Hiking Steelhead Falls & Stave Dam Forest Interpretation Trail
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Steelhead Falls & Stave Dam Forest Interpretation Hike Information
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 4.90Km
Elevation Gain: 250m
Highest Elevation: 275m
Average Gradient: 10.20%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Low / Low
Time Needed:
– Slow: 2 – 3 Hours
– Moderate: 1.5 – 2 Hours
– Fast: 1 – 1.5 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: Year-Round
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: None
Steelhead Falls & Stave Dam Forest Interpretation Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°14’02.4″N 122°21’02.7″W
Steelhead Falls & Stave Dam Forest Interpretation Overview
Steelhead Falls is a stunning waterfall located in Mission, just off the Hayward Reservoir trail. On its own this is a very short walk with minimal elevation, and wouldn’t even register as a hike in my books.
Thankfully there is another short trail that begins at the same trailhead that is equally as worthy, the Stave Dam Interpretation Forest trail, which offers some beautiful forest scenery, some elevation gain and a few different viewpoints above the Stave Falls Dam. It also offers a glimpse into the history of the area, with the District of Mission providing a brochure for visitors to print that correspond to signs throughout the trail.
When combined, these two hikes make for a great little outing with a variety of sights. This combined hike is a year-round option that makes for a nice rainy day hike thanks to its low elevation, forest trail and waterfall views. It’s also family and dog friendly.
Steelhead Falls can get busy on a sunny summer day and the parking here is somewhat limited, so an earlier start would be wise. You also have the option of extending the hike further by continuing along the Hayward Reservoir trail, which is a 14km hike on its own (not including the Stave Dam Interpretation Forest trail).
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Is Steelhead Falls & Stave Dam Forest Interpretation worthwhile?
This is a nice little hike with a variety of different sights to please everyone. Steelhead Falls is an impressive sight, but the views you get along the Stave Dam Forest Interpretation trail are nice as well. At just 4.90km you get a worthy payoff for pretty minimal effort. While I wouldn’t dedicate a sunny day to this hike personally, it’s absolutely worthy on one of the rainy or overcast days where you want to get out into nature but you’re not going to get any views from a summit.
How difficult is the Steelhead Falls & Stave Dam Forest Interpretation trail?
Physically speaking this hike is mostly simple. There is one steep(ish) section up to the highest point on the Stave Dam Forest Interpretation trail but other than that the elevation gain is mostly undulating throughout. The trail to/from Steelhead Falls is mellow throughout.
Technically the hike is very simple and easy to follow throughout.
Steelhead Falls & Stave Dam Forest Interpretation Route Information
The hike begins on the side of Dewdney Trunk Road (see coordinates above). This is really just a pullout on the side of the road that can fit perhaps 10 cars, and it’s very easy to drive straight past as it’s right after a bend in the road, so make sure to slow down in advance otherwise you’ll probably zoom right past.
The Stave Dam Forest Interpretation trail begins on the north side of the road, with the Steelhead Falls trail on the south side. You can begin on either trail, but since I started on the Stave Dam Forest Interpretation trail I’ll assume you do the same. You should see a trail leading up into the forest on the north side of the road which you’ll want to follow.
The trail begins to climb into the lush, green forest, reaching a junction almost immediately. The numbered brochure markers go clockwise on the trail, so take a left at this junction (and have your brochure ready if you’re using it). The trail begins to climb into the forest at a moderate gradient. After a few hundred meters you’ll reach an old logging road where you’ll want to go right before immediately going left, back into the forest.
The trail continues to climb on what is now mostly a rocky trail, passing a couple of numbered brochure markers. In a few hundred meters you’ll reach a nice viewpoint looking out towards Stave Dam and the forested surroundings. Even on a rainy day the views were quite nice.
The next couple of hundred meters will continue to follow a ridge above the bluffs below with a few different viewpoints, make sure to take care not to get too close to the edge as the drop is sudden. In a few hundred meters more you’ll enter the dense forest once more and begin to descend once again, passing several more markers along the way. The trail remains much the same, vibrant forest throughout.
Soon you will reach the same logging road you crossed earlier, this time you’ll want to follow it to the left towards a yellow fence, which you’ll pass before crossing over Dewdney Trunk Road to begin the trail to Steelhead Falls.
Immediately after crossing the road you’ll see the trail and have a nice viewpoint of the region again. Going left on the trail it hugs the cliff bands before eventually dropping down into the forest. This trail is very manicured, it’s essentially a gravel trail the entire time. You’ll soon pass by a junction for the main parking lot for the Hayward Reservoir trail, but just continue along.
Soon enough you’ll cross a bridge over Brown Creek and just a few hundred meters further ahead you’ll cross over Steelhead Creek that feeds Steelhead Falls. Be careful around this area with pets and children as it’s possible to walk right up to a sheer cliff above the falls themselves with obvious implications.
Shortly after this creek crossing you’ll reach a junction where the Hayward Reservoir trail continues straight, and going right will lead to Steelhead Falls. The trail now becomes a bit more rugged as it descends towards the falls. After descending a staircase you’ll reach a viewpoint of the falls, before continuing down to the viewing platform. You can actually go right down to the base of the falls should you choose to do so, though I’m sure it’s discouraged, obviously being careful in the process.
After soaking in the views (literally), you simply head back the way you came to Dewdney Trunk Road where you parked at the start. If you did want to extend the hike further you can continue along the Hayward Reservoir trail, which carries on for many kilometers
When should I hike Steelhead Falls & Stave Dam Forest Interpretation?
Both of these trails are a year-round option at low elevation, so any time of year works fine. Personally I’d save it for a shoulder season or winter hike rather than the summer, and I’d be inclined to go on a rainy or overcast day since you will be mostly in the forest anyway.
Top Tip
If you like your waterfalls to be fast flowing try to go in spring when the rain and melting snow makes most waterfalls powerful. Even if you just go after a day or two of rain they should be flowing nicely.
Since this is such a short hike I’d be inclined to combine it with another in the region to make a day of it. I hiked Rolley Lake and Falls before this hike, but you could also do something like Cascade Falls, Hunter Trail or Hoover Lake.
