Those Porcupine Falls

High, high up in the far away mountains, there lies an enchanted forest. Along the rugged path lined with lush forest and flowing streams, a rushing waterfall towers over the lush trees and jagged rocks.

The eager eyes of the wondering quad drivers sparkle with excitement.

Nestled in the wild west of the northern Albertan Rockies and shared with the province of British Columbia, the jewel of Kakwa Provincial Park stands waiting to be explored by all those willing. Interestingly, Kakwa is the Cree word for porcupine.

Come on! It's but a small puddle is all!

The park, established in 1996 and located 160km southwest of Grande Prairie, is approximately 650 square hectares in size. Around 122, 000 football fields. The park is home to many mountains, streams, rivers and foothills. There are at least 450 different plant species found in Kakwa Park and of these, 30 are considered rare.

Of course, a park of such thick woodlands would not come without its share of critters. Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, woodland caribou, white-tailed deer, wolves, moose, lynx, foxes, and grizzly and black bears. Let's not forget the most deadly of all, wild animal tourists howling around every corner searching for photo opportunities. Sometimes just trying to escape the mud and muck where the puddles are much bigger.

As can be guessed, the park is for wilderness travelers and getting to the falls is not easy. In the summer, a viewing of the falls can only be achieved through a four wheel drive vehicle. In winter, snowmobile trails line the meadows and all along the mountainside.

The first to come across Kakwa provincial park were the aboriginal trappers and outfitters from the Jasper area. In the 1930's they then started coming from Grande Prairie and the Peace Country, places from which the locals can truly appreciate its wilderness character.

But all this effort would of course not be in vain. The view was promised to be spectacular, and that it was. Kakwa Falls are the tallest in Alberta at 30 meters high, however a first glance reveals it's not the height that leaves the onlooker breathless.

An hours long quad ride through mud, muck, much peeing in the woods, many layers of clothing changed and dirtied, clinging for life down a steep incline requiring a rope, and finally we gaze upon the sight we came for.

At long last, we come to Porcupine falls.

It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit. —Robert Louis Stevenson

Bailey Sue