Although this is not the most aesthetically pleasing waterfall, the Allendale Creek Waterfall is definitely the easiest to access of all waterfalls around Castlegar. It is not necessary to get out of your car as it drops off a 25m cliff beside Broadwater Road just after Scotty’s Marina.
This is a seasonal waterfall that typically dries up in the summer. It’s primary attraction for most people is a minor rock climb to the right of the falls.
But the real magic is the creek itself. In the early 1990’s, the entire Allendale Creek was involved in a landslide caused by a road drainage diversion. Broadwater Road was blocked for several days.
This resulted in the granite creek bed being scoured clean of all soil and debris for several hundred meters. As it is south facing and right on Arrow Lakes, the snow melts here possibly earlier than anywhere else in the West Kootenay. Early in season, there can be a fair amount of water in the creek but later, it is often dry and makes for a wonderful scramble.
I lived in the Green House for a few years in the mid 90s and walked up the scoured creek many times for exercise.
Location: Along Arrow Lakes 15kms west of the Columbia River Bridge and 5kms past the Hugh Keenleyside Dam. The “Green House” is the first house in the Allendale Subdivision.
Difficulty: B2 Scramble
Elevation Gain: 1500’
Key Elevations: Arrow Lake 1450’, top of Allendale Creek 3000’?
Distance: 1-2kms
Time: 1-3 hours
Season: March to November
Access: Easy drive. Waterfall on paved road. Must cross private property to access creek.
Map: Castlegar 82F/5
Drive:
From Nelson. Drive Hwy 3A west to Castlegar and just before the bridge across the Kootenay River, take the exit right towards Robson and Syringa Creek Provincial Park. After 3.3km, turn right onto Broadwater Rd and proceed toward Robson. Left goes to the major bridge across the Columbia. Zero odometer.
From Castlegar. Go through downtown Castlegar and cross the Columbia River and turn left onto Broadwater Road in Robson. Zero odometer.
0.0km Broadwater Road, Robson
10km. Pass Hugh Keenleyside Dam (completed 1968)
15km. Allendale Waterfall just past Scotty’s Marina
Route/Trail: The only access is through the property of the “Green House”, the first house on top of the cliff just after Scotty’s Marina. It is opposite the “Big Beach”, a large expanse of sand at low water. Ask the owner, Cory Scott if you can access the creek (go around the north side of the garage on the first level and contour around to the creek). There may be another access on the east side of Scotties. It is a minimal hiker’s trail that gives easy access to the creek bed.
Scramble as high as desired. It is a lot of fun working around all the small cliffs and minor drops. It goes on for a long ways. I have never reached the top.