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Niagara Falls are known to everyone. But halfway between Toronto and Niagara lies the city of Hamilton, whose surrounding area is home to more than 100 waterfalls! We have seen many of them, while others are still waiting to be explored. Today I will show you five of the most popular waterfalls to visit
For Canadian readers of the blog, I will note a few important updates, as access rules to the waterfalls and parking conditions have changed over the past few years.
Access to several waterfalls is now restricted. In the past, it was possible to walk right down to them, but now they can only be viewed from a distance. This change was made due to several accidents.
On the positive side, parking conditions have improved. Today, when you park at one waterfall, you can use the same parking pass for other waterfalls within the Hamilton Conservation Authority system.
Starting May 21 and until the end of the season, some waterfalls require an online reservation for weekend visits. From mid-September, when the trees turn into vibrant fall colors, reservations are required not only on weekends but also on weekdays. The reservation includes parking, as well as entry to each park separately, with a time limit of about 2 hours per visit.
The first two waterfalls are part of the Spencer Gorge Conservation Area and require an online reservation.
This is a beautiful and easy hiking loop of about 1.8 km through the forest. The waterfall is located right at the beginning of the trail. Its height is 41 meters
After admiring the waterfall, we continue through the forest and reach the Dundas Peak lookout, where the city unfolds below like a bird’s-eye view.
We then return to the parking area via a different trail, completing the loop
We get back in the car and head to the next waterfall.
This is a cascading waterfall with a height of 22 meters. Today, it is no longer possible to go down to its base. This is what it looks like from a distance
We didn’t follow the small forest trail from the waterfall. Instead, we crossed a beautiful bridge right above the falls and reached the waterfall from the other side, from above. A quick check-in, and we’re off to the next stop
Parking is located about a 5-minute walk from the waterfall on Artaban Road. This is a cascading waterfall with a height of 17 meters. It is possible to walk down to its base
We drive a little further and find another waterfall nearby. Parking is right in front of the entrance. There are only a few spots, and it’s not advisable to park along the street (there’s a high chance of getting a ticket). It’s better to wait until someone leaves. We walk along the forest trail, crossing small bridges and streams, and within about five minutes we reach the waterfall itself. It is very beautiful.
We have also visited it in winter, when it turns into a real winter fairytale
We remember another favorite waterfall we hadn’t visited in a few years, and head out again. We park on Mountain Brow Boulevard and, unfortunately, learn that access to the base of the waterfall is no longer allowed. There is now a viewing platform right near the parking area, from where the waterfall can be seen.
This waterfall is notable for its height and width being almost equal — about 19 meters
We recharged and had a wonderful day. I hope to return to the waterfalls in the fall, when they will be framed by vibrant autumn colors…
But for now, it’s spring
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