This is a very big planet. The size really is incomprehensible to the human mind. You look on a map of North America and only a few natural features stand out, like Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, the Florida Everglades, the Rockies. However, there’s one hell of a lot of space in between that just can’t be barren, unspectacular land.
Eau Claire Gorge Falls is just one example of the many, many unnoticed yet spectacular natural features on the face of this planet. And, unlike the locations that steal all the attention, this one’s free to visit.
Eau Claire Gorge Conservation Area
Eau Claire Gorge Falls is located on the Amable du Fond River, within the Eau Claire Gorge Conservation Area. About 45 kilometres east of North Bay, Ontario, a lonely secondary road leads south for about 30 km to the northern end of Algonquin Provincial Park at Kiosk.
After turning off the Trans-Canada Highway, about 15 km west of Mattawa, Eau Claire Gorge Conservation Area is about 10 km down highway 630, the road leading to the much less popular entrance to Canada’s premier provincial park.
After a little drive up a narrow gravel road, the conservation area offers a simple parking lot with pit toilets and a few picnic tables. From this point, it’s a short hike to the waterfall. There are a few kilometres of trails throughout the park with interpretive stops but the highlight is the waterfall.
Officially, the cascade can only be seen from a lookout above. Unofficially, when the water flow has slowed from the spring runoff, it is fairly easy to scramble the rock face of the Canadian Shield to about half way down the waterfall before the shear cliffs of the gorge take over. There are spots where the daring can bath safely just inches from the torrent.
The waters of the Amable du Fond River originate within Algonquin Provincial Park and empty into the Mattawa River a short distance from Eau Claire at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park. This means that the water going of this waterfall will bypass the Great Lakes, emptying directly into the St. Lawrence River via the Ottawa River. The waters within Algonquin will either empty in this same direction or go west to Georgian Bay, eventually merging with the St. Lawrence by way of Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
Of course, the area is rooted in the logging trade. Evidence at the park remains from past forest fires and flooding resulting from Hurricane Hazel in 1954. Charred stumps remain from forest fires as far back as the 1800’s because charcoal does not decay. High water marks can be found on some trees from the flooding over a half century ago.
Eau Claire is located about 400 km from the Greater Toronto Area and 300 km from Ottawa. Getting there from these major centres is quite easy. From Toronto, take highway 400 and turn at the highway 11 split, just north of Barrie, Ontario. Follow that road to North Bay. Turn onto highway 17, aka the Trans-Canada Highway and look for signs for Algonquin Park – Kiosk. Turn at highway 630 and watch for the conservation area signs.
Coming from Ottawa, take highway 17 north, through Mattawa and turn at the Algonquin Park – Kiosk sign. Something simple but unique to look for while travelling on highway 17 is the distance markers. Normally, in Canada or the United States, mileage is marked on a highway from one end of a province or state to another. The Trans-Canada highway has markers starting at one end of the country to the other. Around the Kiosk exit, you’re somewhere in the low 1700’s.
The Amable du Fond is a busy river. In its 84 km in length from, the river drops 263 metres, or 877 feet. The waterfall at Eau Claire Gorge drops a total of 12 metres, or 40 feet, but does it over a span of 30 metres, or 98 feet.
The above image is a look above stream from the crest of the waterfall. All the images were taken at 1/4000 of a second exposure to really try and freeze frame the water.
The HD Video below was taken on the same day, mostly from the rocks at the side of the waterfall. Be sure to switch to the highest quality setting and be sure to hit the ‘Like’ button!
Eau Claire Gorge Falls Video
