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River

Muskoka River (North Branch)

Class

Cascade (Steep)

Size

Large

Visitability

Good

Accessibility

Free

Activity

Very Busy

Walk Time

2min

Trail

Easy

Gorge Access

Difficult

Other Trails

Some

County

Muskoka

Take Hwy 11 north to Cedar Lane (Muskoka Rd 117). Exit west (left), drive over the highway and turn into the parking area for the park on the right side of the road. You can explore here for an hour or two. Note! To my knowledge, the waterfall is not accessible from High Falls Rd to the north. Don't take this exit by mistake!

Settlement

Bracebridge

NTS Map

31 E/3

Easting

633649

Northing

4994230

UTM Zone

This is a big waterfall, and probably the most spectacular waterfall in Muskoka! Bracebridge Falls may have more water at times, but the setting of High Falls is much more appealing. It has been called the "Niagara of the North" by some, although I think that this is pushing it a little... The falls is formed where the north branch of the Muskoka River falls over a significant ridge of gneiss. The Muskoka River continues south and falls again at Wilsons Falls and then the two Bracebridge Falls.

The site has been developed to include a sizeable parking lot, washrooms, BBQ pits and benches, but the falls themselves remain relatively untouched. You can walk across a Bailey Bridge over the top of the waterfall, or follow a trail through the woods to the left of the falls to Little High Falls and Potts Falls, on little creeks just a few hundred meters downstream.

In 1948, a power plant was built to the far left of this photograph on a third section of the falls. Plans are in the works for a major expansion of this power station, which will definitely alter the appearance of the falls forever!

This waterfall is covered in more detail in the print version of "Waterfalls of Ontario."