Scenic Views · Camping & Hiking · Fishing · British Columbia
A short loop through old-growth forest to a two-tier waterfall off Westmin Road in Strathcona Provincial Park, BC, with Buttle Lake beach access across the road. Parking is tight.
Lupin Falls drops in two tiers through a cool, mossy old-growth forest of big Douglas fir and cedar beside Buttle Lake in Strathcona Provincial Park. Visitors describe the walk as magical, and one mentioned the biggest leaves they had ever seen.
The loop is about 800 m with a mild climb, so most people reach the falls in 5 to 20 minutes. There are two ways up: one slightly harder, one very easy. A family with young kids used a stroller in winter, though some parts were slippery. There's a bench at the viewpoint.
The trailhead is across the road from the pull-out. On the parking side, a two-minute path leads down to Buttle Lake, where there's a picnic table and an outhouse in the woods. Buttle Lake is open to angling under BC's Vancouver Island rules, while its tributaries, including the creek here, are fly fishing only.
Parking is the only real snag: there's room for roughly six to eight cars. You also have to cross Westmin Road on foot to reach the trail, so keep an eye on kids.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 107 Google reviews. Conditions and rules change — check current park, access and fishing regulations before you go.
