Petain Creek Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Lake · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Petain Creek Trail goes to Petain Falls, a very impressive waterfall, accompanied by other waterfalls in an amphitheater of waterfalls. The sources of all this water are the glaciers above. Petain Falls is the main attraction of this popular trail, but there is much more to admire along the way.

Petain Creek Trail is found at a well marked trail junction in Elk Lakes Provincial Park, in its Elk Lakes and campground area. In this area there are signposts indicating the direction to Petain Falls. Follow the arrows to Petain Falls to find Petain Creek Trail.

Petain Creek Trail starts off by going over a low, small, forested ridge to arrive at the east end of beautiful, turquoise Upper Elk Lake. There is a picnic table here, and this is a very worthy destination if one wants a short hike. The lake is flanked by impressive cliffs on the other side, and is big for a backcountry lake. The trail runs along the lake's shoreline for the next 1.1 miles to arrive at its west end and Petain Creek that empties into the lake.

Leaving the lake behind, the trail follows Petain Creek upstream on its flood plain covered with gravel and low vegetation, for 0.4 miles. The flood plain narrows and disappears, as the trail enters the forest, crosses Petain Creek on a sturdy bridge, and continues to follow the creek upstream for another 0.7 miles.

Veering right, the trail leaves Petain Creek behind and begins a serious climb in the forest. The trail is now making its final push to Petain Falls. After climbing in the forest for 0.6 miles, the trail breaks out of the forest into a small grassy meadow and crosses it. Petain Falls come into view in this meadow although it is still quite far away - about a quarter mile away. Additionally, the amphitheater of waterfalls is seen for the first time, quite impressive!

After crossing the meadow, everything ahead is barren rock. The trail meanders among the rocks and boulders for a short ways and ends at a viewing spot that overlooks Petain Creek below, and faces the amphitheater with all its waterfalls including Petain Falls, and great views of the peaks above.

Best to have enough time to stay here a while and take it all in :>)

Conifer forest at the lower elevations before the trail makes its final climb. The forest has dense undergrowth initially, Further on, the Petain Creek flood plain is gravel with scattered trees and little undergrowth. As the trail climbs, the trees and undergrowth give way to grassy meadows with wildflowers. And finally, the amphitheater of water falls is barren and rocky, with little vegetation. Porcupines live at the lower elevations.