Waterfall Capital of the World By athanasia guerra
Many people see Hamilton as a "Steel City," but there's much more to Hamilton than industrial plants. Hamilton is home to over 100 beautiful waterfalls, which is how it got the title of Waterfall Capital of the World. Most of the waterfalls/cascades are located on, or near, the Bruce trail. The Niagara Escarpment, which the Bruce Trail winds through, is equipped with the perfect ecological conditions for natural waterfalls to occur.
WEBSTER'S FALLS
Webster's Falls is the most scenic of the many waterfalls in Hamilton. It is the largest waterfall in the city with a 30m crest and 22m drop. It is found in the Spencer Gorge/ Webster's Falls Conservation Area, and the water flows down Spencer's Creek.
TEW'S FALLS
Tew's Falls is the tallest waterfall found in Hamilton, Ontario. It has a 41m plunge, which is only a few metres shorter than Niagara Falls. Tew's Falls is within walking distance of Webster's Falls, as it is also located in the Spencer Gorge/ Webster's Falls Conservation Area.
DEVIL'S PUNCHBOWL
The Devil's Punch Bowl is the second tallest waterfall in the city with a 37m drop. The waterfall is located in the Devil's Punchbowl Conservation Area in the Stoney Creek community of Hamilton. This waterfall was used in the 2006 movie Silent Hill, and the 1998 blockbuster film The Big Hit.
ALBION FALLS
Albion Falls is a 19m high cascade. A "cascade" waterfall means that the water falls in stages, or steps. There is a legend of a Lover's Leap at Albion, where in the 19th century young Jane Riley, heartbroken and disappointed with the love of Joseph Rousseau, jumped off a cliff not far from the beautiful waterfall.
TIFFANY FALLS
Tiffany Falls is a 21m waterfall in the Tiffany Falls Conservation Area. This waterfall is named after the district's first doctor, Dr. Oliver Tiffany. The waterfall is best viewed in the Spring and Summer months, and is used for ice climbing in the winter.
FELKER'S FALLS
Felker's Falls is a 22m high waterfall. The Felker's Falls Escarpment Valley is a small bedrock gorge in the Niagara escarpment.
SHERMAN FALLS
Sherman Falls is a 17m high waterfall in Ancaster Heights. Alternative names are Smith's Falls and Whitton Falls.
WASHBOARD FALLS
Washboard Falls is a 5m high cascade waterfall found 100m upstream of Tiffany Falls, in the Tiffany Falls Conservation Area. It is sometimes referred to as Upper Tiffany Falls. The only way to reach it without going on private property is to climb the steep hill to the left of Tiffany Falls, and it is not recommended to do so, as the climb is very dangerous.
Chedoke Falls
Chedoke Falls is a 15.5m waterfall that, like washboard falls, is not easily accessible. The bottom of the waterfall is nearly impossible to get to, as there is no trail, but it can be seen from the top from Scenic Drive.
Canterbury Falls
Canterbury Falls is a 9m waterfall that flows through Canterbury Creek in Ancaster. This trail can be reached from the Canterbury Falls Side Trail from the Bruce Trail. There is a trail from Sherman Falls to Little Canterbury Falls that is private property and is closed.
These are only 10 of the 100+ waterfalls in Hamilton, Ontario. Not all of the waterfalls are as extravagant as these 10, but each is beautiful in it's own way. To see a full list of all of the city's Waterfalls, click the link below.