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River

Eighteen Mile Creek

Class

Plunge

Size

Small

Visitability

Average

Accessibility

Free

Activity

Occasional hikers

Walk Time

10min

Trail

Moderate

Gorge Access

Difficult

Other Trails

Some (links to Bruce Trail)

County

Niagara

Exit the QEW at Victoria Avenue and drive south through the village and up the escarpment. Pass the road to Balls Falls, and turn left on Niagara Rd 669. Drive for about 2 km and turn left on 17th Street. Drive north until you start to descend the Niagara Escarpment (at this point, you are also passing over Eighteen Mile Creek - don't blink!). You should be able to spot an opening in the forest on the east (right) side. I think that there is (was?) a large stump located at the edge of the forest - the trail is quite close to here. You may be able to park along the road here, but it is much safer to park at the bottom of the escarpment, where the road shoulder is much wider. Walk back up the escarpment, and take the trail into the forest.

Settlement

Jordan

NTS Map

30M/3

Easting

632925

Northing

4777321

UTM Zone

This little waterfall is located about 5 minutes by car from Balls Falls. This isn't too exciting, and the flows are probably quite low during much of the year. However, the site is relatively quiet and easy to access. The gorge also provides a good opportunity to study many of the Paleozoic geologic formations exposed in the Niagara Peninsula region. I remember having a field trip test here during my days at Brock University.

The overhang shown in the photo above is just large enough to allow children to climb in behind the waterfall jet. The gorge is relatively safe to descend, as there are some sections of the walls that are covered in talus and aren't too steep. The stream bed has eroded into bedrock for about 100-200m upstream from the falls. If you walk upstream from the falls, you will eventually emerge from the forest at the road, although the riparian vegetation may be quite thick, and the stream may enter private property. Please avoid the urge to walk directly on the creek bed - this is a sensitive habitat. This was one of the sites that I used to collect snail shells for my BSc thesis.

NOTE: There are several access trails leading east into the forest. One entrance at the base of the escarpment probably leads to the waterfall, but I would recommend taking the trail that enters near the top of the hill.