O Canada! Kakabeka Falls: September 2, 2012

We visited one Provincial Park on the trip: Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, which was on the way between Thunder Bay and Fort Frances.  Kakabeka Falls is called the "Niagara of the North" due to it being TOTALLY AWESOME.  So, in accordance with our quest to see every waterfall in the world, we felt it was our duty to stop by and take a look.

Kaministiquia River

The Kaministiquia River winds through Ontario and eventually empties into Lake Superior.  I thought that the landscape looked "particularly Canadian", what with the rocky river and the pines.  It was wonderful.  

Falls from the top

There's quite a bit of infrastructure at the park.  There was a foot-and-vehicle bridge crossing over the top of the falls, good hiking trails, and many large overlooks built into the cliffsides.  There were also some good interpretive signs and a nice little interpretive center.  Plenty of people were out there enjoying the park - it was Saturday, it was a holiday weekend, and it was beautiful outside.  What was everyone coming to see??

Wow.

Dang.  Yeah, that's an impressive waterfall.  Kakabeka Falls cascades over 130 feet from top to the river below (40 meters).  I have been to Niagara Falls, and I agree with calling Kakabeka the "Niagara of the North".  It was easily the most impressive waterfall I've ever seen, aside from Niagara.  One difference is that Niagara is (pretty much) a straight drop - no cascading over the side.  Kakabeka had many "stairsteps" along the way.  Nobody could survive going over the falls in a barrel at Kakabeka.

There are many other amenities at the park.  According to this sign, Joe interpreted that there was not only an information booth, but an assembly line Quality Control checkpoint, and perhaps a book about a TARDIS?  And a hiker, of course.

Seriously, I also see a guy doing QC and a TARDIS.

There was also a hiking trail that went along the high ridge downstream of the falls.  There was a sign up at the trailhead: "WARNING!!  A BEAR WAS SPOTTED ON THIS TRAIL TODAY."  I have to admit, I was pretty apprehensive - but excited - about meeting Smokey on the trail.  Fortunately - unfortunately? - we did not have the opportunity to make Smokey's acquaintance.  The trail was about a mile and a half long, but the views were very impressive.  Man, do they ever know how to grow trees in Canada.

All in all, it was a great trip.  I highly approve of Ontario's Provincial Parks...okay, the one that I have seen.  We had a great time. 

What would a trip to a waterfall be if I didn't get a picture of Joe looking at it?

Total miles hiked today: (this park) 1.5
Total miles hiked (in 2012): 116.7

Total ticks today: Joe - 0; Thunderdog - n/a; Elly - 0
Total ticks (in 2012): 48