The story
About Nymph Falls Nature Park
Nymph Falls Nature Park protects 61 hectares of second-growth forest on the north side of the Puntledge River, at 4481 Forbidden Plateau Road outside Courtenay. A wide, wheelchair-friendly trail leads about half a kilometre from the parking lot to the falls, which cascade over bedrock ledges and a fish ladder; in October and November you can watch salmon leaping up the falls. In summer the river runs calm and clear, and the rock outcrops and pools below the falls, along with nearby Barber's Hole, are popular for a swim. Swimming is unsupervised and at your own risk: currents, depths and submerged logs are hazards, and rocks are slippery. The river is regulated by BC Hydro's dam at Comox Lake; if you hear the siren, get out of the river and away from the bank immediately. The park also has hike-only, bike-only and multi-use trails. Carpool in summer, as parking fills up.