Welcome to Hamilton and the mesmerizing beauty of our city's cascades and waterfalls. Ontario's internationally recognized Niagara Escarpment provides perfect geological conditions for waterfalls to occur, from Tobermory to Niagara Falls. It's been said that the Escarpment is Hamilton's crown and its waterfalls are the jewels in that tiara. In multi-year scientific study, the Hamilton Conservation Authority identified over 100 waterfalls within her boundaries, so Hamilton could well be known as the "City of 2011 Edition Waterfalls". In fact, Hamilton may have more waterfalls than any other city of its size in the world! And they are only one of the many attractions visitors can explore and experience outdoors in Hamilton. Amid one of southern Ontario's most vibrant urban centres are more than 4,000 hectares filled with forests, lakes, ponds, creeks, streams and meadows. Hamilton can boast lush, green conservation lands, botanical gardens, and more than 122 km of multi-use long-distance trails. Start your day at the Dundas Valley, Christie Lake, or the Spencer Gorge/Webster’s Falls conservation areas. Be sure to enjoy our other attractions as well. Visit city museums, art gallery or hike the Hamilton Beach Trail, part of the provincial Waterfront Trail network, meandering along Lake Ontario and through Confederation Park, connecting citizens to the water's edge. Pack a lunch and walk the Bruce Trail to see waterfalls along the way. Twelve of the most spectacular - that can be most easily accessed, or viewed from public lands - are described pictorially and in detail here. A total of 34 accessible waterfalls are highlighted in chart format. n o i t i d E 1 1 0 2 For five decades, Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) has managed the natural environment in partnership with the City of Hamilton, Puslinch Township and the Province of Ontario to help ensure a safe and sustainable community. As one of 36 conservation authorities in the province, HCA protects water sources, The third edition of this publication is very much the result of a guards against flooding and erosion, manages conservation and recreation lands, and cooperative effort by the City of Hamilton, Hamilton Conservation promotes environmental stewardship and education. Authority on whose lands many of these falls can be found, local The Authority is the region's largest environmental management agency, owning or waterfall enthusiasts and photographers, The Bruce Trail Conservancy, managing more than 4,370 hectares (10,800 acres) of environmentally significant land. the Hamilton Naturalists' Club and Tourism Hamilton. Content has been Its recreational lands range from long distance trails and relatively passive natural areas, provided by the Authority's Waterfall Project Team, and gathered from such as the Dundas Valley, Christie Lake and Valens conservation areas, to more other well-used sources. developed sites on the lakefront, like Confederation Park and Fifty Point Conservation Area and Marina. For more information about HCA's environmental or recreation The purpose of the HCA's Waterfalls Project was to update the inventory programs, visit us at www.conservationhamilton.ca or call 1-888-319-4722. of waterfalls with accurate maps and data sheets, and then rank the waterfalls from a tourism perspective. Project Coordinator: Joan Bell, HCA Manager of Grants and Special Projects; Research by: Elizabeth Berestecki, Watershed Planner HCA employees, Joan Bell supervised the project; Doug Mallory and Written by: Sarah Gauden, HCA Information Officer; Edited by: Garnet Cowsill, HCA Manager of Marketing & Communications; Richard Woodworth provided surveying and mapping assistance. Design & Graphics: Tricia Leong, HCA Graphic Artist; Map by: Richard Woodworth, HCA GIS Specialist The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (Employment Photos by: John Overmeyer, Alexander Bell, Joe Hollick, P. McMillan Ontario) and the Hamilton Conservation Authority provided funding and Chris Hamilton & Robert McCaw logistical support. The City of Hamilton provided base data for mapping. Special thanks to City of Hamilton staff for providing assistance with GIS mapping. You & your family can enjoy all that nature has to offer, Project research began with Joseph Hollick, Scott Ensminger and Stephen Head. In particular, close to home, for one year, for one low price. Joseph Hollick's work was most helpful; his list of 44 waterfalls with accurate street directions, Your pass entitles free criteria and classifications was our starting point. entry for your vehicle and passengers to: ◆ Valens The Hamilton Waterfalls Project Partners have ◆ been working together for five years and include Spencer Gorge ◆ Dundas Valley the following: the City of Hamilton Public ◆ Christie Lake Works Department, the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, ◆ Fifty Point the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club, Bruce Trail ◆ Confederation Park Conservancy, Tourism Hamilton, Joe Hollick and ◆ Westfield Heritage Village the Hamilton Conservation Authority AMILTON We also wish to recognize the leaders in the H community who worked hard to ensure N escarpment lands and waterfalls were purchased A B TU LU and protected in public ownership many decades RALISTS' C before now; to the Bruce Trail Conservancy, whose For more information please call: 905-525-2181 or 1-888-319-4722 trail links many of the waterfalls, and to the or visit our website: www.conservationhamilton.ca Hamilton Naturalists' Club for drawing attention For more waterfalls information, visit www.waterfalls.hamilton.ca to the “City of Waterfalls”. MILTON HA N A B TU LU RALISTS' C Location: Spencer Location: Spencer Location: Private Location: Tiffany Gorge/Webster’s Falls Gorge/Webster’s Falls property, just off Lions Falls Conservation Conservation Area, Club Road in Ancaster Area, Ancaster Conservation Area, Greensville Type: Terraced Ribbon Type: Complex Greensville Type: Plunge Classical Height: 17 metres Ribbon Height: 22 metres Type: Overhang Ribbon Source: Ancaster Creek Height: 21 metres Source: Spencer Creek Height: 41 metres Ownership: Vijean (Lower Falls) Source: Tiffany Creek Ownership: Hamilton Source: Logie’s Creek Holdings Inc. Ownership: Conservation Authority Ownership: Hamilton Driving Directions: From the 403, take the Hamilton Driving Directions: Conservation Authority Rousseaux exit. Follow Conservation Take Highway 8 from Driving Directions: Take Rousseaux to Wilson Authority Dundas. Keep right on Highway 8 from Dundas. Street (2nd set of lights) Driving Directions: Brock Road and turn Turn right on Brock Road and turn right onto From Hwy 403 to right at the flashing light Location: Dundas Valley Conservation Area and right again at the flash - Wilson Street. You’ll be Hamilton. Exit at Main Street West and con - onto Harvest Road. Type: Complex Classical Cascade ing light onto Harvest heading down the tinue on Main Street Turn right on Short Rd. Height: 4 metres escarpment. At the first Location: Crooks Hollow Conservation Area, Greensville Road. Access to Tews is West past McMaster Type: Washboard Curtain Cascade and left onto Fallsview Source: Hermitage Creek set of lights, turn left on just off Harvest. University in West Height: 4 metres and follow the signs to Ownership: City of Hamilton Montgomery Drive, Driving Directions: From the 403, take the Rousseaux exit west to Trail Access: Access is Hamilton. Just after Source: Spencer Creek then a quick right onto the parking lot. Ancaster. Follow Rousseaux to Wilson Street (2nd set of lights) and turn you pass University Ownership: Hamilton Conservation Authority from the Dundas section of Trail Access: left onto Wilson. From Wilson Street, turn right onto Sulphur Springs Old Dundas Road. You Plaza, you will make Driving Directions: From the 403, exit onto Highway 6 North. From the Bruce Trail. Access from the Road. Turn right again at the stop sign. This is Sulphur Springs Road. will come to a three-way intersection where Old Dundas Road another left to Highway 6, turn left on Highway 5. Turn left on Brock Road and right Dundas section of the Continue downhill into the valley until you see a small sign on your Nearby Attractions: crosses Lions Club Road. The falls are located in the woods to your continue on Main onto Harvest Road. This will turn into Crooks Hollow Road. The con - right for the Hermitage. Park at the first parking lot. The falls are Spencer Gorge/Webster’s Falls Conservation Area (spectacular in the fall), left. Park on Lions Club Road. Street West. Main Street West will become Wilson Street as you servation area and parking will be located on your left. Walk west Bruce Trail Nearby Attractions: located behind the Gatehouse, the small stone building near the Dundas Peak, Crooks Hollow and Christie Lake Conservation Areas, Trail Access: This waterfall is located on private property just steps head towards the Ancaster area. Soon you will begin to ascend a along Crooks Hollow Road to the bridge where the Darnley Mill Ruins entrance. Please ensure you view the falls from only this side of the from the Dundas section of the Bruce Trail. Spencer Gorge, Dundas Peak, historic Crooks Hollow Conservation Carnegie Gallery and downtown Dundas. long climb up the escarpment. About half way up there is a small are visible on the north side of the road. trail, which is public property. Nearby Attractions: Tiffany Falls Conservation Area, Dundas Valley Trail Access: Access is from the Dundas section of the Bruce Trail, Area, Christie Lake Conservation Area, parking area on your left with a sign identifying "Tiffany Falls Trail Access: This waterfall can be accessed by taking the Dundas Conservation Area, Iroquoia Heights Conservation Area, Hermitage Conservation Area". Park there and follow the footpath that runs Crooks Hollow Historical Trail and ‘Round-the-Lake Trail at Christie downtown Dundas and the Dundas Historical Society Museum. section of the Bruce Trail in the Dundas Valley. It will parallel the Main Logie’s Creek tumbles 41 metres over the escarpment to form Tews Falls, Ruins, Griffin House, Fieldcote Museum and downtown Ancaster. along the south bank of the creek.