Kennedy Falls

Dec. 26, 2025 -- Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, north Vancouver

Stats: 11.7 km / 527m gain / 475m high / 4 hours MT

Although the stats for this hike look moderate, I'd rate it as a more challenging hike. Most of us took dry footwear along for the drive home because this trail was VERY wet. In fact significant sections looked more like a creek than a trail. This meant cautiously picking our steps on slippery rocks and roots.

As we left Abbotsford & Chilliwack, we were all thinking, "We're going to hike in this weather???" The valley was closed in with cloud and the rain was pelting down on my windshield. But as we neared Vancouver, a few patches of blue sky appeared and when we drove into the parking lot, the rain stopped. A sign at the entrance said the gates would close at 3:00pm because it was a holiday. Oh dear. Would we have time to get to the falls, or not?

Thankfully the highway was quiet on this Boxing Day. We started just past 9:30am. Group shot, left to right, back row: Charlotte H, Sheri K, Iraj F, Patty S, Laura F, Val S, Brian H

Front row: Sonja J, me

Soon we branched off to the right, on the Cedar Tree trail.

At the end of the day, my feet were still dry. Poles really helped.

The monster gnarly tree trunk.

Iraj & Brian were so helpfull. Thanks, Brian for being the sweep yet again.

The old corduroy logging road.

The giant cedar.

Yay! We made it to Kennedy Falls 2:17 hours later. The return hike would not take much less time than getting there so we did not linger too long for lunch.

Back at the giant cedar. A few of us took all the car keys and forged ahead, thinking to get there before they threatened to shut the gates. But we got there an hour early, with plenty of time to spare and the parking lot had filled up. Did all those people not see the sign? Hmm.

Six of us stopped at the End of the Line coffee shop for hot drinks afterwards. Apparently search and rescue are not unfamiliar with this trail. I can see how it'd be not so hard to twist and ankle on it. All in all, it was another successful expedition.