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River

Napanee River

Class

Cascade

Size

Medium

Visitability

Mediocre

Accessibility

Free

Activity

Urban setting

Walk Time

3min

Trail

Easy

Gorge Access

Difficult

Other Trails

County

Lennox and Addington

From Hwy 401, exit south on Lennox and Addington Rd 41, locally known as Centre St. Go south for 2 km to Dundas St and turn left. Follow Dundas St over the river, and then turn right at the first driveway. This leads down a hill to a parking lot for Springside Park. Park here and follow the sound to the falls.

Settlement

Napanee

NTS Map

31C/7

Easting

344660

Northing

4901592

UTM Zone

Yes, this is a horrible photograph. The bright sunshine just wasn't cooperating this day.

This is a long, gentle cascade about 30 to 40 m long and 10 m wide near the mouth of the Napanee River, in the town of the same name. The falls is comprised of multiple little steps over thinly bedded limestone, giving the illusion of a long, gentle staircase.

On the right bank (left edge of the photo) the land is owned by a commercial establishment and is not accessible to the public. The company has landscaped the land so building does not ruin the view of the falls. On the left bank (right edge of the photo), the land is part of Springside Park and is publicly accessible.

Likely as a check on erosion, parts of the waterfall have been edged by a concrete wall and concrete riprap. This doesn't spoil the view of the falls altogether, but does remind you that waterfalls were once seen as features to be controlled, not enjoyed in their natural state. The most unfortunate thing about this falls is that it is completely surrounded by chain link fence. This might have been a fun place to explore during low flow. Given the urban nature of the surroundings, and the stupidity of earlier visitors, the Town probably erected the fence for the protection of visitors.

An historical plaque on site explains how a sawmill was constructed on this site as early as 1786. At one time, this was the only mill between Kingston and Niagara.

Finally, legend has it that you can observe Great Lakes tides in the channel below the falls. (?)

To the left, the land is landscaped and private, belonging to a commercial establishment if memory serves correct. To the right is a nice, open town park