A short hike that threads gold rush history into the forest.
Perry Creek carries a deep past. In the 1850s and 1860s, it was one of the region’s earliest and most productive placer creeks, drawing miners who worked the water for gold. That history still runs alongside the trail today, where the hike to Perry Creek Falls offers a grounded way to experience this chapter of the East Kootenays.
If you’ve visited Fort Steele Heritage Town, you may recognize part of the story already. The large water wheel on display there once stood near Perry Creek, about 25 miles west of the Fort. Built in 1934, the wheel pumped water from mine tunnels as deep as 150 feet, helping wash gold-bearing gravels hauled to the surface. Though the mine itself only operated a few more years, the wheel remains a powerful reminder of the scale and ambition of the work done here.
The area around Perry Creek was also home to Old Town, a short-lived but lively settlement that sprang up around 1867. For about a decade, it supported saloons, hotels, dance halls, stores, and even a jail before fading into history. The site now rests quietly near the creek, its location marked more by story than structure.
Today, the Perry Creek Falls Trail is a 2.4-kilometre out-and-back hike suitable for most skill levels. The lightly trafficked trail leads to a waterfall and offers a steady, approachable walk through forest shaped by both nature and industry. The trailhead is located roughly 9.4 kilometres past Wycliffe Regional Park.
Visitors should note that access is via an active industrial resource road. Headlights are recommended, and caution is advised, especially during summer when dust and large industrial vehicles are common. With awareness and care, the trail offers a rewarding mix of landscape, history, and a quiet sense of place.
Cranbrook mountain biking trails
