Jewel of the Comox Valley, the mesmerizing landmark that will take your breath away with its beauty and exciting promises, is Stotan Falls or Stokum Falls. This beautiful pond waterfall promises both a wonderful sight with the water pouring smoothly on large rocks and make a lovely melody that you could enjoy for hours.
It has an excellent opportunity to have fun by swimming in the potholes or the river. The water is so clear and a deep blue shade, which is so tempting. A word of advice, check with the local authorities for swimming conditions. Sometimes the river is closed for swimming due to the high water level and strong currents. The best season for visiting Stotan Falls is summer when the warm weather makes swimming even more delightful, and the forest is lush and green. Unfortunately, Stotan Falls is one of few privately owned waterfalls and charges a fee for visiting. However, the experience is worth spending a little money on it.
Stotan Falls is located at Comox Logging Co. Rd, Comox-Strathcona C, BC, Canada. The waterfall is close to Courtenay, the east coast of Vancouver Island, and it's also close to Comox Lake. The landscape of the place is picturesque and mostly green forest and river and sometimes large boulders. Unfortunately, Stotan Falls has been closed since 2019 until further notice.
The area doesn't lack attractions; you can enjoy visiting more than one exciting place like I-Hos Gallery, Nymph Falls Nature Park, Nymph Falls, and Vancouver Island Visitor Centre. All of them are within 8 km (5 miles) distance of Stotan Falls.
From Victoria:
The fastest route from Victoria is via Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N and BC-19 N. It is 220 km (136.7 miles) and takes about 2 hours 40 minutes. Please avoids road closure on Duncan Bay Main Line Rd.
Take Government St to Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N for 1.2 km (0.7 miles). Follow Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N and BC-19 N to Comox Valley Pkwy N in Comox-Strathcona A. Take exit 117 from BC-19 N. Drive 211 km (131.1 miles) and continue on Comox Valley Pkwy N. Take Marsden Rd to Duncan Bay Main Line Rd in Comox-Strathcona C. After 7.6 km (4.7 miles) you will reach Stotan Falls.
From Nanaimo:
The fastest route from Nanaimo is via BC-19 N. It is 110 km (68.3 miles) and takes about 1 hour and 14 minutes. Please avoids road closure on Duncan Bay Main Line Rd.
Take Third St to BC-19 N for 3.3 km (2 miles). Follow BC-19 N to Comox Valley Pkwy N in Comox-Strathcona A. Take exit 117 from BC-19 N. Drive 99.1 km (61.5 miles) and continue on Comox Valley Pkwy N. Take Marsden Rd to Duncan Bay Main Line Rd in Comox-Strathcona C. After 7.6 km (4.7 miles) you will reach Stotan Falls.
Although there is no designated hiking trail to the Stotan Falls from where you park your car, you can easily find the waterfall. The hike is short and scenic through the forest. It's not hard but wear proper shoes because you will be walking on rocks, some of which are covered with algae. So it can be difficult for people with walking conditions or bad ankles. The owners of the Stotan Falls, 3L Developments, closed this area to the public, so if you visit and you couldn't get in, the Nymph Falls Nature Park is close enough for a visit.
Stotan Falls that the locals call Stokum Falls is on the Puntledge River. The river's name is from the Pentlatch People, and their language is Pentlatch, a Coast Salish one. The name of this waterfall came from British Columbia's archive of place names and was first mentioned in 1970.
Stotan Falls and its surroundings are closed now, and all attempts for hiking or fishing are prohibited and considered trespassing. However, on some occasions when the area is open, you can enjoy walking and hiking in the forest and river space surrounded by raw nature.
Swimming is a good activity that you could do or rather should do. Given a chance, with the clear, pleasant water so inviting, it's hard to resist going in the water.
Since the place is so picturesque, another activity worth doing is photography, the view is so marvellous that your photos will look like postcard pictures.