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River

Crowe River

Class

Cascade

Size

Small

Visitability

Good

Accessibility

Free

Activity

Quiet

Walk Time

2min

Trail

Moderate

Gorge Access

Moderate

Other Trails

some

County

Hastings

Follow Hwy 7 east from Peterborough, and continue east past Havelock. About 10 km past Havelock, turn left on to Belmont Twp Second Line. Follow this road north and continue north as the road merges to Peterborough Rd 48. Drive for about 5 minutes until you reach Preston Rd, just as Peteroborough Rd 48 bends to the left. Turn left on Preston Rd, and then turn right on Fire Route 18. Follow Fire Route 18 north for about 3 km (Don't worry, the road is gravel but well maintained). Eventually, you will come to a parking area in a clearing, quite close to the southern end of Cordova Lake. I believe that there is a sign indicating something to do with a Cordova Lake Cottage association, but I can't remember for certain. Walk towards the lake, and turn left to find the upper falls.

Settlement

Cordova Mines

NTS Map

31 C/12

Easting

275717

Northing

4937661

UTM Zone

This is one of those little gems that few people know about. Cordova Falls isn't huge, but it is impressive enough to make one wonder why it isn't more widely known. The clearest view of the whole site is obtained from atop the small concrete dam that is used to maintain the water level in Cordova Lake. Downstream of the dam, the Crowe River tumbles down a rocky channel perhaps 150 m long. The river drops about 10 metres, falling not as one main cascade, but rather in at least 5 distinct smaller drops, each separated by a short pool of calmer water. By walking along the poorly marked trail leading south from the dam, you will be able to get directly to the lower reaches of the falls.

The bedrock at all three Cordova waterfalls is different than at most other sites, and gives the falls a distinctive appearance. While stratified into layers, the rock layers "dip" into the earth at an angle of about 75 degrees. It is not a sedimentary rock, but rather is quite possibly amphibolite, a jet-black metamorphic rock formed of just one mineral, called hornblende.

By walking over the small dam and continuing on the trail on the opposite side of the waterfall, you can see the remnants of an historic waterfall. Note the low concrete berm that holds back Cordova Lake. Now imagine that this berm wasn't here. Look into the forest and you may be able to recognize the old stream bed. The concrete berm was constructed to ensure that lake water could be diverted through the dam.