Facebook GroupThe Chaudiere Falls used to span the Ottawa River but have largely been converted for hydroelectric generation. For years, what reamains of the falls has been off limits to the public. For Canada's 150th birthday, this all changed! The site has been completely revitalized for visiting, including a sound and light show in the evenings.
The falls are found below a semi-circular shaped water level control dam (interestingly, the border between Ontario and Quebec follows the ring of the dam). Once water passes through the dam, it converges on to the falls, which now consist of a seemingly infintite number of limestone steps.
The river drops a total of 8 m here. Note that water levels in the Ottawa River do fluctuate through the year, and the falls will appear differently under varying flow regimes. While it's great that we can now visit the falls, temper your expectations, as a solid fence keeps us from getting too close.
At the time of writing, the site was still being developed. It appears that this falls is being developed into a major tourist destination. This is good. Not only is it an important place in Ottawa's history, it had a major role as a meeting place for Indigenous peoples.
The entire area is surrounded by industrial heritage buildings. I don't have information on where to park. I believe that there is no parking on the island. Can you provide any updates? The parking coordinates button will get you close, but you will need to figure out where to park once you arrive.
| Region | Eastern |
|---|---|
| County | Ottawa-Carleton |
| Near | Ottawa |
| Watercourse | Ottawa River |
| Watershed / % Lakes | 5 / 38% |
| Ownership | City of Ottawa |
| Landscape | Urban |
| Size | Large |
| Type | Wide Dam Spillway |
| Modification | Hydroelectric Dam, Fencing, Industrial |
| Access | Easy |
| Top / Bottom | Easy to view / Easy to view |
| Trail conditions | pavement, sidewalk |
| Hiking Time | 5 min |
| Coordinates | 45.4207,-75.7211 |
| Parking | 45.4204,75.71811  |
| Site ID | WOO.OTT.003 |
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