Kakwa Falls - Summer 2024

[Chris]

My friend just got back, pictures are incredible!!
Plan for Approx 7hrs from stony plain to campsites, the roads a bit crappy as you near the campground so it's slow going.
The old trail he took in but had to turn around, shortly through a creek crossing the water was above his tires(it had just rained) but there's the new trail if the waters too deep for anyone.

[Damian]

OK, time to formalize the plan for Kakwa!

On my end I believe I will have around 4 vehicles in my group, 2 2022 Defenders, plus likely one Bronco (driving from Vancouver) and one Jeep.  We plan to depart Calgary Friday Sept 6 around 7:30am, aiming to arrive around 7pm to the staging area/camp (LMK if that sounds optimistic).  Anyone else coming out of Calgary?

Chris, or others who have knowledge of the area, should we aim for the Two Lakes / Moberly Flats campground, or perhaps Lick Creek staging area and try to find a random (bush) camp in the vicinity?  Sat maps seem to show a few options there.  Or is there a better place to meet/camp Friday night?

Thinking we then setup camp, have a fire (ban permitting) and then aim to do the Kakwa falls as a day trip on Saturday, returning to the same camp location for the night.  Then for those heading back Sunday, they can choose to head back direct, or perhaps head down the 40 for another half-way stop with a return Monday.  Thoughts?

As for trip logistics, I will bring all the usual recovery gear (winch, straps, etc.), extra gas, chainsaw, and standard camp gear.  I'll be tent camping with the family, and the others with me will be a mixed bag of rooftop and regular tents.

For those with radios, I suggest we use both GMRS channel 4 (462.6375 MHz) and VHF/HAM channel 4 (146.445 MHz), no codes or tones.

For those joining, please DM me with your contact info (cell number, and inReach address if you have one) and I'll make sure to get a SMS thread going and ensure everyone has contact info to stay in touch on the way down.

Any thoughts or comments on the above?

Thanks.  Looking forward to a great trip!

Damian

[binch]

I'm planning on going up myself.   Been at least 20 years since I was up in that area and looking forward to getting up there again.

I'll be leaving from SW Edmonton and expect to take about 5 hours or so to get up to Grande Prairie, Before turning south again to get down paste Grovedale area.   I'm sure it will be at least an extra hour or more....

Sorry but I'm old school and still have a CB LOL.   But I'll bring the club's SPOT beacon, just in case.   Of the campgrounds you mentioned I've only heard of the Two Lakes Campground.  Current plan is to stay in the chateau 110 ;-)

I'll have to send you the phone details tomorrow, when I have a chance to look up my phone number

[Chris]

The camp sites at two lakes are supposed to be great, where my friend stayed on crown was just a few minutes before the staging area, so really depends what you prefer to do.

I'm currently tentative now, my Baseline trip with the Landrovers, plus 5 days in BC trails have surrendered a few issues, but ill be plugging away in dire to make it!
Yay for air leaks LOL

[binch]

It would be great to have a series 1 on this trip  ;-)

[Damian]

OK, time to lock in the details/attendees for the Kakwa trip.  Bill I think you're in, Chris how's that leak repair?  Anyone else in?  We will also be joined by a few non-LR folks, but still great people, like 3 offroad capable vehicles.

Friday Sept 6th
- Meet up in Grand Prairie @ 2:30PM at Shell Station/Tim Hortons at 6640 Poplar Dr, Grand Prairie
2:30pm - 6pm - Drive to Lick Creek Staging Area (confusingly named Two Lakes staging Area on google) & find bush camp
    - Google Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/pSYXTsbHBghSctYi7
    - Gaia Location: https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=14.9/-119.8623/54.2569&pubLink=ktDMzooAVsGOA4kZNc56RmxS&waypointId=db43ff6b-826d-4ae2-a79a-ed21fc763933

Saturday September 10th - After breakfast Offroad in to Kakwa using old road, explore/climb down to falls, have lunch, and return via new rode to camp at bush camp (or alternate camp)

Sunday/Monday - Depending on weather/timing, return direct to home OR camp down Hwy 40 (perhaps Cardinal Divide - 6hr drive or Abraham Lake - 8hr drive)

On the Road Communication: Use SMS as primary, I will email you everyones contact info and start a SMS group before we leave

Offroad Communication: Radio/Garmin In-Reach to communication and share location/status.  Preferred Channels (we will have spare radios) are GMRS channel 4 (462.6375 MHz) and VHF/HAM channel 4 (146.445 MHz)

Reminders:
Expect over 400km of driving from GP without gas or any services, if you have concerns about range bring extra gas.
Text Damian if you have any last minute change of plans or delays.
Ensure you know and have prepped your front/rear recovery points, have a spare tire in good condition, and the tools to install it.
Be sure to purchase your backcountry pass for all adults in your group: https://www.alberta.ca/public-lands-camping-pass

Who's confirmed IN:
Damian - 2022 Defender
Bill
Chris - Maybe?
Other LRs?
Zoran - 2022 Defender
Kathryn - 2023 Bronco
Dale - 202x Jeep
Craig - 202x Toyota 4Runner

[binch]

What about the back country pass???

https://www.alberta.ca/public-lands-camping-pass

[Damian]

What about the back country pass???

https://www.alberta.ca/public-lands-camping-pass

Good point!  Added to the post, I have mine and will remind the others also...

[Chris]

I'm out unfortunately, unless something magical happens with parts showing up early :(
Also I don't think I mentioned, there's a star link attached to the snowmobile cabin, there's no password connected to it, if anyone needs to check in with family.

[binch]

Looks like I'm running up on my own this weekend....   I'll see the rest of u up at the timmies in grande prairie👍

[Damian]

Sounds good Bill!  We will see you there at 2:30pm on Friday (9/6), Timmies/Shell at 6640 Poplar Dr in GP.  We lost one defender so look for my white 2022 Defender, a new Bronco, Jeep and a 4Runner.  Looking forward to a fun weekend.

If anyone else if following and wants to join let us know, feel free to DM me and I will text your our contact info and add you to the SMS group.  Thanks!

Damian

[binch]

"So....How was Kakwa Falls trip?" You ask.....

It's been over 20 years since I was up in the Grande Prairie area and I have to say I was shocked at the amount of development in the area.   When I was up there the first time they had a population of around 25K people but seem to have quite a few services.  But today the population is a booming 65k +/- and they seem to have everything up there!?!?  Include cheap diesel fuel, which my 110 definitely enjoyed :-)

Damian did a fine job of organizing this trip....good comms, maping and scheduling!   And picking the first weekend after the start of the school year probably didn't hurt either.   If I'm not mistaken there were 9
 of us divided up between 1x new defender 110, 1x 4runner, 1x new bronco, newish jeep and my 1986 exmod 110.   The jeep and bronco were both sporting 35" wheels, while the 4runner and 2 defenders were closer to stock sizes.  Kate come in from Vancouver while the everyone else (but myself) came up from the Calgary is I'm not mistake.  A good haul for most!   It's always great to see some family member tagging along to join in on the adventure as well...

We met up at the Timmies on the south side of GP for around 2:30pm and once we had everyone fueled up we set off for the last leg of the journey about 2.5 hours drive south of GP.   Yes, south.....you can't access this area by road from the south of the province.  We were lucky to have the road paved for a good deal of the trip, before it turned into high grade logging road.  Since they didn't have much rain the the recent pass the dust was let's say..."tasty". Those vehicle with A/C and Re-circulation options were bunched up at the front while I lagged back a kilometer of two hahhahhahhh.  Since there was active logging operations in the area you had a be aware of the heavily laden logging truck that tend to ride the crown of the road.  Lucky the speed is restricted on much of the road so flying stones from tires weren't really too much of a bother.

We rolled into the Kakwa Falls Snowmobile staging area and checked out a couple of campsite before settling in on the area maintained by the local snowmobile club.  Huge area with lots of large sites, well separated from each other by pine,spruce,fir trees and lots of very well kept out houses.  Well stocked and very clean....    There are several options for camping throughout this area, some big open formats for groups with horses or large groups. But since the Kakwa Falls is a destination area for many folks in the GP region I can imagine it would be very busy most of the summer.  As it turned out we of any rush that may be coming out that way so we had a good size area pretty much to ourselves, settled in for a nice fireside evening, and a bit of dinner too. 

Saturday morning was busy with getting food down the gullets and getting prep'd for the days adventure.  Nice cool weather to start off the day when we headed out about 9ish.   Our camp turned out to be only a kilometer or so from the trail head(s).  We had two options to chose from....the old trail being 17km but a bit rougher and wetter OR  The new trail being 22km(?) with a couple hundred feet of 'rig mat' highway perfectly laid out on the trail.   We decided to use the shorted "old" route in.  Not a bad trail at all.  Lots of rock in the, small creek crossings, small ledges, shallow off camber, but nice and wide with options through obstacles.  We had a couple of decent water crossing before we came to a beaver dam holding back a small pond.  "Don't drive what you aren't willing to walk through" was the plan here.  Damian changed out of his boot and into some sandals, and I was already dressed for the ball.  So off we went...ankle deep, calf deep, knee deep, thigh deep, waist deep and then we hit the deep spot with the water making it up to the missing button on my shirt (mid belly).   We checked for any hidden/submerged hazard and firm bottom then headed back to shore to discuss options with the group.  Since most of the vehicles had lots of electronics and no snorkels it was decided it would be more prudent to back track and take the longer route in.  Oh no...not quite...."I think I can make this.." said I.  Since I was at the back of the pack the other 4 vehicles backed out of the way and I brought the exmod up and stopped to ask Damian if he'd like to go for the ride.  With a big grin on his face he got out his phone/camera and jumped in the truck.   I made one last check to make sure I had closed the front dash vents this time (lesson learned years ago) and off we went.  2nd gear, low range moderate revs.  As the truck slipped into the water the bow wave soon began to creep up passed the bumper, winch and then the grill.   Then over the top of the bonnet it came.   The water was already coming in at the bottom of the doors, but no too quickly.  We chugged our way across the bond, up the bank on the other side, turned around at the top and came right on back again!  Not the deepest crossing I've done but it's in the top 3!   I pulled the truck up on an angle, opened my door and let the water run out and we both had big grins on our faces...even if we were both soaked to the bone from checking the depth before :-)

After all the fun made our way back to the trail head and headed off down the "new route".  We made our way through some lovely forested land on some rocky trail and a bit of a wetter area where someone had put an awful lot of effort into placing a 'rig mat' highway through to protect the soil (I'm guessing here).  There were a few up and downhills we drive on the way in, a gorgeous meadow area were we stopped to use the 'facilities' and snap a few group photos.  We even passed a couple of well weather gentleman on horse back, along with the pack animals.  They smiled as we passed and waved but I wasn't convinced they appreciated the traffic LOL.   It took us about an hour or so to make it up to the parking area where the kilometer long footpath to the top of the Kakwa Falls begins.  I took the driver's seat out of the 110 and put it on the roof (in the sun) to dry out a bit while walked to the falls.  A quick change of footwear, a drink of water and we were off, following a what appeared to be quad tracks along the shore of the river.  There further we got the two tracks became one and started to peter off.  Eventually we came to a spot where you could either walk out on the rock beside the edge of the water fall (to look over) or you could take the trail that climbed up the slope to the lookout platform 60' up the hill.  One after the other, scrambling hands and feet, and quiet protest from the youngest member of the group, we made our way up to the chain link that we were meant to be on the other side of.  We followed the fence down to the look out to receive a breath taking view to two water falls cascading over the jutting ledge, more then a hundred feet below, into a lovely pool at the bottom. 

Over the many years this trail has been taking folks up to this location there have been several fatalities from people who wanted to get "just a bit closer".   So....they've put up lots of fencing, rails and even a beautiful viewing platform and a plethora of warning signs to try and reduce the 'accidents' there.  It reduced the numbers a bit but there's just no saving stupid and it still happens.

Further along the top of the gorge someone has taken it upon themselves to install a series of 5/8" nylon ropes for people to use to make there way to the bottom.  Damian and Jun decided to have a go and climbed there way down.  They made all the way down okay and go some great pics from the bottom of the fall.  They it came time to climb up again....Let's just say both were a bit short of breath by the time they finally made it back to the top ha ha ha.   We all headed back to the parking lot on the trail we were meant to take originally, coming out at the rangers cabin(?)  While Damian went down to the river to lay in the water the rest of us grabbed a bite to eat and a drink, and reverted back to our driving footwear.

Once on our way back again I could have sworn we were travelling a weee bit faster going back.  Kinda like rental horses heading for the barn ha ha ha.    On the way back toward camp we found where the old road intersects from top and decided to follow it back and we got to within a couple hundred meters of the beaver bond from early.  After having a look at condition of the rest of "old trail" the group decided to head back and retrace there steps.....except me.   I just had to drive through that pond one more time :-)

While they turned back I kept going and finally reached the beginning of the trail.  I was only there 5 minutes or so before the rest of the gang came by on the "new" track, and we all headed back to camp together.

We finished off that evening with another good fire, some food a lot of chat.  Great way to finish off a day.   I think we lasted until 10pm before everyone turned in.   There was a long drive home for many of the group so it would end up being an early start home.

The Kakwa Falls trip is well worth the drive up there, risk of pine striping is low and possible body damage is relatively low as well.  But you are more then two hours from fuel so make sure you have enough for 400km of road and 4 hours of off road driving.  Since many of locals will make this a day trip from GP camping in the immediate area and getting an early start on the trails (9 or 10am) is a huge bonus as you will miss some big crowds on you way in.  A lot of effort has been put into developing this area for it's outdoor recreation an you can see how this has paid off. 

NOTE:   There are no wells at these sights so Bring drink water or a filtration system for the stream.   There is sulfer in some of the streams there...not enough to make you sick but the water can taste horrible.

This is a good trip..try it sometime ;-)

Note: I'm hoping to get some photos from the gang to post with this later....

[Red90]

Photos from Damian

2024 Kakwa Falls Trip Album

[Matt H]

Great write up. Hope to get there someday.

[binch]

Great write up. Hope to get there someday.

It's a brilliant area with lots of trails, even into the high country.  The Kakwa area is the most popular area with the folks in the Grande Prairie area.  If you can camp in the falls area you will miss most of the traffic from the locals that commute in from town, and you seem to get the area to yourself for little while.