McDiarmid Falls facts for kids

Quick facts for kids McDiarmid Falls
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Location	Wells Gray Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates	51°50′55″N 120°03′10″W / 51.84861°N 120.05278°W / 51.84861; -120.05278
Type	Plunge
Total height	10 m (33 ft)
Total width	15 m (49 ft)
Watercourse	Grouse Creek

McDiarmid Falls is a beautiful waterfall found in Wells Gray Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. It's a "plunge" type waterfall, which means the water drops straight down. The falls are about 10 m (33 ft) (around 33 feet) high and 15 m (49 ft) (about 49 feet) wide.

This impressive waterfall is part of Grouse Creek. It is located about 100 m (328 ft) (328 feet) downstream from Moul Falls. McDiarmid Falls is also about 150 m (492 ft) (492 feet) upstream from where Grouse Creek joins the larger Clearwater River.

The Journey of Grouse Creek

Grouse Creek starts high up in the mountains from melting snow, a lake, and natural springs. It flows for about 18 km (11.2 mi) (11 miles) towards the west. Along its path, the creek tumbles over Moul Falls and then McDiarmid Falls.

In its final 1 km (0.6 mi) (0.6 miles), Grouse Creek drops a total of 150 m (492 ft) (492 feet). This happens because the creek has carved its way deeply into a volcanic plateau.

How McDiarmid Falls Got Its Name

McDiarmid Falls was officially named in the year 2000. It honors Garfield (known as Mac) and Cecile McDiarmid, who were a pioneer family in the Clearwater Valley. They moved to the area in 1944 and bought land near Grouse Creek.

Later, in 1956, they bought more land right next to the Clearwater River. This property was also very close to both Moul Falls and McDiarmid Falls. These waterfalls are now part of Wells Gray Park, after its boundaries were expanded in 1997.

The McDiarmids were known for their guiding business. They built cabins along the Clearwater River in the late 1940s. Many guests came to enjoy the amazing river fishing. In 1950, they started building Trophies Lodge, which opened in 1953. Guests would stay at the lodge, then ride horses down to the fishing cabins for longer stays. The McDiarmids even provided gourmet meals and entertainment, as Cecile was a trained opera singer!

Famous people, like H.R. MacMillan, a president of a large forest company, visited them often. However, when a logging road was built in 1965, the fishing was greatly affected. By 1973, the fishing cabins were left empty, and the McDiarmids closed Trophies Lodge as a business. Mac and Cecile continued to live there. Cecile passed away in 1986, and Mac lived alone until 1995, passing away in 1998 at 92 years old.

The Many Names of Grouse Creek

Grouse Creek has had more names than any other place in Wells Gray Park! It was first called Beaver Creek on maps made between 1912 and 1914. Later, locals started calling it Grouse Creek because many blue grouse birds lived in the nearby forests.

In the 1930s, the waterfall and creek became known as Moul, after George William Moul, a homesteader who lived nearby. But in the 1980s, people slowly started using the name Grouse Creek again. This caused some confusion, especially when a "Grouse Creek" sign was put up in 1990.

To clear things up, the Friends of Wells Gray Park asked the Geographical Names Office for a decision. After looking into how the names were used locally and historically, they decided to officially keep the name Grouse Creek. Moul Falls, however, kept its name.

Visiting McDiarmid Falls

To reach McDiarmid Falls, you can start at a clearly marked parking lot on Clearwater Valley Road. This road is also known as Wells Gray Park Road.

A footbridge crosses Grouse Creek just above Moul Falls. The trail then continues downhill from there. It leads you directly to McDiarmid Falls and eventually to the Clearwater River.

During very cold and snowy winters, McDiarmid Falls can freeze completely from top to bottom. If you visit in winter, the best way to explore is by using snowshoes.