Top 10 Waterfalls in Southwestern Ontario

Photo Credit: Day Trips Canada

10. Inglis Falls (44.525701,-80.93482) - Inglis Falls is an 18 metre high cascade waterfall created by the Sydenham River. The power of the water has carved a deep gorge at the base of the falls and on a clear day you can see down into the City of Owen Sound and out to the Owen Sound harbour.  There is a viewing platform available for those unable to see over the stone wall and Inglis Falls is surrounded by over 7km of trails. (Read More)

9. Darnley Cascade (43.277067, -80.000978) - Darnley Cascade is located in Crooks Hollow, founded by James Crooks, a Scottish immigrant who came to the area in 1805.  The Hollow had its industrial beginnings in 1801, when Jonathan Morden built a sawmill on Spencer Creek.  James Crooks built the area’s first gristmill, completed in 1813, and named it after his hero, Lord Darnley. (Read More)

8. Sherman Falls (43.239582, -79.973162) - This waterfall, fed by springs from its headwaters, has a strong, continuous flow throughout most of the year.  This lovely waterfall, also known as Fairy Falls or Angel Falls, has two cascading drops with a wide flat ledge that divides the upper and lower falls. (Read More)

7. Tiffany Falls (43.240703, -79.960008) - This waterfall, made up of an Upper and Lower Falls, is surrounded by typical Bruce Trail terrain: rocks to step over and steep ascents.  At the Lower Falls, a cascade waterfall, Tiffany Creek tumbles 19 metres from a broad valley above the escarpment into a V-shaped ravine below.  It is an imposing sight, towering above visitors and surrounded by dolostone cliffs on either side.  (Read More)

6. Tews Falls (43.281832, -79.979666) - Logie’s Creek tumbles 41 metres over the escarpment to form Tews Falls, just a few metres less in height than Niagara Falls.  Though the flow of Logie’s is substantially less that the main branch of Spencer Creek, the sheer height of the falls is what makes it such a stunning sight.  There are two platforms just off the Bruce Trail that allow visitors to get a spectacular view of the falls and gorge below. (Read More)

5. Borers Falls (43.281760, -79.929400) - This classical, 15-metre waterfall, also known as Rock Chapel Falls, can be accessed from both the Hamilton Conservation Authority’s Borer’s Falls Conservation Area (base of the falls) and the Royal Botanical Garden’s Rock Chapel Sanctuary (top of the falls). This waterfall powered the Rock Chapel village sawmill, run by the Borer family, for more than 100 years.  Land clearing in the area eventually altered the creek’s flow to such a degree that it could no longer provide sufficient energy, so the family switched to steam to power the mill. (Read More)

4. Felkers Falls (43.202763, -79.791196) - Felker’s Falls is a 22-metre ribbon waterfall located in the Felker’s Falls Conservation Area, a beautiful spot steps away from an urban environment.  Since the waterfall is located in a subdivision, visitors must observe care and respect for private property.  This escarpment area is forested and features trails, scenic vantage points and the Peter Street Trail, a wheelchair accessible loop trail which travels through the conservation area. (Read More)

3. Albion Falls (43.199552, -79.819754) - Once seriously considered as a possible source of Hamilton’s water supply, Albion Falls is a stunning, 19-metre cascade waterfall with a crest of 10 metres located at the southernmost tip of King's Forest Park.   Rocks from the area were used in the Royal Botanical Garden's rock garden.  A wonderful, distant view of the falls can be seen from the parking lot off Mud Street.  The trail from Mud Street to the bottom of the falls can be quite difficult, so take care.    (Read More)

2. Devil's Punchbowl Waterfalls (43.191154,-79.75756) - This waterfall area contains two separate falls, Upper and Lower.  The Upper Falls is a classical waterfall, and the main Lower Falls is a ribbon waterfall. The Devil’s Punchbowl is one of the Niagara Escarpment’s most amazing sights, created at the end of the last ice age by huge meltwater rivers that plunged over the Stoney Creek Escarpment, thus carving the Punchbowl and gorge.  From the bottom of the falls, you can see the many different coloured rock layers of the Escarpment.  The Punch Bowl is the only area where you can view such a large vertical display of Ordovician and Silurian stratified rock.  Some of the layers include Queenston Formation red shale, Cabot Head grey shale, limestone and shale dolomite. (Read More)

1. Webster's Falls (43.277112,-79.982405) - One of the most stunning and easily accessed waterfalls in the Hamilton area, Webster’s Falls is created by the main branch of Spencer Creek as it flows into the gorge.  One of two waterfalls within the Spencer Gorge, it is a beautiful, curtain waterfall. With a crest of 24 metres (79 feet), it is also the largest in the region.  The main falls has two overhanging drops with a short break in between.  A second smaller 30-foot ribbon waterfall, known as Baby Webster’s Falls, is located to your right as you descend the staircase to the bottom of the main falls. (Read More)