Elk Falls and the suspension bridge
A short forest walk from the highway leads to a bridge hanging over the Campbell River canyon, with Elk Falls thundering below.
Elk Falls Provincial Park sits just west of Campbell River off Highway 28. It is one of the easiest big-nature payoffs on Vancouver Island.
The Elk Falls suspension bridge, opened in 2015, stretches about 60 metres across the canyon, high above the river. From the middle you look straight at the falls pouring into the gorge.
The walk
From the parking area it is an easy walk through second-growth forest to the bridge and viewing platforms. Stairs lead down to lower viewpoints. Allow about an hour for the loop at a relaxed pace.
The flow over the falls is controlled by BC Hydro’s dams upstream, so the show changes with the season and with water releases. Winter and spring are often the most dramatic.
Make a day of it
Link up with the Canyon View Trail along the river, visit the Quinsam River Hatchery nearby, or stay the night at the park’s Quinsam campground.