to Sky Waterfalls You Can Reach in Under 10 Minutes on Foot
Some of the best water on the Sea to Sky asks almost nothing of your legs. Shannon Falls rises 335 m above Highway 99. BC Parks ranks it the third-highest falls in British Columbia, behind Della Falls on Vancouver Island and Hunlen Falls in Tweedsmuir Park. You reach its viewpoint on an easy 350 m trail from the parking lot.
Farther up the highway, Alexander Falls drops 43 m in the Callaghan Valley, and its viewing platform is a short walk in from the parking area. Neither site charges for day use. Brandywine Falls sits just past the 10-minute line, and it’s included here as a clearly marked bonus.
This guide covers what you’ll see at each stop, how to get there, what’s open in late October 2026, and the few rules that keep the trip safe.
3. Brandywine Falls (bonus, between Squamish and Whistler)
Where: Brandywine Falls Park, off Highway 99, 47 km north of Squamish
When: Trails not maintained in winter; check BC Parks for gate and parking status
Cost: Check the BC Parks page
Getting there: Off Highway 99, 47 km north of Squamish
This one breaks the headline, and that’s flagged on purpose. BC Parks puts the walk at 10 to 20 minutes one way. It earns a spot because the payoff is a 70 m waterfall.
The trail crosses a covered footbridge and runs through forest to a viewing platform. The platform was built in 2006 on the edge of a volcanic escarpment, and it looks out toward Daisy Lake. On the way you cross the CN rail line. BC Parks asks you to cross with caution and stay behind the fences.
There’s no access to the lower falls or the canyon. BC Parks calls that area extremely unsafe because of unstable slopes and falling rock. There’s no drinking water in the park, so bring your own. Campfires aren’t allowed.
BC Parks says trails here aren’t maintained in winter. Check the Brandywine Falls park page for current gate and parking status before you head up in November.
| Waterfall | Height | Accessibility | Toilets | Drinking water | Fires | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shannon Falls | 335 m | Crusher-dust trail suits most wheelchairs; incline to platform may need help | Yes, wheelchair accessible | Listed by operator (full-service season) | Not at the day-use area | Open with reduced services; snow can limit access |
| Alexander Falls | 43 m | Large wheelchair-accessible platform | Yes | Not listed | No fires | Viewpoint reachable; walk in may be snowy or icy |
| Brandywine Falls | 70 m | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | None | No campfires | Trails not maintained |
2. Alexander Falls (Callaghan Valley)
Where: Alexander Falls Recreation Site, Callaghan Valley Road, just before Whistler Olympic Park
When: Viewpoint reachable year-round; ticketed snowshoe access to the base usually mid-December to mid-April (2026/27 dates not posted yet)
Cost: Free at the viewpoint; Callaghan trail ticket needed for winter snowshoe trails
Getting there: Callaghan Valley Road turn-off is 115 km north of downtown Vancouver; allow about 2 hours
Madeley Creek drops 43 m (141 ft) here over several tiers onto the rocks below. You watch from a large viewing platform a short walk from the parking area. Recreation Sites and Trails BC lists the platform as wheelchair accessible. There are picnic tables and toilets.
The recreation site is small and free, and the Cheakamus Community Forest Society runs it. It’s day use only. There’s no camping and no fires. The site sits right beside Whistler Olympic Park, which hosted Nordic events at the 2010 Games.
The viewpoint is reachable year-round. In winter, Tourism Whistler warns the short walk in may be snowy or icy. You can’t reach the base of the falls in summer. In winter, The Callaghan runs ticketed snowshoe trails, Express and Explorer, that go right to the base. That season normally runs from about mid-December to mid-April, depending on conditions. 2026/27 dates and prices aren’t posted yet. Snowshoe rentals are available at evo Callaghan.
Black bears are very common along the road in. Drive slowly, watch the verges, and stay in your car if you see one.
1. Shannon Falls (south of Squamish)
Where: Shannon Falls Park, Highway 99, about 2 km south of Squamish
When: Open year-round; full service March 15 to October 15, reduced services in winter; gate closed 10 pm to 7 am
Cost: Free for day use
Getting there: About 58 km north of Vancouver, roughly a 45-minute drive; use the designated lots only
Shannon Falls comes down from Mount Habrich and Mount Sky Pilot over a series of cliffs. The total drop is 335 m. Only Della Falls (481 m) and Hunlen Falls (396 m) are taller in BC, and you’d need a boat, a long hike or a floatplane for those. Here you park beside Highway 99 and walk in.
The trail follows Shannon Creek for 350 m through western hemlock, Douglas fir and western red cedar. The park operator lists viewing platforms a short walk from the lot, along with picnic sites, water and restrooms. The trail isn’t paved. Its packed crusher-dust surface suits most wheelchairs, according to BC Parks. A secondary trail up to the viewing platform has an incline, and you may need help there. There are wheelchair-accessible toilets and picnic tables.
The land has a beer story. Carling O’Keefe Brewery bought the area in 1976 and brewed with the mountain water. In 1982 the brewery donated the land to BC Parks.
The full-service season ran March 15 to October 15, so reduced services are in effect now. BC Parks says the park stays open through winter, though snow can limit access. The parking gate is closed between 10 pm and 7 am. The lots are extremely vulnerable to break-ins, so leave nothing in sight. If you have time to spare, the Sea to Sky Gondola next door gives you an elevated view of the falls and the Chief. Check its site for current hours and prices.
| Waterfall | Walk | Getting there | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Falls | Short walk in from the parking area | Turn-off 115 km north of downtown Vancouver; allow ~2 h | Free |
| Shannon Falls | Easy 350 m trail | ~58 km north of Vancouver; ~45 min drive | Free |
| Brandywine Falls | 10–20 min one way | 47 km north of Squamish | Not verified |
| Nairn Falls (for comparison) | 1.5 km each way (3 km return), allow at least 1 hour | 20 min north of Whistler | Not verified |
When to go (as of late October 2026)
- Shannon Falls’ full-service season ran March 15 to October 15. The park stays open now with reduced services, and snow can limit access in winter.
- Shannon’s parking gate is closed between 10 pm and 7 am, so plan a daytime visit.
- Alexander Falls’ viewpoint is reachable year-round. Expect a snowy or icy walk in during winter.
- The Callaghan normally runs ticketed winter trails from about mid-December to mid-April. 2026/27 details aren’t posted yet, so check The Callaghan’s ticket page closer to the season.
What to bring
- Shoes with grip and a rain shell. Spray and wet leaves make platforms slippery in fall.
- Traction aids if you’re heading up the Callaghan in winter.
- Your own water for Brandywine, which has none.
- A picnic. Shannon and Alexander both have tables.
Safety and etiquette
Short walks still deserve some care, so go prepared for wet, cold conditions.
- Stay on designated trails and platforms. Brandywine’s lower canyon is off limits because of unstable slopes and falling rock.
- At Alexander Falls, view from the platform only. In winter, The Callaghan’s ticketed snowshoe trails lead to the base of the falls.
- Black bears are common along Callaghan Valley Road. Stay in your car, and don’t feed or approach them.
- Shannon’s lots are prone to break-ins. Leave nothing in sight.
- No campfires at Brandywine Falls Park.
- At Brandywine, cross the CN rail line with caution and stay behind the fences.
Accessibility
- Shannon Falls: the trail is unpaved packed crusher dust, which BC Parks says suits most wheelchairs. The secondary trail up to the platform has an incline and may need assistance.
Getting there
- Shannon Falls: about 58 km north of Vancouver on Highway 99, roughly a 45-minute drive. Allow more time in traffic or bad weather.
- Alexander Falls: the Callaghan Valley Road turn-off is 115 km north of downtown Vancouver and 45 km north of downtown Squamish. Whistler Olympic Park, just past the falls, is about 2 hours from Vancouver and 30 minutes south of Whistler.
- Brandywine Falls: off Highway 99, 47 km north of Squamish.
- No official public transit option to these falls was confirmed. Plan on driving.
Shannon Falls is the easy first stop, close to Squamish and taller than almost anything else in the province. Alexander Falls rewards the longer drive up the Callaghan with a platform view and very little walking. Brandywine takes a few more minutes on foot. Check the BC Parks pages before you go this winter, lock the car with nothing showing, and keep your eyes on the road edges for bears.
Get the weekend plan in your inbox. Burrard Bulletin is a free email on what’s actually on from Vancouver to Whistler. Sign up here.
Photo credits
- Shannon Falls – Squamish, British Columbia (6300941154).jpg by TravelingOtter from Houston, Texas, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (combined into a montage, cropped). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Shannon Falls, Squamish, Canada (Unsplash).jpg by Andrew Collins andrewcollins, CC0 (combined into a montage, cropped). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Squamish-Lillooet D.jpg by Husam Mohammad, CC BY-SA 4.0 (combined into a montage, cropped). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Squamish top of chief 2 banner.jpg by GoToVan, CC BY 2.0 (combined into a montage, cropped). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Shannon Falls Provincial Park 04.jpg by Natulive Canada, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Brandywine Falls Whistler.jpg by Kaden Van Buren, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized). Via Wikimedia Commons.
