Tumbler Ridge & Monkman / Full trip pack
Nesbitt’s Knee Falls
- Round trip
- 3 km
- Elevation gain
- Not established Cumulative ascent for this outing has not been established.
- Walking time
- Unconfirmed
- Difficulty
- Moderate
return, consistent with just under 1.5 km approach
Ridge walk reaches a viewing bench, with separate upper-creek and much steeper base options.
1. Getting there and parking
Leave Kinuseo Falls Road at the signed Barbour Creek Road junction around road kilometre 21, about 35 km from Tumbler Ridge. Cross the Murray River after about 500 m and take the left branch at the fork another 500 m farther on. Continue approximately 3.6 km, crossing Barbour Creek near 1.5 km and Waterfall Creek near 3.5 km. The trail parking is on the right about 100 m beyond the second crossing.
Parking: From the Barbour Creek Road fork, take the left branch. Cross Barbour Creek around 1.5 km, then Waterfall Creek around 3.5 km; the lot is on the right about 100 m beyond that second crossing.
2. Walking the route
Climb the short initial slope to a ridge, then follow the mainly level pine-forest path along the valley edge. Views toward the falls appear after several hundred metres, and a bench provides a useful viewing stop before the final branches. One branch climbs farther, briefly joining an old exploration road before ending beside the creek above the falls. The other descends very steeply toward the base and has installed ropes; wet rock and cold water make this much harder than the approach. Stay out of the current above the falls, where water leads directly into the chute. Return by the same chosen branch and forest approach.
- Climb the short initial ridge, then follow the valley-edge forest path to the viewing bench.
- Use the bench as the ordinary viewing stop. The continuation above the falls and the very steep rope-assisted route below them are separate branches.
The return
Return along the approach. The upper branch reaches the creek above the falls; stay out of that current because it feeds directly into the chute.
3. Route map
Mapped named trail
© OpenStreetMap contributors. Route geometry is available under the Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0. · Line source · Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0 · Source-line database: https://hikingprincegeorge.com/data/osm-route-lines.geojson
Partial elevation profile
Partial elevation profile
This chart covers only part of the route. It does not establish the full hike or a return journey.
0.56 km along source section 1 of 1, in its mapped direction.
Approximate 90 m terrain model along this mapped section. Separate sections are not joined. This chart does not measure total trail ascent or establish current access; use the guide’s published outing measurements.
Copernicus GLO-90 terrain elevations via Open-Meteo (CC BY4.0); linework: Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0
Copernicus DEM 2021 GLO-90 via Open-Meteo. Linework source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/197475976. Sampled and rounded for display.
Source: https://open-meteo.com/en/licence
Licence: CC BY4.0 elevation data; Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0 linework · https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Profile source checked: 2026-10-18
Published locations
Numbered points match the map. Use the role beside each point. A summit or park reference point is not a parking location.
| Place and role | Coordinates | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nesbitt’s Knee Falls recreation project location | 54.953699 -121.092197 | Source-published recreation project point; not verified parking or trailhead. https://delivery.maps.gov.bc.ca/arcgis/rest/services/mpcm/bcgwpub/MapServer/404 |
5. Camping, facilities and seasons
Season and access
Spring can provide stronger flow and clearer views before the aspen leaves emerge. Those conditions do not make the creek safe to enter. Snow, rain and ice increase the difficulty of the steep optional base descent.
Practical details checked 2026-10-17.
More maps & trail files
Barbour & Nesbitt’s Knee — January 2025 guide (PDF)
Combined guide for two falls with separate starts and branches.
http://assets.wnms.ca/brochures/barbour-nesbitt-jan-2025.pdf
Wolverine Nordic & Mountain Society · Publisher’s source page · checked 2026-10-17.
Barbour, Nesbitt’s Knee & Foehn Wall — publisher GPX (GPX)
Combined file for three destinations; inspect its named tracks before choosing the route.
http://assets.wnms.ca/gpx-files/barbour-nesbitt-foehn-wall.gpx
Wolverine Nordic & Mountain Society · Publisher’s source page · checked 2026-10-17.
These links open files and maps maintained by their publishers. They require an internet connection and are not included in this saved guide.
Additional source maps
Map 1: https://investtumblerridge.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/TR_Map_insert2018_web.pdf
Your trip notes
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