Facebook GroupThis small bedrock falls is enhanced, height-wise, by the presence of a long concrete water level control dam. This adds several metres of fall, and can be quite impressive at high flow, creating a full river-wide curtain of white water. If you are a purist like me, you can't help but remember that the majority of the falls is artificial.
At the same time, there are many that say that falling water is falling water; the spray and sound and sights still mean that this is an attractive site.
A peninsula of rock allows you to get out in front of part of the falls, and does keep some legitimacy to this site as a true (former?) waterfall location. You can also take side-on photos, which I often find to be useful for low, wide waterfalls. Across the river, you can see the condos that have been developed in the historic St. Andrews Mill.
Parking is available in the small lot on Gartshore Rd, on the south side of the Grand River. A short walk through the pleasant park, across the field and towards the river, leads to the falls. Follow your ears! The walk is no more than about 150 m. After reaching the river, as long as the river isn't flooding, some visitors have walked out on to the grey bedrock along the river bank.
NOTE: Don't forget to look for Confederation Falls, which is much smaller, but located in the same park.
| Region | Greater Toronto |
|---|---|
| County | Wellington |
| Near | Fergus |
| Watercourse | Grand River |
| Watershed / % Lakes | 3 / 21% |
| Ownership | Town of Fergus |
| Landscape | Urban |
| Size | Medium |
| Type | Cascade with Dam |
| Modification | Water Level Control Dam |
| Access | Moderate |
| Top / Bottom | Easy / Moderate |
| Trail conditions | Grass, bare rock |
| Hiking Time | 5 min |
| Coordinates | 43.7105,-80.3705 |
| Parking | 43.7107,-80.3686  |
| Site ID | WOO.WEL.011 |
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