The Hike to Christie falls

SOfT-Roading Up Bear Main to Christie Falls

There are days made for adventure — and this one checked all the boxes. A road less travelled, getting the blood pumping with an epic hike, mountain views and a waterfall. Here’s how it all went down when we took the Tacoma up Bear Main and hiked into Christie Falls for one epic day in September.

The DRIVE Up Bear Main

The adventure started where the pavement ended. Bear Main Forest Service Road located on Kelowna’s West Side, winds its way up through the forest fire burn, and back into lush forest. The Tacoma ate up every bump, rut, and rocky climb along the way. The drive to the trail head takes you to an unassuming plateau where you start your hike in to Christie Falls.

Trail to Christie Falls

After parking the truck, we hit the trail. It’s not a long hike to Christie Falls, but it’s packed with character: a winding trail through the trees with roots, rock faces, switchbacks, creek crossings and finally a series of climbing ropes to guide your decent as you repel down the last stretch to get to the base of the waterfall. It’s quite a sight to see such a tall waterfall in the Okanagan… it was truly awe inspiring, watching the water spilling over the rocky cliff face. If you are planning to go, keep in mind the spring melt is more spectacular than end of season flow.

At the Bottom

Navigating the giant boulders at the base of the waterfall, slimy and soaked in spray, we felt tiny compared to the sheer cliff. The reward? Pure magic — the kind of view you can’t really capture in a photo (though we tried!). A quick break to explore the caves under the waterfall, with snacks and laughter, then the climb back up.

The Ride Out

By the time we packed up and rolled out, the sun was dropping low, painting the valley a cool pink. The Tacoma carried us back down Bear Main without missing a beat, the dust settling behind us as the day wrapped up with a few more pin stripes to tell the tale.

Final Thoughts

This trip was the perfect blend of everything we love: off-roading, hiking, adventure, guts, glory and waterfalls, and the kind of wild BC scenery that never gets old. Christie Falls delivered in a big way - an epic destination if you’ve never been.

Until the next adventure