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River

Northland Creek

Class

Cascade

Size

Small

Visitability

Mediocre (Private)

Accessibility

Free (Roadside only)

Activity

Walk Time

0min

Trail

Easy

Gorge Access

Difficult

Other Trails

none

County

Algoma

Follow Hwy 17 north from Sault Ste Marie for about 10 km to Algoma Rd 556. Turn right on Rd 556 and drive for about 21 km. There are no signs, and no parking areas. Watch for the waterfall on the right side of the road. Be sure to park well off the road, and please respect private property. If you reach the intersection with Algoma Rd 532, you have driven about 5 km too far.

Settlement

Island Lake

NTS Map

41K/9

Easting

718985

Northing

5180206

UTM Zone

This is a pretty waterfall situated right on the south side of Hwy 556. The waterfall itself is unfortunately located on private property, and given the good view of the falls from the road, the owner would easily be able to watch you trespass across his/her lands. Otherwise, the waterfall would no doubt receive a higher visitability score. Fortunately, the waterfall is easily viewed and photographed from the roadside. (As always, be sure to pull well off the road).

The waterfall tumbles over an irregular bedrock ridge, picking its way around boulders and small cedar trees clinging to tiny islands of slightly higher ground. The falls is about 15 meters high, much higher than the photography might suggest. The creek flows through a culvert under the road, and eventually drains to the much larger Goulais River, about one kilometer to the north.

The railway bridge nearby belongs to the Algoma Central Railway, which operates spectacular tourist trains from Sault Ste Marie to the Agawa Canyon. The busiest time of year is in fall, when you MUST book in advance to avoid disappointment.