Tumbler Ridge & Monkman / Full trip pack
Quality Falls
- Round trip
- 2.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 75 m Published route measurement
- Walking time
- Under 1 hour for fit hikers; allow longer for stops
- Difficulty
- Easy out-and-back
2.5 km return to Quality Falls including the creek-level visit
Forest walk to upper Quality Creek waterfall, with a steeper final descent.
1. Getting there and parking
Take Highway 52 north from Tumbler Ridge toward Dawson Creek. About 6 km from the Mackenzie Way/Highway 52 junction, use the signed parking clearing on the left; the trail begins at the back of the clearing. The steward identifies a winter pullout on the opposite side of the highway for snowshoe access, so a winter visit may require a careful highway crossing.
- Leave Tumbler Ridge on Highway 52 north toward Dawson Creek.
- At about 6 km from Mackenzie Way, use the signed parking area on the left.
Parking: The signed summer clearing is on the left of Highway 52 north, 6 km from its Mackenzie Way junction. The path starts at the back of the clearing.
2. Walking the route
Follow the forest trail for approximately 1 km to the upper Quality Falls viewpoint. The creek drops about 7 m over a sandstone ledge. For a closer view, the trail descends by switchbacks to creek level; return up the same path rather than treating downstream animal tracks as a signed loop. Several other waterfalls and a deep canyon lie downstream beyond the standard destination. Stay clear of the escarpment edge and do not assume the creek can safely be followed after heavy rain.
- Follow the forest path about 1 km to the upper waterfall viewpoint.
- For the lower view, descend the established switchbacks and steep final section to creek level. Stay clear of the escarpment edge.
The return
Climb the same switchbacks and return by the forest path. Downstream waterfalls and canyon exploration are outside the standard 2.5 km return outing.
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.
1.07 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/197476043. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Falls recreation project location | 55.156070 -120.939611 | 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
The trail is also visited on snowshoes using the alternate winter parking. Summer storms can raise the creek quickly, and ice or wet rock changes the lower viewpoint approach. Birdwatching is another reason to pause in the wetter forest sections.
Winter route
The steward identifies a winter pullout directly opposite the summer trailhead, on the right side of the highway when approaching from Tumbler Ridge. This means crossing the highway to reach the trail.
Practical details checked 2026-10-17.
How the elevation gain was established
Outing: 2.5 km Quality Falls return including the creek-level falls visit described by the author
This total is published for the named outing. Other starting points or turnarounds can produce different climbing totals.
Published elevation-gain figure in a firsthand route account; measurement method is not stated.
Sources checked 2026-10-19.
Measurement notes
A firsthand October 2026 guide publishes 75 m gain for a 2.5 km return. The geopark independently confirms the 2.5 km outing. Stopping at the upper viewpoint changes the extent; downstream exploration is excluded.
More maps & trail files
Quality Falls Trail on AllTrails
The hosted map shows about 2.2 km return with a descent toward the falls. Creek-side scrambles and photographed pools are not automatically part of the maintained route.
AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/quality-falls-trail
Comparison checked 2026-10-18.
Quality Falls — publisher PDF (PDF)
Published alongside the named trail guide; check the file’s start, endpoint and branches against your selected outing.
http://assets.wnms.ca/brochures/quality-falls-jan-2025.pdf
Wolverine Nordic & Mountain Society · Publisher’s source page · checked 2026-10-17.
Quality Falls — publisher GPX (GPX)
Published alongside the named trail guide; check the file’s start, endpoint and branches against your selected outing.
http://assets.wnms.ca/gpx-files/quality-falls.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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