Top Things to do in Canada
10 Waterfalls in Canada That You Shouldn't Miss
World class skiing, decadent European style cuisine, ornamental cathedrals, peaceful island life…Canada is a patchwork of thriving cities and majestic wilderness. Montreal beckons travelers with its French charm and booming cultural landscape. In Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is a vision of Frank Gehry architecture and national artistic treasures. The gleaming mountain ranges of Banff set a stunning backdrop for an exploration of the Canadian Rockies.
Restaurants in Canada
1. Niagara Falls Canada
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 31,482 reviews
Three magnificent falls, two American and one Canadian, mark the point at which the Niagara River rumbles over the Niagara Escarpment.
Reviewed By as4beatles - Oxnard, United States
If you love nature, mountains, waterfalls, glaciers, canyons and all the majesty that is a natural wonder you can only be the perfect person to visit this site. If you are not a lover you will still be in awe of this site.
2. Parc de la Chute-Montmorency
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10,037 reviews
These 275-foot falls on the Montmorency River tower higher than even the legendary Niagara Falls. The 2013 season promises to be exhilarating for people who will visit Parc de la Chute-Montmorency – Montmorency Falls, the second most visited site of the provincial capital after Old Quebec. The highlight of all the new summer activities is certainly the opening of two via ferrata routes built in the Boischatel fault near the waterfalls. Via ferrata – this is Italian for “iron roads” - is an activity accessible to everyone over 12 years old that combines hiking and rock climbing. The two paths are built on the rock face on the eastern side of the waterfall. The less adventurous will also be able to get stunning views of the 83-meter high waterfall aboard the cable car which now runs with sparkling new cabins. History buffs will be glad to know that guided tours are now offered each weekend in the company of Sir Frederick Haldimand, who served as Governor of Quebec from 1778 to 1786 and Mathilde Robin, best known as the Lady in White, who lost her fiance during the Montmorency Battle in 1759. Guided tours are offered in French or English until Labour Day weekend.
Reviewed By osnoopy13 - Lilburn, United States
Our small group of 3 drove out from downtown using gps as recommended by staff at our hotel. We were told the falls were as high as Niagra Falls on the Canada-US border, but did not realize there was so much to do at the site. It has an excellent restaurant, walking bridge, zip-line across the falls, parks, tram and you can even walk so close to the falls that you can see rainbows from the spray and get soaking wet. Only one of the group rode across on the zip-line. She says it was great but just over too soon. Although it looks dangerous my daughter said it was very safe and even gives you a free video of your crossing in you have an iphone with you. All of us enjoyed the tram down into the vally where you can walk so close to the falls. Take your group photos from the bottom of the falls and you get great shots of the falls in the background. It was magnificient!!
3. Athabasca Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,708 reviews
A spectacular waterfall in Jasper National Park.
Reviewed By BrittanyMExplores - Winnipeg, Canada
Athabasca Falls is located approximately 30 minutes south of the town of Jasper along the scenic Icefields Parkway. It is a place definitely worth stopping and exploring. There were a network of paved pathways leading to various areas overlooking the waterfalls and viewpoints of the deep and narrow canyon. Athabasca Falls was powerful and gorgeous waterfall with a stunning backdrop of forests, mountains and the river flowing through as huge volumes of water rushed down into the canyon. There were a few lookout points offering different views of the falls along the trails. I visited on a sunny afternoon and the area was quite crowded with some of the lookout areas being very small, so I had to wait my turn in order to get up front and take photos. The pathways were interesting to explore and one of them led through a narrow section between two walls of the canyon with stairs carved into the rocks. There were some great vantage points overlooking the river and the canyon to see where the water had eroded the rock to create caves and unique rock formations over many years. Athabasca Falls was a wonderful area to discover, admire the natural beauty and take plenty of photos. The parking lot was large and could accommodate quite a few vehicles. It would probably be best to visit in the morning during the summer season before the crowds of people show up. If you’re driving the Icefields Parkway, definitely stop here.
4. Sunwapta Falls and Canyon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 782 reviews
Reviewed By Found_Lost_Key
As you head south along the Icefields Parkway, hang a right just after the Rocky Mountain Lodge and travel down that road for a few hundred metres until you reach the Sunwapta Falls carpark, plenty of parking and toilets here. It is a very short walk to the falls track. You come to a T junction and once there you can go left down a fairly steep rough track for views of the river before it drops, or turn right and head over the bridge or keep going for views of the falls from a distance and see the canyon. The track from the carpark to the bridge is wheelchair accessible. We spent about 30+ minutes here. Plenty of water going over it in mid May.
5. Wells Gray Provincial Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 745 reviews
This large scenic park and wilderness area contains five major lakes, two river systems, many small lakes, streams, waterfalls and rapids, which make this an outdoor recreation paradise.
Reviewed By 917marlenel
When we learned that most of the hikes were low-level, along rivers or creeks, I feared we'd get bored. Not to worry! We had a wonderful time during our relaxed, 4-day stay. The first day, on our host's recommendation, we walked Ray Farm, then spent hours gazing mesmerized at the salmon vainly trying to scale Bailey's Chute, then finished with a walk up to Myanth Falls (West Lake trail looked too muddy). Second day we walked up to Trophy Mountain meadows. Wonderful vistas. Tho it was cloudy and a scant 9 degrees at the trailhead at 10:30, the sun burned off the clouds and it warmed up nicely. Stopped at Spahat Creek Falls on the way home. Third day was a change: we rented kayaks for an all-day paddle on Clearwater Lake. Beautiful, quiet, hot. My only quibble was that we had to get the double kayak down from the rack and into the water by ourselves. We're small people (it probably weighed 5x my weight) and in our '70s, so it was quite a struggle. The last day we spent on waterfalls: Helmken, Dawson, and down to the base of Moul,plus the Green Mt. Tower lookout. You could probably do it all in 3 days if you worked harder, but we loved our leisurely visit. Very recommended.
6. Helmcken Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 995 reviews
Reviewed By Savytraveler2903
Awesome views of the falls and only a very short walk from the parking lot was a great day and a must see
7. Takakkaw Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 885 reviews
The falls, in the northern half of Yoho park, drop 833 ft -- making it one of the highest waterfalls in Canada. The falls are spectacular in early summer, when melting snow and ice provide ample runoff.
Reviewed By Roving545392
I went twice. Once with fellow adult friends and again with my daughter and my young grandchildren. Photos cannot capture the depth of this waterfall. Five levels...and the height is phenomenal. The spray coming off and down into the river continually changes the surrounding view. The large boulder slide directly to the west of Takkakaw Falls is also a sight to behold. Climbing to the base of the fall is exhilarating and hiking nearby trails offers view after view after view of Takkakaw and many other beautiful sites in YOHO. Picnic tables along the banks the Kicking Horse River at the trailhead make for a perfect spot to enjoy a meal while your eyes feast on this spectacular waterfall.
8. Shannon Falls Provincial Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,185 reviews
Beautiful waterfalls just outside of Squamish, easily accessible off the Sea to Sky Highway.
Reviewed By TravellingWallbury - Edmonton, Canada
Wonderful little park with an easy walk to a beautiful waterfall. Kids climbed around and I was able to enjoy the area on my mobility scooter. You can choose a more rugged path to get up even closer to the falls but I still had a great view from my scooter. You would never know this lovely little oasis was in town. Parking was ample. There is a gift shop. About an hour to leisurely explore with kids.
9. Brandywine Falls Provincial Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 718 reviews
Reviewed By pds209 - New Westminster, Canada
The main trail here is a short, easy, and picturesque walk to a platform from which to view the falls. The route is, for the most part, wide and paved. The only “choke point” is a small bridge over a stream near the entrance. Beyond the main viewing platform, there are a couple of further viewpoints from which to take photos and admire the surroundings. This park is an excellent choice for families.
10. Bow Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,095 reviews
Reviewed By dorrym - Pimpama, Australia
You definitely need to do this walk while visiting we thoroughly enjoyed the outdoor life in Banff and these falls are a delight while there visit the Fairmont Hotel too perched above the falls
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