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River

Devil's Creek

Class

Cascade

Size

Small

Visitability

Average

Accessibility

Free

Activity

Fairly busy

Walk Time

2min

Trail

Easy

Gorge Access

Very Difficult

Other Trails

lots

County

Waterloo

Exit Hwy 401 at King St E, to Cambridge. Turn left on to King St E and drive a minute or two to the stop light at Fountain St. Turn right on Fountain St and continue around the bends, and over the bridge to Blair St. Turn left on Blair Rd and go southeast for about 4 km - the road will become George St. There is a parking area on the left side of the road, at a point overlooking the Grand River. Park here, and look for the little creek that flows under the road. A walkway leads to a staircase over the creek, from where you can view the falls. If you reach the bridge at Park Hill Rd, you've gone about 2 km too far.

Settlement

Cambridge

NTS Map

40P/8

Easting

553979

Northing

4802695

UTM Zone

Yes, there is a waterfall in Cambridge. Few people know about this little waterfall. It is formed where a little creek falls through a narrow notch in a bedrock outcrop that lines the west side of the Grand River. The creek rambles through a suburban park, eventually cutting down to the bedrock. From here, it continues east, through a culvert under George St, and then down a 60 degree angle slide to the much larger Grand River 10 m below bottom.

The waterfall is easily viewed from a wooden walkway that cuts right over top of the crest of the waterfall. Look for where the stream appears to be undercutting the bedrock on one side of its little gorge. The trail continues northwest along the river, on the top of a 10-12 m high bedrock outcrop known locally as the Pallisades. Interestingly, the bedrock is not exposed on the far side of the river.

Reaching the base of the falls is a challenge. I can't remember exactly where I was able to access the base of the falls, but there is at least one location in the woods where you can scramble down a slightly more gentle sloping section of the cliff. There isn't a lot to explore at the river's edge, although, if you're adventurous, you'll no doubt be looking for a challenge.