With this name, you would expect a big falls! Alas, it isn't. This tiny cascade is found about 100 m downstream from the northwest tip of Big Thunder Lake. This can only be reached by an overnight paddling trip, being located 15 km as the crow flies from Kiosk. The falls itself is located along a portage.
Mink Creek is mostly navigable downstream of the lake, being bordered by riverine wetland on either side. At the falls, however, the otherwise lazy river meets mound in the bedrock and so it constricts into a short narrow rocky channel.
In this image, you can see a big rounded boulder sitting on top of the bedrock. It doesn't take a keen geologist's eye to spot that something isn't right. This boulder is a glacial erractic, brought here by ice during the last glacial advance through the area, about 10,000 years ago. The term erratic refers to a boulder that has been transported from great distance. In this case, this rock looks completely different than the local bedrock exposed at the falls.
Region | Northeast |
---|---|
County | Nipissing |
Near | Big Thunder Lake |
Watercourse | Mink Creek |
Watershed / % Lakes | 1 / 22% |
Ownership | Algonquin Provincial Park |
Landscape | Wilderness |
Size | Very Small |
Type | Cascade |
Modification | Natural |
Access | No Land-based Access |
Top / Bottom | / |
Trail conditions | Overnight Water Route |
Hiking Time | |
Coordinates | 45.9996,-78.7358 |
Parking | 45.9996,-78.7358 |
Site ID | WOO.NIP.002 |
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