Canada’s highest waterfalls stretch from Della Falls all the way to Virginia Falls, and each one brings its own version of towering, untamed beauty. Hikers, photographers, nature enthusiasts … whoever you are, these falls belong on your list, offering views that are hard to match anywhere else in the country. Below are some of the notable ones that keep flowing steadily throughout the year.
1. Della Falls
Vancouver Island’s Strathcona Provincial Park keeps Della Falls tucked away in its backcountry, and the waterfall more than earns its reputation …tallest in Canada and up there among North America’s highest too. Della Lake sits high in the mountains, feeding this cascade, and from there the water drops straight down a cliff face lined with heavy green foliage. Getting to it means a long hike, sure. Yet once those peaks and forests open up around you, most people agree it was worth the effort, which explains why the trail still draws steady numbers of hikers and outdoor types every season.
Height: Approximately 440 meters (1,440 feet)
Location: Strathcona Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
2. Takakkaw Falls
“Magnificent” that’s what Takakkaw means in Cree, and the waterfall in Yoho National Park wears the name well. Glacial meltwater from the Daly Glacier feeds it, and the water comes down over a rocky cliff face in a way that’s genuinely hard to stop watching. Mountains frame one side, dense vegetation fills the other, and between the two, it’s become something of a magnet for hikers and photographers alike.
Height: Approximately 373 meters (1,224 feet)
Location: Yoho National Park, British Columbia
3. Hunlen Falls
Hunlen Falls stays mostly out of sight, buried in the backcountry of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. The Atnarko River feeds it, and the water drops sharply into a canyon carved out below. Combine that drop with the rugged land surrounding it, and you get a view that catches most visitors off guard. Reaching it isn’t easy either—only a demanding hike or a flight in will get you there, and that difficulty is exactly why the place has stayed quiet and largely undisturbed.
Height: Approximately 260 meters (853 feet)
Location: Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, British Columbia
4. Helmcken Falls
Wells Gray Provincial Park holds Helmcken Falls, and this one doesn’t do subtle. Water thunders into Helmcken Canyon below, the sound rolling out across the wilderness around it. Steep cliffs and heavy forest close in on both sides, framing the falls in a way that makes them hard to ignore. Several spots throughout the park let visitors take it in from different angles, and one platform in particular offers an especially clean, wide view of the water crashing down.
Height: Approximately 141 meters (463 feet)
Location: Wells Gray Provincial Park, British Columbia
Waterfalls (by overall height):
| Waterfall | Height (m) | Height (ft) | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Bruce Falls | 840 | 2,760 | British Columbia |
| Madden Falls | 579 | 1,900 | British Columbia |
| Swiftcurrent Falls | 537 | 1,762 | British Columbia |
| Kingcome Valley Falls | 520 | 1,710 | British Columbia |
| Schwartzenbach Falls | 520 | 1,710 | Nunavut |
| Francis Falls | 518 | 1,699 | British Columbia |
| Storey Peak Falls | 480 | 1,570 | British Columbia |
| Cerberus Falls | 475 | 1,558 | British Columbia |
| Kiwi Falls | 475 | 1,558 | British Columbia |
| Bush Mountain Falls | 466 | 1,529 | British Columbia |
| Unnamed waterfall | 460 | 1,510 | British Columbia |
| Bedard Falls | 457 | 1,499 | British Columbia |
| Unnamed waterfall | 457 | 1,499 | British Columbia |
| Harmony Falls | 444 | 1,457 | British Columbia |
| Michael Falls | 442 | 1,450 | British Columbia |
| Della Falls | 440 | 1,440 | British Columbia |
| South Phillips Glacier Falls | 427 | 1,401 | British Columbia |
| Bishop Falls | 410 | 1,350 | British Columbia |
Waterfalls (by tallest single drop):
| Waterfall | Height (m) | Height (ft) | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bow Glacier Falls | 154 | 505 | Alberta |
| Cerberus Falls | 475 | 1,558 | British Columbia |
| Francis Falls | 244 | 801 | British Columbia |
| Hamill Creek Falls | 255 | 837 | British Columbia |
| Hunlen Falls | 260 | 850 | British Columbia |
| Lady Wilsons Falls | 152 | 499 | Alberta |
| Madden Falls | 152 | 499 | British Columbia |
| Michael Falls | 158 | 518 | British Columbia |
| Middle Cummins Falls | 220 | 720 | British Columbia |
| Odegaard Falls | 271 | 889 | British Columbia |
| Pissing Mare Falls | 255 | 837 | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Schwartzenbach Falls | 200 | 660 | Nunavut |
