Thursday, November 23, 2017

We Found the Hidden Waterfalls

I was determined to find those 'Hidden Waterfalls' if I could.  So I consulted with my son-in-law about exactly where they were.  If you notice the Google Maps image yesterday, they are supposed to be very close to a road.  So on one of our last days out west, my grandson and I went off to find them again.  Was I surprised by what I found!

Warning, a picture heavy post again, and a few slightly blurry shots as these are all handheld on a dark grey afternoon deep in the forest, at a slow speed.

We stopped at a pull-off on the road, and looked for a trail.  We found this one immediately and went in about 100'.  Can you recognize it as the opposite side of the stream we reached on the previous hike?   Beautiful, but no waterfalls, and thick impassible forest on both sides of the stream.

So went back out to the road and looked for another trail lower down.  There it was, and within 50' we found this tiny 'waterfall' pouring out of a culvert under the road.  I could hear a lot more roaring water downstream though, so we headed on.

I was trying to snap quick pictures while keeping an eye on my adventurous 7-year-old, who wasn't in the least afraid of the steep wet slopes on both sides of the trail.  Turns out there were two streams, and we were on a narrow peninsula between them.  This photo is as far as we got, a view downstream at the point they join together from left and right.

We headed back up a little more slowly, and I realized that it was dark enough in the late afternoon light that I could get some 'slow' pictures.  This was the biggest single drop on the northern stream, just a small rocky ledge.

But this was what the rest of the stream looked like - tumbling down over the rocks fast.  I would estimate it dropped 100 feet in 200 yards!  A foaming rapid most of the way.

The site is totally 'undeveloped'.  Though there's a narrow worn trail, there are no signs, no protective railings, no warnings, and very steep rocky banks down to the water.  It was impossible to get clear views without branches in the way, because the place is simply too wild - the way I like it.

This is the second stream, on the south side, also a tumbling rapids for about 200 yards, and dropping even further, perhaps 125 feet.

This is the single biggest drop on that side, perhaps 6 feet.

Personally, I like the ripples over the rocks as the stream pours downslope as much as the actual small waterfalls.  And the water is roaring all around you.

I think this was my favourite picture.  But given that these were all handheld, mostly for 1/4 second exposures, and all slightly blurry, I am definitely going back here with a tripod, and lots of time to myself!  These two tumbling streams are definitely one of my favourite all-time waterfalls.  The fact that we had to hunt to find them just made it all the more adventurous!  It ended up a great grandfather/grandson explore!

I was initially thinking that it's a shame there isn't a sign.  But upon reflecting, and feeling somewhat selfish, (and keeping in mind safety), I'm glad there are no signs, and hope there aren't any in the future.  Perhaps the place will retain a little mystery and wildness.  Given how visitors behave at waterfalls along the Bruce Trail here in Ontario, this place would be an unsafe disaster if it was heavily visited!

15 comments:

  1. I love encountering falls when we ride our quads. To see the best we go in June and July when the snow melts in the high country. At the head of Powell Lake there are towering falls down the steep granite cliffs that put Yosemite waterfalls to shame (if you ask me). - Margy

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  2. Glad you found the hidden waterfall. Around here some lovely unknown waterfalls have been discovered thanks to social media, and I think they're now being loved to death.

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  3. Love those slow pictures really bring out the effect for the waterfalls.

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  4. Beautiful slow motion, milky and smooth. I can imagine the noise.

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  5. Nature has done a pretty good job of hiding its waterfalls, but not enough to deter our two intrepid heroes. If it was opened up to the general public there'd soon be guardrails, viewing platforms, health and safety signs, "Beware rocks can be slippery when wet!". Best to leave it as it is.

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  6. Hello, gorgeous series on the hidden waterfall. I am glad you were able to find it, lovely photos.

    Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!

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  7. I truly enjoyed these waterfalls. I'm glad you persevered and found them. I agree that it's best they remain "hidden" from sight and require an adventure. It was so worth it! :-)

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  8. My favourite was the fourth from last photo. They are all great though. A beautiful unspoiled area to share with your grandson! How wonderful!

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  9. What a great discovery you and your grandson found! The waterfalls are beautiful and even more so without it being populated.

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  10. Very nice photos. Waterfalls don't have to be spectacularly high in order to be beautiful.

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  11. Lovely! What fun! I hope your grandson remembers his waterfall visit with his grandfather and can tell his children and grands about it in the future. Likely your blog will still be somewhere online for him to access. My grandpa was very old and too disabled by a badly broken leg for us to visit places in the countryside but we didn't waste any time talking. In the 1920s he had been a member of one of those sects that believe in reincarnation so we talked about ancient Egypt a lot. Fascinating! I wish I had known him better but he died when I was quite young.

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  12. Oh, my, I could never pick just one favorite...and I can see your point about hoping no signs are posted.

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  13. Wonderful! The best kind of places. While finishing the NCT/Finger Lakes trail I "found" a waterfall not 20 miles from where I grew up that I had never seen. Couldn't figure out how that was possible, then learned it was on private property when I was a kid. Now it's along the trail, but still no signs or super easy access, so it remains fairly wild.

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  14. Ahhhh the thrill of exploring ... what a lovely place to find, experience and photograph FG.
    DJE

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