Very few people are aware that this waterfall exists. It's literally tucked in a corner of the province that few of us have ever visited. And it's a solid 3 stars, reasonably tall and fairly vertical. After the main drop, the river bends to the right and slides into a small trough-style falls.
One can certainly visit the falls by water, but possibly also by land. The falls is coded yellow because it is remote and requires either an intermediate paddle, or, a long wilderness drive on poorer roads. There may be some climbing necessary if you visit by road.
It's my understanding that people can drive to this waterfalll. Google Maps will plot a route because the very small community of McLaren's Bay is found just a few kilometres further north, at the end of the road. This road could be impassable, for all I know. The road crosses the creek just before a Y in the road. The falls are about 75 km downstream, but I don't have any information about a trail.
If you choose to try to find the falls by land, please do your research. This is a remote spot. After exiting Hwy 63, it's almost 50 minutes of near-wilderness driving. The closest town is actually Temiscaming, Quebec, found almost an hour away, at the northeast end of Ontario Hwy 63.
The falls is actually within distance for an intermediate canoe trip for Opemican National Park, on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River. (Remember, Quebec's provincial parks are called 'National Parks'). The trip is 3.5 km long, and fortunately, paddlers have been able to cross the Ottawa River at a point where it is only 130 m wide. This constriction reportedly results in a strong current. If you choose to use this route, please ask for guidance at the park office.
Region | Northeast |
---|---|
County | Nipissing |
Near | McLaren's Bay |
Watercourse | Opimika River |
Watershed / % Lakes | 2 / 14% |
Ownership | Crown Land |
Landscape | Wilderness |
Size | Very Small |
Type | |
Modification | Natural |
Access | Challenging |
Top / Bottom | Difficult / Moderate |
Trail conditions | |
Hiking Time | |
Coordinates | 46.8429,-79.2496 |
Parking | 46.8425,-79.25116 |
Site ID | WOO.NIP.052 |
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