National Parks in Canada are free to visit in 2017. I can tell you where I won’t be visiting this year. You see, Canada’s National Parks are always busy, they don’t need a gimmick like this to drum up more business. As it is, this past summer, we got turned away from day use entry at Bruce Peninsula National Park on a weekday morning because they were already at capacity. Visiting Jasper and Banff this summer was equally as busy. No thanks – I’ll wait until 2018.
The thing is, if you do a little research and keep your eyes open, there are some incredible natural places in Canada to visit that are not on the grounds of a National Park. Even better, they’re always free to visit, not just every 150 years. In this article, we’re going to narrow it down to waterfalls in Ontario. Even then, there are many more than just twelve that can be visited in the province with no entry fees.
What’s so great about a waterfall that you don’t have to pay to see? Is it less spectacular than one with a parking lot, gift shop, safe and secure viewing platform and a fee that increases on a yearly basis? No. In fact, they’re often much more spectacular because there is a raw, undisturbed beauty that you may even have to exert a bit of effort to see. Paved parking lots bring people. People necessitate over-the-top safety precautions. People demand food, drink, washrooms and shelter. Parking lots, people, safety precautions, food, drink, washrooms and shelter come at a cost. The cost is loss of that raw connection with nature and some money from your wallet.
12 Ontario Waterfalls Without User Fees
Indian Falls
Egan Chutes
Recollet Falls
Duchesnay Falls
Rockway Falls
Scenic High Falls on Magpie River
Fenelon Falls
Eugenia Falls
Eau Claire Gorge Falls
Muskoka High Falls
Onaping Falls
Elora Tooth of Time
Video Collection
Indian Falls
Located just north of Owen Sound on Grey County Road 1, Indian Falls actually comes with the washroom, shelter and parking lot but does not come with fees. The parking lot is disconnected from the waterfall by a somewhat rugged one kilometre trail to preserve that wilderness feel.
Indian Falls is about 45 feet high with a 25 foot crest. This is a curtain waterfall, meaning the water drops off a sharp ledge and is uninterrupted until it splashes into the pool at the base. The official trail takes you to the edge of the crest where the waters of Indian Creek are deceptively calm until the very edge. Unofficially, you can scramble up the creek bed to the base of the waterfall. And, really unofficially, you can walk behind the curtain.
This can be a seasonal waterfall with flow drastically reduced when there hasn’t been much rain. Indian Falls is also closed during the winter months.
There are many other waterfalls in this area that are no less magnificent and no more expensive. I believe the only one that that will cost is Inglis Falls. If you have the time, continue on County Road 1 along the shores of Georgian Bay to Wiarton. Along the way, Bruce’s Caves is a hidden gem that also is free to visit.
Egan Chutes
A little more off the beaten path and a little harder to find. Egan Chutes Provincial Park is a non-operating park located around ten kilometres east of Bancroft, where Highway 28 crosses the York River.
A non-operating provincial park in Ontario means the government owns the land for preservation purposes but there are no facilities and probably no plans for facilities. These outnumber operating parks and are actually some of the provinces best hidden secrets for truly finding nature.
There is a rough roadway off the highway to a clearing where you can park next to the river. A trail runs along the York River to Egan Chutes. This is a long, rugged waterfall that drops in stages of varying height. The waterfall is without barriers and can be explored extensively.
Recollet Falls
Many have stopped at the French River Provincial Park rest area along highway 69, between Parry Sound and Sudbury. Many have crossed the walking/snowmobile bridge across the river canyon from the modern visitor centre.
Few venture down the two kilometre trail that scrambles downstream before ending at Recollet Falls. This is not a high waterfall, probably in the ten foot range. However, the power and water volume can be pretty impressive.
Much of the French River Provincial Park lies beyond the end of the trail. Much of the provincial park can be accessed by water only. The visitor centre has a spacious paved parking lot with pit toilets outside and comfy flush toilets inside. I believe they might ask for donations inside the building but there is no fee to visit. The visitor centre is closed during the winter months but the parking lot remains open (yet, not incredible well maintained).
Duchesnay Falls
At the far west end of North Bay, Duchesnay Falls is a hidden gem that sits relatively right out in the open. The waterfall is on the north side of Highway 17, aka the Trans Canada Highway. There is a well maintained parking lot right off the highway but no signage saying what that parking lot is for. The waterfall is right there but hidden from view by the heavy cover of trees.
Duchesnay Creek makes several drops over a fair distance with the two largest drops at about 15 feet high, each. The creek twists and turns in a complicated journey through the solid rock of the Canadian Shield. Not far after passing underneath the highway, the water empties into Lake Nipissing.
The trails run on both sides of the waterfall and continue upstream onto the grounds of Canadore College / Nipissing University. An excellent time to visit is when the leaves turn colours in the fall. I’ve passed by in the winter but the waterfall was just a frozen mass, buried under feet of snow.
Rockway Falls
Rockway Falls comes as relief from the crowds of nearby Niagara Falls. Located southwest of St. Catherines, Ontario on Pelham Road, parking is free at the adjacent Rockway Community Centre.
A trail leads you downstream, atop the cliff created by the Niagara Escarpment. Not far downstream, the cliff subsides enough for a trail to reach the bed of 15 Mile Creek. From that point, simply scramble back upstream to the base of the waterfall. The many smaller drops along the creek, heading to the main waterfall, are a treat that should not be overlooked.
Rockway Falls is not Niagara Falls but still pretty impressive. This is a cascade style, or maybe even closer to a fan style waterfall, ending in a pool at the base. You can walk right to the base. The height of the waterfall is around 45 feet and the crest is 15 feet.
Scenic High Falls On Magpie River
When you’re traveling the Trans Canada Highway from Sault Ste. Marie to the Manitoba border, you’re always on the lookout for your next rest stop. There are some beautiful spots along the shores of Lake Superior, right on the highway. However, if you’re around Wawa, it’s definitely worth the short 1.5 kilometre detour to check out Magpie Falls.
There is a sign on the highway, but not a big one. Just south of Wawa, a gravel road leads away from the main highway, traveling 1.5 KM to Scenic High Falls. The road ends at a well-maintained parking lot with a covered shelter.
From the parking lot, you don’t necessarily even have to get out of your vehicle to check out the waterfall. There are walking trails going both upstream and downstream. You can walk to the crest of Magpie Falls, although a chain-link fence comes between you and the water.
Fenelon Falls
Okay, not the most natural setting but it’s beautiful in its own way. And, the town of Fenelon Falls is against charging for parking. The town of 1,800 permanent residents is dubbed ‘The Jewel of the Kawarthas’ and swells in population during the summer months.
This is the location of Lock 34 in the Trent Severn Waterway, connecting Sturgeon Lake to the east with Cameron Lake to the west. The waterfall runs parallel to the locks and it’s the power of the water being released from the locks, enhanced by being covered by the car bridge above, that may be the more impressive feature.
Eugenia Falls
Visit in spring and early summer. This is probably the best advice for anyone wanting to check out Eugenia Falls. The waterfall is an impressive 90 feet high but the 30 foot crest can be reduced to a trickle as summer wears on.
Located in Eugenia, just northeast of Flesherton, the waterfall is part of a conservation area that comes with a parking lot, shelters, pit toilets and no fees. The base can unofficially be reached by taking the trail downstream from the waterfall until the cliff subsides enough to get down to the bed of the Beaver River. It is then a fairly strenuous rock scramble back up the river bed. When wet or in when the water is high, this may not be an option.
Eugenia is about 50 kilometres southeast of Owen Sound. Nearby Hoggs Falls should also be visited when exploring Eugenia Falls. Both are along the Bruce Trail system.
Eau Claire Gorge Falls
East of North Bay and west of Mattawa, just south of the Trans Canada Highway, Eau Claire Gorge Falls is a nice side trip for anyone visiting Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park or the Kiosk Campground of Algonquin Provincial Park.
Eau Claire Gorge Conservation Area is located on Peddler’s drive after going south on Highway 630 from the main Highway 17. This park has a parking lot, picnic tables and pit toilets. Trails lead to the gorge and waterfall.
The waterfall is around 35 feet high with a crest around 50 feet. Located on the Amable du Fond River, this a long, rugged waterfall that curves around a cliff. You can put your toes in the rushing water at several points but you do not want to be swept away by this torrent.
Muskoka High Falls
If you’re traveling on the four lane, limited access Highway 11 at Bracebridge, you most likely won’t see this powerful waterfall. Why? Muskoka High Falls is located nearly below the highway bridge. Taking the Highway 117 exit, there is a single lane gravel road leading to a spacious picnic area. At the back of the picnic area, the waterfall is within a very short walk.
This is a powerful waterfall but can be easily and closely approached. Beware, it is definitely dangerous. In August, 2015, a swimmer was swept downstream on the North Branch of the Muskoka River and over the waterfall. His body was later found below the falls.
Be sure to take in adjacent Potts Falls, a gentle cascade located in a fairy tail setting amongst the pines nearby.
Onaping High Falls
Onaping Falls drops some 150 feet over a long distance with the final, and most photographed, drop being around 30 feet. This is an incredible waterfall to explore as you scramble along the rock through endless nooks and crannies. Beware, the rock is incredibly hard and smooth and is quite slippery when wet.
Located on Highway 144, about 35 kilometres northwest of the centre of Sudbury, on the long road that will take you to Timmins. The parking lot is right off the highway with modern washrooms and picnic areas close by.
A bridge crossed the river at the top of the waterfall and trails take you into the forest on the lesser visited side of the Onaping River.
Elora Tooth of Time
Not exactly a wilderness setting, the Tooth of Time waterfall is located within the town of Elora on the Grand River. The name comes from the now cement reinforced islet rock that sits in the middle of the waterfall.
There are trails on both sides of the river that take you near the waterfall and further down the Elora Gorge. In fact, you can walk into the Elora Gorge Conservation Area from here, a park locally famous for its river tubing.
From the north side, you can walk in via Irvine Creek. If you don’t mind getting a little wet, you can get close to the base. The site is popular with Kayak enthusiasts.
Last I visited, you could park on the south side of the river and walk in through the old factory ruins. However, I believe there were plans to redevelop this land as residential so I’m not sure if the trail is still as easily accessible.
Waterfall Video Playlist
For the above 12 Ontario waterfalls and many more, take a look at the Waterfall Video Playlist from our YouTube channel.
