Malakwa: Trails, Bridge and Waterfalls

Malakwa can be explored through distinctive natural features: short loop trails, a historic bridge and waterfalls cascading in two tiers. Malakwa Community Park has two short loop trails with different purposes; another option is a 4 km walking loop along country roads and across the Malakwa Suspension Bridge. This distinction makes it easier to choose when planning your trip: you can focus on walking trails, a longer loop, or the river and waterfall scenery.

Short Trails and a Historic Bridge

Malakwa Community Park is on Community Hall Road, beside the fire hall. From the Trans-Canada Highway, reach it via Loftus Road, Malakwa Road and Community Hall Road. Its two short loop trails serve different purposes: one is intended for walking, while the other is for children’s mountain bike skills training. So there is both a trail for walking and a practice loop for young mountain bikers. This distinction can help with planning if you want to focus on a walk or on the children’s riding skills practice.

The 4 km walking loop at the Malakwa Suspension Bridge starts at the parking lot by the bridge and follows country roads as well as crossing the bridge itself. As a historic bridge, it is also a distinctive part of the loop. Compared with the short trails in Community Park, this route has a specific overall distance and combines walking with a structure. Check local route conditions before setting out.

Waterfalls and Habitat Along the Eagle River

At Crazy Creek Waterfall & Suspension Bridge, the waterfalls plunge about 100 feet (around 30 m) in two cascades. There are also viewing platforms and wooden boardwalks. The waterfalls and trails offer a different focus from the loop trails at Community Park and the Malakwa Suspension Bridge.

East of Malakwa, Eagle River Park protects part of the Eagle River’s shoreline. This stretch of the river is an important spawning and rearing habitat for sockeye, coho and chinook salmon. Alongside the waterfalls, this also draws attention to the importance of a riverbank as habitat. When exploring Malakwa, you can therefore consider different aspects of nature, from loop trails and waterfalls to a protected riverbank.

More Places to Explore in Columbia-Shuswap

In the broader Columbia-Shuswap destination, Tsútswecw Park combines trails with Shuswap cultural sites. Its 26 km trail network is used for hiking and mountain biking in summer, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. Cultural sites include kekulis (pit houses), artifacts and rock paintings; they are strictly protected. The seasonal trail activities and protected cultural heritage offer different interests in the region that you can weigh against one another when planning your trip.

Shuswap Lake Park is also a distinct point of interest in the broader Columbia-Shuswap destination. It has a 1 km sandy and gravel beach with a buoy-marked swimming area; canoeing is popular. Copper Island in Shuswap Lake Park has a 2.8 km hiking trail. The beach, marked swimming area, canoeing and island trail offer a different focus from Malakwa’s local loop trails and the Eagle River shoreline.

Choose the Right Base for Your Trip

When looking for a vacation rental in Malakwa, consider which local features matter most for your stay: the short park loops, the 4 km bridge loop, the waterfalls or the Eagle River scenery. If you also want to consider other places in the broader Columbia-Shuswap destination, its parks provide additional regional points of interest. This lets you choose your location based on the experiences you prioritize when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Beaverfoot, Golden, Revelstoke, Scotch Creek, Parson, Tappen, Anglemont, Salmon Arm

View the broader travel guide: Columbia-Shuswap.