Flatbed Falls

Time/Distance: 1-2 hours/2 km return

This trail was the first to be built in the Tumbler Ridge area, in the early 1980s. The large log shelter was added in 1990. It descends for one km through mixed forest, past an attractive beaver dam, to a four metre high waterfall on Flatbed Creek. There is a good swimming hole below the falls. The Flatbed Falls trail forms part of the 28-kilometer-long TR Trail, which encircles three quarters of the community of Tumbler Ridge, and there are signs along the trail to indicate this. The parking lot is also one of five access points for the TR Trail.

Flatbed Cabin Pools Hiking Trail

Time/Distance: 2-3 hours/4 km return

This trail leads to the Cabin Pool and Dinosaur Tracksite with picnic table and outhouse, the Overhanging Rock Pool, the Top Pool, the Flatbed Peat site, and Kevin's Trail. These trails also form part of the TR Trail.

Linking Trail

Time/Distance: 1.5 hours/3 km one way

The Linking Trail heads downstream from the Flatbed Falls trail, following the edge of the escarpment along the creek. Good views of the creek valley can be found along the way. A side trail leads down to the Mini Falls, a small waterfall with a deep pool below its serrated lip. Near the end, the trail descends steeply at a staircase before passing under the highway bridge and ending at the Lions Campground.

Flatbed Falls and Mini Falls - Dinosaur Footprints - Overhanging Rock - Peat Site

The bedrock in the bottom of the canyon (Cretaceous rocks) is a strong contrast with the thick layer of glacial till that forms the valley sides; its boulders and gravel are immediately below the level you are standing on. This till is a remnant of the ice ages (Pleistocene and recent). Flatbed Creek used to drain a much larger area, including Kinuseo Creek and Honeymoon Creek, but changes in river patterns about 22,000 years ago reduced its flow.

The forest is a good place to stop and listen for the bird songs in the mixed forest of White Spruce, Trembling Aspen and Lodgepole Pine. The most common birds to be heard here are Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Western Wood-Pewee, Warbling Vireo, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Swainson’s Thrush, American Robin, Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Dark-eyed Junco.

The Flatbed Creek Peat Site is on a short side trail - Here a thick section of more than 3 m of organic layers is found on top of sediments that were deposited by rivers. A magnifying glass or hand lens applied to the peat will reveal some of the microfossils that are shown in the interpretive signs. In winter the tiny seeps that percolate through the peat in summer continue to flow and freeze,creating attractive curtains of ice and make for a pleasant destination on snowshoes.

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Flatbed Falls

The trail to Flatbed Falls starts at the far right (west) end of the parking lot. It climbs briefly, then leads past the junction with the Linking Trail. Turn to the left here. Soon after this there is a short side trail to the right, which leads to the edge of the Flatbed Valley. From here there are expansive views of the start of Flatbed Canyon, and the flat-topped summit of Mt Spieker in the far distance.

The main trail leads past an offshoot to the left (part of the TR trail), then passes a locked gate, designed to keep ATVs off the trail. The trail leaves the road 30 meters after the gate and crosses a south facing grassy slope, leading down through the forest beside a beaver pond.

The trail descends a bit further, joining the road it left above, and approaches a beautiful log shelter with picnic tables and outhouses, just above the beaver dams. Three or four successive dams create an interesting wetland habitat; the water comes from iron-rich springs at the bottom of the hill.
The trail crosses the small creek below the bottom beaver dam, and Flatbed Falls can be heard just ahead. Here the waters of Flatbed Creek tumble over a resistant layer of sandstone. This and the overlying flat rock layers form a great place to bask in the sun, while the softer layers below the falls have been eroded into a deep swimming hole.

Beyond the falls, the trail peters out just before a bog, where Black Spruce and Tamarack trees predominate. Return back to the trailhead the way you came.

Flatbed Cabin Pools Hiking Trail

This trail also starts at the Flatbed Falls parking area, on the left side of the parking lot. After a 100 m walk through the forest, the trail leads along the top of an open south-facing slope that provides views of the valley. The trail then goes along a sharp ridge known as the Razorback, which drops off on both sides. After the Razorback the trail enters the woods and soon reaches Nominister Abbey, a rough cabin which was reportedly used by a fugitive from justice in the town’s early years.

After 1 km, a fork is reached. The right hand fork leads to the Cabin Pool and two dinosaur track sites. It descends to creek level, where the remains of a partially built cabin overlook the creek. The rock slab below the picnic tables has dinosaur tracks of five different types. Across the creek and 100 m downstream is the first trackway discovered in the area, with a line of 23 Ankylosaur tracks. Guided interpretive tours of the track sites with the TRMF are recommended. The rocks that host the dinosaur tracks were once part of a shallow coastal plain. Ripples marks are visible on many of the bedding surfaces. 

Following the left hand fork at km 1.0 leads to the Overhanging Rock Pool, Top Pool, the Flatbed Creek Peat Site and Kevin’s Trail. At 1.1 km take the left fork to continue on Kevin’s Trail to the start of the TR Trail. Taking the right fork at 1.1 km leads to the other three sites. A short side trail to the left at 1.7 km leads to the Flatbed Creek Peat Site, where interpretive signs explain the significance of the layer of peat which is exposed along the bank. At 1.9 km there is a junction at the start of a loop that descends to creek level. Head left for Top Pool and continue along the loop to the Overhanging Rock Pool, both of which are good spots for picnicking and swimming.

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The main starting point for the Flatbed trails is the Flatbed Falls parking area. From town, take  Mackenzie Way and turn left onto Hwy 29. Drive 400 m along the highway, and the parking lot is on the right.

Another starting point is at the Lions campground. For this trailhead, take Hwy 29 from town towards Chetwynd, and turn right at the bottom of the hill.

∙ These trails are in bear country; travel in groups and make noise
∙ Please pack out what you packed in
∙ Please do not remove or deface dinosaur tracks

CAUTION

A number of injuries have occurred at the Falls – please be careful and do NOT dive into the pool. Check its depth carefully before considering jumping into its deepest section. Kayakers have fun descending the falls in the spring high water season.

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