Twin Falls | World Waterfall Database

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This waterfall has been surveyed, mapped and measured in person by the World Waterfall Database.

Twin Falls is one of the signature waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies, found where Twin Falls Creek hurtles just under 400 feet over a lofty limestone cliff in side-by-side plunges before crashing an additional 200 feet over a series of steps and smaller falls within a narrow crevice. Pictures rarely convey the size and scale of the falls as well as witnessing it in person, which has in part led to many misrepresentations of the height of the falls. Sources have at times cited the falls as standing as little as 200 feet (60m) tall to as much as almost 1000 feet in height.

Adjacent to the base of the falls is the Twin Falls Chalet, constructed by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1923 which is still in use today for hikers who wish to overnight near the falls without the necessity of backpacking gear. Around the time the chalet was constructed, when one channel of Twin Falls would get obstructed by debris flowing downstream and "turn off", workers would routinely be dispatched to the lip of the falls to remedy the situation with dynamite. In one such case they actually succeeded in completely blocking the channel and temporarily turning the falls into a single plunge rather than a twin. The problem was, however, subsequently "fixed" and is no longer a concern today.

HISTORY AND NAMES

Twin Falls is the Official name of this waterfall

Our thoughts

The perspective when viewing the falls makes the height fairly decieving, but we're fairly comfortable calling the total drop 590 feet (180m), give or take a little, with the main side-by-side plunges falling just shy of 400 feet. With or without one segment running Twin Falls is without question among the great waterfalls in Canada and is well worth the day's worth of hiking necessary to see it.

Location and directions

Twin Falls is one of the prime destinations in Yoho Valley in Yoho National Park. The falls are accessed via a 5 mile (one-way) hike from the end of the Yoho Valley road at Takakkaw Falls. The trail junctions are well signed and journey can be done in several loop variations.

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Twin Falls is shown in the center. The 10 closest waterfalls within a 8km radius are shown as well (if any). Click any icon or see the list below for more information.

Additional Nearby Waterfalls

Name of Waterfall	Distance
Marpole Falls	0.34 mi / 0.55 km
Whaleback Falls	1.45 mi / 2.32 km
Laughing Falls	1.56 mi / 2.49 km
Trolltinder Falls	1.66 mi / 2.65 km
Yoho Glacier Falls	1.85 mi / 2.97 km
Yoho Gorge Falls	1.93 mi / 3.09 km
Fairy Creek Falls	2.03 mi / 3.26 km
Point Lace Falls	2.57 mi / 4.12 km
Fall of the Waves	2.68 mi / 4.29 km
Angel's Staircase Falls	2.85 mi / 4.55 km

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Photography tips

The heavy spray thrown up from the falls creates substantial problems on sunny summer afternoons when the sun transits directly over the falls, shining on the clouds of mist but obscuring the falls in shadow. The best opportunities for photos of the falls are before noon and considering the length of the hike to the falls, one must leave the trailhead very early in the morning to take advantage of optimal light.

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Twin Falls British Columbia, Canada