“Something’s not right.”
I was staring at Indian Falls, near Owen Sound, Ontario, and I was confused. The last time I visited was in 2012 (see here for what the waterfall used to look like) and the picturesque waterfall was a straight curtain of water from crest to base. Now, the curtain hits a ridge about two thirds down. Before, you could actually walk behind the curtain. Now, the water hugs the side of the cliff with very little overhang. And, there was a large pile of rock at the right side of the base where a large pile of rock hadn’t existed before.
It turns out, back in April, 2016, a large chunk of the crest broke away and crashed to the bottom. Thus, the makeover of the waterfall. An article from the Owen Sound Times explains: O.S. Times article. It’s a totally natural process that happens to all Niagara Escarpment waterfalls, including the centrepiece Niagara Falls. It definitely would have been a sight to see as that rock fell…
Indian Falls Image Gallery
The following photos in the image gallery all are long exposures of six to 30 seconds and were taken on June 3, 2018. Some of the pictures show the new pile of rock at the base that was formerly at the crest. All show the new ‘double waterfall’ look with the ridge deflecting the water about two thirds down.
For full-size, high resolution versions for any of the photos in the image gallery, simply click on the individual pictures.
Indian Falls Conservation Area
Indian Falls Conservation Area is located just off Grey County Road 1 in the community of Balmy Beach, Ontario. The waterfall is the result of Indian Creek tumbling over the Niagara Escarpment. Not far downstream, the creek empties into Georgian Bay.
The waterfall is 45 feet in height with a crest of about 25 feet (although that measurement was made before the changes). Indian Falls is easily accessible, just a 15 minute walk from the parking lot. The official trail takes you to the top where you can view the waterfall from above. There is no official trail to the base of Indian Falls but it is an easy walk when the water is low.
The Conservation Area is free to visit. There is a paved parking lot just off the main road with adjacent public washrooms (however, I assume they are only open for the months of July and August…).
As beautiful as Indian Falls is, this is not a full day stop. But, there is much more to see in the area. Owen Sound is a paradise for waterfall lovers with the highlight being Inglis Falls. If you follow Grey County Road 1 north and west from Balmy Beach, you will eventually get to Wiarton.
Just before Wiarton is Bruce’s Caves Conservation Area. This is a great place to visit for some decent sized caves formed into the side of the Niagara Escarpment. It should be noted that there is a $6 parking fee at this location and it can only be paid by going online with your smart phone (a bit of a pain in the ass but the process is quite smooth).
