Directions: To reach parking for the medicine bowls head up Forbidden Plateau Road past the Nymph Falls Trailhead and about 5 minute past parking for the Barber’s Hole. On a sharp bend, before the steep incline to Mount Beecher, there is a large gravel clearing. Beyond the clearing is a decommissioned logging road, keep heading straight up this road. Parking is basically how far up here your car can make it, if you are driving a car with low clearance, that you care for dearly, it may be wise to park at the clearing or just past the last private driveway. If the vehicle you’re driving has quite a bit of clearance it’s possible to make it much farther.
The road towards the falls is ruff. Over the winter and spring it can be strewn with branches and fallen trees, water flows through stream carved ruts which can be over a foot deep in some spots. In the summer the ruts remain but the road seems to be maintained by good doer’s and forest debris are often cleared off from the road. At a little over a kilometer up this road is a clearing around 50 feet in diameter, this is parking for those with adventure ready vehicles.
Trails: The trail is easy but steep for short sections. Continue into the forest on the other side of the clearing. The trek down to Brown’s River from here is not far, so relax and enjoy the fresh air. The mix of flora around here is astonishing. The biodiversity of plants in the area is very abundant. It host’s a vibrant mix of tree, fern, and ornamental species. The mix can be alluring just remember if you go off trail to be conscious of minimizing your impact. In half a kilometer the trail will Y around a stand of alders, head right. Keep moving across this old turn around a stone cairn marks the trail down. The cairn is brilliantly decorated, it is dedicated to 16 year-old friends Daniel and Shane who drowned here on the same day. I won’t give away details but its worth the time taken to really examine it.
Head past the cairn, descending down a bank, muddy most of the year, and lined with Big Leaf Maples. Keep right to get to Brown’s Pool with views of the lowest and largest fall. The Hill down is composed of muddy forest clay enveloped with decomposing maple leaf’s consequently it is slippery. Go left to view the middle falls and bowls. In the winter these bowls are vigorously boiling with rapids. These rapids have carved the stone into bowls. In the summer the water slows, and tubs of water humans can lounge in are revealed. Either time of year exercise caution as water rises rapidly and rocks are slippery when wet.
Head back into the forest and continue up stream along a thin gnarly trail. The trail will go over a small hill and then widen out. Keep your eyes out for the upper falls it is immediately after this point. Along here there are a few trails down to look for, keep straight along this path it will come to a trail leading up the hill side and back to the turn around. In the spring, the trail is a trickling stream, this complimented by the melodies of song birds, and lush forest setting gives a notable sign off to this hike.
More Information: The “Medicine Bowls” is a popular swimming spot, and can be a paradise of a swimming spot or a very bad day. This spot is very well known to be dangerous and has a lengthy list of victims (including a dog) going back years. The river can flood violently, suddenly and without notice forcibly bringing anything in it downstream. Rocks can be super slippery when wet, during times of high water the Brown’s River is deadly, both in the literal and idiomatic definition. Moral of the story if you want to stop for a swim although the setting is so relaxing, stay alert.
Bonus: Although nowadays most water provided to Comox Valley’s residents is drawn from the Punteledge River in the Comox Lake reservoir, originally water came directly from this river. The Brown’s River was first tapped for water in the early 20th century, but the push out of the dark ages wasn’t exactly for convenience. During this time the city had suffered multiple major fires destroying dozens of businesses. These fires were so crippling the city had no choice but to immediately set up a waterworks network.
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