I am thinking of taking a 172 up to flightsee Della Falls in the Strathcona National Park sometime during a nice day over the summer months.
I note that the top of the Falls is around 3500' on the West Side of a narrowish box canyon with nearby terrain reaching up past 5500'.
I do have previous mountain flying experience but am wondering if any members have experience into this location, and can provide any practical tips as far as any localized winds, altitude/route profiles to fly, etc.
Thanks in advance.
Della Falls, Vancouver Island, B.C.
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Panama Jack
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Re: Della Falls, Vancouver Island, B.C.
Della Falls is at the head of Great Central Lake coming down from some alpine lakes above in two sets of falls if I remember correctly. I use to do tours up there over Strathcona Park and the Comox Glacier in a 172.
It's not a tight box canyon per se but more of a set of lakes on stepped ledges/benches going up into the highlands of the park...no surprises. Go on a nice sunny and calm day and you'll love it...check out the rest of the park(Red Pillar and the Glacier) and Mt Washington as well. The Martin Mars water bombers park at the other end of the lake so keep an eye out for them.
As for localized winds or routes to take just stay away from the lee side of the hills if it's windy as you probably already know from mountain flying and I always went up Comox Lake or Great Central Lake to get there. Keep an eye out for it cause it's not really that spectacular and by summers end is more of a trickle.
It's not a tight box canyon per se but more of a set of lakes on stepped ledges/benches going up into the highlands of the park...no surprises. Go on a nice sunny and calm day and you'll love it...check out the rest of the park(Red Pillar and the Glacier) and Mt Washington as well. The Martin Mars water bombers park at the other end of the lake so keep an eye out for them.
As for localized winds or routes to take just stay away from the lee side of the hills if it's windy as you probably already know from mountain flying and I always went up Comox Lake or Great Central Lake to get there. Keep an eye out for it cause it's not really that spectacular and by summers end is more of a trickle.
Re: Della Falls, Vancouver Island, B.C.
Have a great trip Panama Jack, no practical information for the flying end of seeing the falls as it was at least 24 years since I flew over and around to see it from the air. I was a young buck and in the seat next to my dad who rented the Cessna on that adventure, seeing it from the air was enough for us to plan another trip land-wise the following year.
For those who are not familiar with Della Falls it is regarded as Canada's tallest waterfall at over 400 metres. To access the falls from the ground, there are a few methods: access to the trail by way of logging trails, boat up Great Central or float plane... which is what we did. We hired a float driver out of Port Alberni to drop us off at the northern end of the lake. It took a little over a day of hiking to reach the falls. The water is cold! It's a great hike, and the trail is strewn with old mining equipment from the 1800's for those historians.
For those who are not familiar with Della Falls it is regarded as Canada's tallest waterfall at over 400 metres. To access the falls from the ground, there are a few methods: access to the trail by way of logging trails, boat up Great Central or float plane... which is what we did. We hired a float driver out of Port Alberni to drop us off at the northern end of the lake. It took a little over a day of hiking to reach the falls. The water is cold! It's a great hike, and the trail is strewn with old mining equipment from the 1800's for those historians.
Re: Della Falls, Vancouver Island, B.C.
I have flown over Della Falls a few times always out of YYJ. I head up to Port Alberni at 4,500 then start climbing up to about 7,500 over Great Central Lake. I agree with previous post that it will be but a trickle. It may be a nice warm day when you take off but cool at altitude. I like to fly over Clayquot Sound out to Vargas Island then over Long Beach to Bamfield then back up over Clo-lose to Lake Cowichan and finally back to YYJ. Real nice three hour trip. Be careful to lean for best economy as there is no fuel out there. PM me if you need more info.
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Panama Jack
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Re: Della Falls, Vancouver Island, B.C.
Thanks for the feedback, newspilot.
Actually, there IS fuel (100LL and Jet A) available in Port Alberni. Is is a self-serve (credit card) operation right next to the little terminal building. 100LL was $1.79 on August 12th.
Actually, there IS fuel (100LL and Jet A) available in Port Alberni. Is is a self-serve (credit card) operation right next to the little terminal building. 100LL was $1.79 on August 12th.
Re: Della Falls, Vancouver Island, B.C.
Flew past Della Falls yesterday. Lots of water moving (global warming you know ... cap and trade is really putting a dent in GHG emissions).
I think we were at 5000', maybe 5500'. Winds at that altitude were less than 15 knots, smooth ride. While the actual piece of valley right at the falls is narrow, everything around it is wide open. Just fly past it as many times as you like, turning around after you get out of the short valley at each end. Don't get close to the lee side of any hills. Enjoy.
I think we were at 5000', maybe 5500'. Winds at that altitude were less than 15 knots, smooth ride. While the actual piece of valley right at the falls is narrow, everything around it is wide open. Just fly past it as many times as you like, turning around after you get out of the short valley at each end. Don't get close to the lee side of any hills. Enjoy.
