Trip 081 - May 29-30, 2015 (Friday-Saturday)

Sikanni Chief Falls

Off Alaska Highway (BC Highway 97)

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Location: Northeastern British Columbia, 16th kilometer of Mile 171 (Grassy) Road off Alaska Highway (BC Highway 97), approximately midway between Fort St. John and Fort Nelson.

Liked: The waterfall, layered rock by the waterfall, meeting moose on Mile 171 Road, fairly good road conditions on Mile 171 Road (but also see "of note").

June 2016 Update: Mile 171 Road is now very rutted and potholed, though still quite passable in a high-clearance 2WD vehicle.

Of note: Remote area, no cell phone signal, steep cliffs at the waterfall viewing area, Mile 171 Road could be impassable in 2wd and/or low-clearance vehicles, unless it's dry. Also, there are no signs on Alaska Highway directing you to Sikanni Chief Falls, so you need to know exactly where to turn off the highway.

Northern BC Backroad Mapbook (3rd edition) Waterfall Coordinates: Page 73 (Pink Mountain) B6.

Related Trip: Sikanni River Trail Hike.

Other Trips off Alaska Highway: Christina Falls Trail Hike, Stone's Sheep Trail Hike, Summit Ridge Trail Hike, Summit Peak Trail Hike.

>>> British Columbia Waterfalls Visits.

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17. The path then goes through a forest for a few minutes.

Sikanni Chief Falls Trail British Columbia Canada

18. And, shortly, there is a split. Where the left path goes we don't know. The right path goes to the observation point. And the straight ahead path in the middle also leads to a fairly good view of the waterfall. However, the middle path is much steeper, the cliffs are not roped off, and the view is slightly worse than from the observation point. So, it makes sense to take the right path.

Photo of Sikanni Chief Falls Trail BC Canada

19. Here is the view of the waterfall from that paths split.

Sikanni Chief Falls Seen From The Trail

20. The path to the right.

Path to Sikanni Chief Falls British Columbia Canada

21. This path is quite short too.

Path to Sikanni Chief Waterfall off Alaska Highway in British Columbia Canada

22. While walking on the path to the right, you have an option of taking a shortcut by turning to the left, hopping down some stones, and then observing impressive layered rocks.

Sikanni Chief Falls Provincial Protected Area BC Canada

23. Like this one.

Layered Rock Near Sikanni Chief Waterfall Viewing Area

24. And the waterfall is quite close after that. Of course, you can just follow the path without taking any shortcuts, and get to the layered rocks via the waterfall viewpoint.

Sikanni Chief Falls

25. Zooming in.

Sikanni Chief Waterfall off Alaska Highway in British Columbia Canada

26. Zooming all the way (12x).

Sikanni Chief Waterfall

Here is Our Video of Sikanni Chief Falls From Observation Area:

27. Then, there is an option of taking a path on the right side around the canyon, and getting to the top of the waterfall. Here is the view of Sikanni Chief Falls en route.

Sikanni Chief Falls Province of BC Canada

28. Another impressive layered rock.

Layered Rock Sikanni Chief Falls Provincial Protected Area British Columbia Canada

29. By taking the path to the top of the waterfall, you would get a much better look at Sikanni Chief River past the waterfall (looking left here - the waterfall is to the right of where we are standing).