Helmcken Falls, Waterfall in Wells Gray Provincial Park, Canada

Helmcken Falls is a waterfall on the Murtle River in Wells Gray Provincial Park, British Columbia, where the river drops 141 meters (463 feet) over the western escarpment of the Murtle Plateau, a lava deposit. The fall leaves a flat, dark rock lip as a single narrow column, strikes a lower shelf and breaks into white foam, then continues down a short, steep, jagged rock channel. A large cloud of pale mist rises along the right side, partly veiling the dark, vertical cliff face behind it.

Robert Henry Lee, a provincial land surveyor, reached the top of the falls on 24 July 1913 while laying out homestead lots south of the Murtle River. He asked Premier Richard McBride to name it McBride Falls, but the reply renamed it Helmcken Falls. Protecting the falls was a main reason for creating Wells Gray Provincial Park in 1939.

Named after John Sebastian Helmcken, a Hudson's Bay Company physician, the falls honor one of the doctors who played a role in joining British Columbia to Canada. His name connects this natural site to the early medical pioneers who worked in the Pacific Northwest during the colonial period.

A short trail leads from the parking area to a viewing platform that offers clear sightlines across the entire drop. The path is well maintained and accessible for most visitors who want to see the falls without a long hike.

During winter, the spray at the base freezes into a massive ice cone that can reach around 50 meters (164 feet) in height. This frozen tower attracts ice climbers who use its steep walls for training and recreation throughout the coldest months.