Home  |  Algoma Region |  

River

Mississagi River

Class

Plunge

Size

Very Large

Visitability

Good

Accessibility

Free

Activity

Quiet

Walk Time

10min

Trail

Moderate

Gorge Access

Danger!

Other Trails

lots

County

Algoma

From Sault Ste Marie, follow Hwy 17 east to Hwy 129. Drive north on Hwy 129 for about 1.5 hours (or a little more). There is a sign on the right side of the road to mark the access road to the waterfall. Follow the gravel road to the large parking lot, and then walk the trail to the falls. The walk is 10-15 minutes in length, up and down some moderate hills. The view of the falls from the high footbridge is only the lower portion of the falls, so don't turn around at this point! Cross over the footbridge and follow the dirt trails up the hills to the left. There is no "destination" viewing platform for this waterfall, but rather there are several good vantage points along the high ridges on the left bank of the river.

Settlement

Aubrey Falls

NTS Map

41 J/14

Easting

331612

Northing

5197555

UTM Zone

Aubrey Falls is big! Easily worth the long drive off the Hwy 17 corridor. (Note: The drive along Hwy 129 is quite scenic as the lonely road winds between the river and high forested cliffs). The waterfall is about 53 meters high, and is composed of 7-10 different sections, each a fair size in their own right. The water flows over a beautiful pink/orange granite formation, and mist rises from the base of some of the larger falls. This isn't a waterfall that you can easily get out and touch, but the view from a high bedrock ridge just downstream of the falls is spectacular. Beautiful photographs can be made from this vantage point, using the abundunt pine and spruce trees as natural frames.

A large hydroelectric dam is found just to the south of the waterfall. The dam is 300 m long and generates a maximum of about 148 megawatts of power. Approximately 8.5 cubic meters of water per second is maintained over the waterfall between Victoria Day and the end of October. If you visit outside these dates, you may be disappointed! By following the trails further upslope, you should be able to access the lake above the dam. The dirt trails along the high bedrock ridge below the waterfall serve as a canoe portage route.

Further information about Aubrey Falls can be found in the book "Waterfalls of Ontario" available from Firefly Books.

NOTE: While the highway is paved all the way to the short driveway to the waterfall, there are few (if any) services available for the traveler. Be sure to have at least 3 to 4 hours worth of gas in your car when you visit. Also, note that the road that goes west to Hwy 17 (via Ranger Lake) is gravel surfaced, and is NOT a quick short cut back to the north end of Sault Ste Marie! There are outhouse washrooms at the parking lot.