Facebook GroupThis set of little cascades is right in the heart of Thunder Bay. I will admit that given the many larger and more impressive waterfalls in the greater Thunder Bay area, it would be easy to overlook this little guy. It certainly isn't worth going out of your way for, but it is easy to access, so, why not?
This is a truly urban site, with an open setting overlooked by Court St and the apartment buildings on the east side. A skilled photographer should be able to create a nice tight shot that isolates the falls from everything else.
There are cascades on both sides of the culvert under Court St. The ones on the south side of Court St are marginally bigger, with the prettiest scene found a bit downstream from the bridge. On the north side, the creek has cut a notch into a rock outcrop, resulting in a falls that is even smaller.
All of the falls are less than one metre high. NOTE: I've seen photos of this creek absolutely raging during spring melt; visitors should stay out of the valley during this period.
The site can be reached by the McVicar Creek Trail, which runs right beside the creek and makes for easy viewing. It is immediately accessible from McVicar Rd. You can park right beside it (note restrictions during winter). This short paved route follows the creek north from Cumberland St, past the site, and north for another 500 m. There may even be another small cascade near Algoma St.
| Region | Northwest |
|---|---|
| County | Thunder Bay |
| Near | Thunder Bay |
| Watercourse | McVicar Creek |
| Watershed / % Lakes | 2 / 14% |
| Ownership | City of Thunder Bay |
| Landscape | Urban |
| Size | Very Small |
| Type | Cascade |
| Modification | Road culvert |
| Access | Easy |
| Top / Bottom | Easy / Easy |
| Trail conditions | Paved |
| Hiking Time | 2 min |
| Coordinates | 48.4399,-89.2169 |
| Parking | 48.4398,-89.2168  |
| Site ID | WOO.THU.073 |
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