Nymph Falls Nature Park — Attraction in Area C (Puntledge/Black Creek)

Nymph Falls Nature Park exceeded our expectations for an easy but varied forest walk. We took the main (Midline) trail, most of the River Trail, and a bit of another trail for 90 minutes (including 15 minutes meandering around the falls). Managed by the Comox Valley Regional District and Forbidden Plateau Road residents, the park is less than 15 minutes drive from Courtenay.

This multi-use park has well-marked signs indicating trails for walking, biking, or both. The main (Midline) trail to the falls is smooth enough to be called accessible. The River trail and others we followed have only a few places that are steep or have exposed roots. This is a second growth forest, so trees are smaller (but quite tall). You can see stumps of the large earlier trees.

Good views of the Puntledge River and access to Nymph Falls. River flow was low during our visit, so we could walk onto flat rocks at the lower part of the falls for excellent views. Note the fish ladder (apparently there are a few) blasted in the rock of the falls 50 years ago to aid salmon spawning. (Salmon were spawning in Courtenay's Puntledge Park but we didn't notice any activity here in late September.) The River Trail also has access to the river above the falls in a few places.

A few toilets (well-built outhouses) as well as a picnic area with delightfully engraved faces on one of the two picnic tables. Several memorial benches along the trails.

Main parking lot (entrance is somewhat hidden) was busy by 11am on this Sunday at end of September, but cars also parked along...

Just imagine... that to get to the magnificent NYMPH (falls) you must take a "Forbidden Plateau rd"!! It took me (and several other travellers that I met) over an hour to find the correct route-- due to GOOGLE Maps and some GPS services trying to take you there via a guarded "PRIVATELY OWNED ROAD" which is closed to the public!! The best/easiest way to get there is via HWY 19 and exiting at "Piercy Road"/exit 127 ("Forbidden Plateau Road" , which leads you to Piercy Rd which provides instructions to get there). Once there... and, if in June and its a nice sunny day (like we had) you are in for an incredible treat! The scenery, maintained trails, parking facilities are Nature's Best/simply stunning... and the Salmon should be running (if the "Hydro Electric managers do not increase the water flow too much [which they did when we were there]). It also has received TripAdvisor's "Certificate of Excellence". Its a definite must visit!!

I hope that this Review has...

Just amazing. The Falls are well shown on the map at the beginning of the park. After a 5-10min walk through the forest you will reach the Falls and are taken aback by the beautiful scenery in front of you. Moreover there are beautiful spots to rest on the stones. The water is amazing to swim there if you are careful to watch the streams. If there is high tight, i consider it save to jump off a cliff where you can see a rope attached to a fallen tree. However, i do not recommend to slide down anywhere on the Falls. It is too unpredictable as you can not see the underground and it is hard to say how strong the streams are. Do it at your own risk. If you are reading this, please be aware to take all your rubbish/ trash with you if the rubbish bins are full. It is just sad to see that people still leave things on the ground and do not seem to care...