Dawson Brook Falls

Location: Williams Street, Ellershouse
Hiking Time: Less than 5 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Size: 30'

Directions

-If you are driving to Ellershouse from Halifax, take exit 4 off the highway and turn right onto the Evangeline trail.
-Take a right onto Dawson Rd.
-Take another right onto Ellershouse Rd.
-Immediately after you drive under the overpass take a left onto Williams Street. This street does not seem to be marked. You can use google maps if you are unsure.
-Follow this road and keep left where it forks. After you cross the bridge drive for 2.3kms. You will notice blue and red flagging tape on your right. Follow that road.
-After about 1km you will see another road off to your right. There will be two posts that look like shortened telephone polls. Follow this road to its conclusion and you will see a path that leads down to the falls.

Trail Description

Simply walk down to the falls from here. This area is sometimes used by hunters so wear orange when venturing out during hunting season (I almost drove over a hunter's gun the first time I came here)! The interesting part about these falls is the staircase formation carved out of the rock. Although not one of the largest falls you'll see, it is worth the visit if you're in the neighborhood. Pictures of these falls were taken during the dry period this summer. I will add more pictures later once the water levels return to normal.

Falls during a dry period

Upper Burnside Falls

Location: Burnside
Hiking Time: 5 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Size: 20'

 

Directions

-Take Hwy 289 through Upper Stewiacke and turn left on Pembroke Rd.
-Follow this road to Burnside Community Park and park here.

Trail Description

Follow the well marked trail which leads you down some stairs to the base of the falls. There are picnic tables and outhouses on site making this a great spot for a picnic. This is a nice falls to visit along with Butcher's Hill falls which is not far off from here.

MaryAnn Falls

Location: Off the Cabot trail north of Ingonish
Hiking Time: 5 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Size: 20'

Directions

-Drive north of Ingonish on the Cabot Trail and look for the sign to Mary Ann Falls.
-Drive about 6.5km to the parking area and follow the walkway to the falls.

Trail Description

Follow the well marked trail to the falls. It is a short easy walk with stairs that lead down to the falls.
There are viewing platforms that provide a decent look at the bottom part of the falls. An early morning viewing is best if you want to avoid tourists as this is a popular site. People have been known to use these falls as a water slide. . . I decided against trying this during my visit!

Black Brook Falls

Location: Black Brook Cove Beach
Hiking Time: 5 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Size: 20'

 

Directions

-Drive north from Ingonish about 9.5km until you come to Black Brook Cove Beach.
-You can actually see the waterfall from the road as you cross the bridge.
-Pull into the parking area near the beach and walk to the waterfall either by trail or by beach.

Trail Description

This is a truly unique waterfall that flows out into the open ocean. You can walk to the waterfall either by trail or by beach. You can gain access to the top through side trails in the woods. Definitely worth the stop and don't forget that MaryAnn Falls is just a short distance from here!

Haunted Falls

Location: Black Hole Rd, Baxter's Harbour
Hiking Time: 15 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Size: 60'

 

Directions

-From Sheffield Mills, turn onto Black Hole Rd and follow it for 12km to Bigelow Cove Rd.
-Bigelow Cove Rd is an unmarked road that can be google mapped. You will see it shoots off of Black Hole Rd just as it begins to turn a sharp left and become Old Baxter Mill Rd. This is actually the start of the trail so park along the side of the road on Black Hole Rd.

Trail Description

Follow the trail (which is actually named Bigelow Cove Rd.) until you hit the stream. Follow the stream going left which will take you down stream to the falls. Be careful and take your time as you will have to descend the side of the falls using ropes. This can be quite challenging  for young kids or even adults who aren't used to scaling down terrain like this before.
There is also a side trail marked with flagging tape before you hit the stream that gives you a side view of the falls as well as a look off point to the ocean which is quite spectacular.
There are rumors of pirate treasure being found here in the 1960's along with other strange engravings being, perhaps giving the falls it's name.
The legends and mystery that accompany this place only lend itself further to the feeling you get when you visit here. You almost feel as though you are being watched as you admire the majestic flow of the water going out to sea.

Side View from the look off

McInnis Brook Falls (aka Silence Falls)

Location: Mines Rd. in West Gore
Hiking Time: 15 minutes one way
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Size: 30'

Directions

-Drive to the town of Brooklyn and turn left (if you are coming from the glooscap trail) at the war memorial onto highway 215
-Follow highway 215 past the Irving station until you come to a T intersection and turn right (onto Highway 236).
-Follow Highway 236 for about 20km until you get to Clarksville where you will make a right turn onto highway 202.
-Follow highway 202, staying to your left, until you come to Mines Rd (it will be a fairly sharp right turn onto a dirt road).
-Follow this road about 1km and park just beyond where the stream crosses the road. You may have to pay attention because it's not obvious at first glance. There is also a little road or pathway on the left you'll notice where the trail starts. You'll notice here is a house on the right just before this.
-Park along the side of the road.

Trail Description 

Follow the trail along the right side of the stream until it ends. At this point just pick a spot that seems suitable and descend to the stream, following it until you reach the falls. You will either have to climb up the hill and around the stream at some points or get your feet wet, the choice is yours.

During a dry spell

Butcher's Hill Falls

Location: Upper Stewiacke

Hiking Time: 5 minutes one way

Difficulty: Easy

Size: 50'

Directions

-In upper Stewiacke, turn onto Higgins Mill Rd from Meadowvale Rd.

-Cross the metal bridge and up the gravel road until you see flagging tape on your right.

-Look closely for the tape.

Trail Description

Follow the trail by the flagging tape a short distance through the woods to the falls. You can make it to the top of the falls if you are careful. This is a very serene spot and is actually the first waterfall I visited in Nova Scotia.