22 Unbelievable Paddle-in Waterfalls in Ontario

Imagine the thrill of rounding a bend in the river, or slipping your canoe or kayak ashore far from any roads or trails, and having a majestic waterfall all to yourself. I’ve always been entranced by falling water; the more wild and remote, the better. From temperate rainforests to red rock canyons, I’ve chased waterfalls all over the world, but some of the most spectacular I’ve seen are right here in Ontario.

Falling furiously or cascading gracefully, these natural beauties lie at the end of the proverbial rainbow, hidden deep in pristine backcountry and untouched by crowds. Their isolation makes them all the more special. As the late paddler, filmmaker and conservationist, Bill Mason, mused in Waterwalker, “I think the fact that it really is way back in the wilderness, is the thing that intrigues me… When waterfalls are close to a road, that feeling just isn’t there.”

But don’t take our word for it; plan a trip to one (or more) of the paddle-in waterfalls on this list. Stand in the spray with only the forest for company, feel the earth tremble beneath your feet, and decide for yourself.

Waterfall #1 & #2: Cascade Falls & Swallow Falls, Pukaskwa National Park

With spectacular rock formations, incredible beach camping and challenging paddling on the crystalline waters of Lake Superior, the Pukaskwa coast is a bucket-list destination for any experienced sea kayaker. I’ve paddled the 10- to 12-day wilderness route from Pukaskwa National Park’s Hattie Cove to the mouth of the Michipicoten River—some 190 roadless kilometres—more than a dozen times, and each time I discover something new to treasure. Without a doubt, these two beautiful and remote waterfalls are a highlight of any Pukaskwa paddling adventure.

Located north of Otter Head, a four-day paddle from Hattie Cove, photogenic Cascade Falls is noteworthy as the only waterfall on the Canadian shore that spills directly into Lake Superior. It’s best viewed in early summer, when you can kiss its tumbling waters with your bow, then pitch your tent on the adjacent beach and fall asleep to the soothing rumble of the falls. Nearby, Swallow Falls is a hidden gem that takes a bit of searching to find. You’ll need to paddle up the river of the same name for about a kilometre before this spectacular natural waterslide reveals itself.

With famously cold water and ever-changing conditions, the Lake Superior coastline of Pukaskwa National Park is best enjoyed on a guided sea kayak excursion. Go with a guide and you’ll also learn about the natural and cultural history of the park, sleep at the finest campsites and discover even more scenic surprises.

• Join a guided 12-day Pukaskwa Wilderness Coast sea kayaking journey with local experts, Naturally Superior Adventures. Trips begin or finish at their paddling centre on the Michipicoten River near Wawa. Rentals, shuttles and instruction also available.
• Sudbury-based outfitter Horizons Adventures also offers a guided 12-day Pukaskwa Coast kayaking trip. SAND Adventures also offers Pukaskwa trips.
• Pukaskwa National Park’s most famous waterfall is Chigamiwinigum Falls, accessible via a popular 18-km day hike from Hattie Cove, or a 4-km paddle up the White River from Lake Superior. For the best views, venture across the spectacular suspension bridge high above the falls and gorge. 

Waterfall #3: Denison Falls, Dog River

This is one of my all-time favourite waterfalls—both for its raw, awesome power and a remote, gorgeous location that requires a mix of paddling, scrambling and hiking to access. Denison Falls lies on the Dog River near Lake Superior, within the non-operating Nimoosh Provincial Park, one to two days (25 kilometres) by sea kayak from the Michipicoten River at Wawa. The falls of the Lake Superior coast were also a favourite of the late Canadian artist, filmmaker and canoeist, Bill Mason; in fact, you can spot both Cascade Falls (see above) and the thundering, fan-shaped cataract of Denison Falls in his iconic 1984 film, Waterwalker.

Denison isn’t a straightforward falls to visit. I recommend joining a guided sea kayak trip with local outfitter Naturally Superior Adventures. Their 5-day Denison Falls Escape includes beautiful beach campsites and a full day to make the challenging, five-kilometre roundtrip hike—which requires a short, vertical rock scramble with the assistance of fixed ropes. Your reward: standing on glacially polished bedrock at the foot of an astonishing 40-metre (100-foot) cascade, clouds of warm mist embracing you and swirling through the mossy boreal forest. Every time I visit, I’m left speechless by this Tolkienesque sight.

Bonus: Kayakers undertaking the full Pukaskwa Wilderness Coast journey will also have an opportunity to witness Denison Falls—it lies near the beginning or end of your trip, depending on which direction you’re travelling.

• Book an all-inclusive five-day sea kayak trip to Denison Falls with Naturally Superior Adventures or Horizons Adventures.
• Enjoy home-cooked meals and stay in a glamping dome, prospector tent or cozy waterfront room at Rock Island Lodge before or after your trip.

Waterfall #4: Paresseaux Falls, Mattawa River

Today, the Mattawa is a beautiful Canadian Heritage River and Paresseaux Falls is one of Ontario’s most accessible paddle-in waterfalls. But 250 years ago, the river was a key link in the fur trade route between Montreal and Lake Superior, and this impressive six-metre ledge falls one of its most formidable obstacles. For the French voyageurs and their heavily laden, 36-foot birchbark freight canoes, the falls meant an arduous portage—and so they named it “Paresseaux”, meaning an idle or lazy person, in derision of those who did not carry their weight on the trail.

I’d read about the Mattawa long before I made the trip myself, and I can’t believe I waited so long to enjoy this outstanding canoeing destination. While the classic route is a three-day (64 kilometres) whitewater journey with numerous rapids and portages, Paresseaux Falls can also be visited as an easy day trip from the Pimisi Rest Stop on Highway 17, just a 30-mintue drive east of North Bay. Launch here and paddle across Pimisi Bay to continue 4 km downriver to the falls, making two short portages along the way. There’s an equally spectacular sight hiding just 2 km upriver from Pimisi, the ferocious Talon Chutes, which you can view from below.

• Reserve a drive-in campsite at nearby Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, just minutes away on Highway 17. The park straddles the confluence of the Amable du Fond and Mattawa rivers, with great camping, hiking trails, rapids and a superb visitor centre.
• For a longer day trip in the unspoiled Mattawa valley, put in at Pimisi Bay and paddle downriver to Samuel de Champlain Park. Algonquin North Wilderness Outfitters provides rentals and shuttles for one-way trips, as well as complete outfitting or fully guided trip packages.

Waterfall #5: Agawa Falls, Lake Superior Provincial Park

Lake Superior Provincial Park’s finest waterfall may soon be accessible by canoe once more. I first experienced the grandeur of Agawa Falls on a classic two-day canoe trip down the Agawa River, facilitated by train access to the park’s Agawa Canyon. But the suspension of passenger rail service in 2016 also brought about the end of this amazing paddling route. Now, with the recently announced Bear Train initiative, the Missanabie Cree First Nation is leading a push to restore weekend-only passenger service from Sault Ste. Marie. The wait to enjoy the Agawa River and its 25-metre (80-foot) falls could be over in time for spring paddling season.

From Agawa Canyon to the take-out at Highway 17, the Agawa River flows 30 kilometres through a dramatic Canadian Shield landscape. Along the way, paddlers enjoy nearly continuous whitewater, from easy to intermediate, interspersed with portages around waterfalls and canyon narrows. The delicate 68-metre (225-foot) Bridal Veil Falls of Agawa Canyon are a scenic prelude to the mesmerizing plunge of Agawa Falls, a day’s paddle downstream. This route is best paddled in May when the river flow is optimum and the falls are at their most spectacular.

• Just north of Sault Ste. Marie, Forest the Canoe offers gear rentals and custom guided paddling experiences.
• Contact Naturally Superior Adventures for whitewater canoe rentals, shuttles and trip planning assistance.
• Should rail service not resume in time for your trip, Agawa Falls is also accessible on foot. The park’s rugged, 24-km roundtrip Towab Trail is a fantastic overnight hike with backcountry camping near the falls.

Waterfall #6: Thunderhouse Falls, Missinaibi River

Few rivers can match the power, beauty and history of the Missinaibi River. Spilling north from Missinaibi Lake, the mighty Missinaibi plunges dramatically over the edge of the Canadian Shield at Thunderhouse Falls—an important spiritual site for Indigenous peoples since time immemorial. Up to this point, the river traverses classic shield country with rocky campsites and countless pool-and-drop rapids. Below the spellbinding falls and gorge, it plummets nearly 100 metres (300 feet) in a single day of paddling, as the Missinaibi settles into the James Bay Lowlands to continue its 520-kilometre journey to saltwater.

Despite the Missinaibi’s massive size and remote location, railway, road or floatplane access along its course allow paddlers to witness the humbling spectacle of Thunderhouse Falls on trips ranging from 5- to 10 days. Those short on time can put in at Mattice (east of Hearst) and arrange a floatplane pick-up below the falls, enjoying exciting rapids and gorgeous canoe camping on route. The campsite at Thunderhouse Falls, perched 50 metres above the canyon, is nothing short of breathtaking. Plan an early summer trip to experience the literally ground-shaking force of the falls at higher flows.

• Book an all-inclusive guided Missinaibi canoe trip with MHO Adventures; their 9-day Thunderhouse Falls Fly Out explores 145 km of the river’s most challenging and rewarding whitewater, wrapping up with a floatplane back to civilization.
• Conveniently based in Mattice, Missinaibi Outfitters offers canoe rentals, shuttles, trip planning assistance and guided river trips.
• Hearst Air Service can assist with floatplane drop-off and pick-up throughout the Missinaibi River corridor.

Waterfall #7: New Post Falls, Abitibi River

You’ll hear the roar of New Post Falls well before you catch sight of this natural wonder. Torrents of water gush through a narrow rock gorge and drop 120 metres towards the Abitibi River, filling the air with mist and sound. The best part: you can visit the falls on an easy overnight paddle from Smooth Rock Falls (east of Kapuskasing).

Launch your canoe or kayaks at the Abitibi Canyon put-in and follow this historic and unspoiled fur trade route downriver. After 10 kilometres, you’ll reach the outlet of the New Post Falls gorge, where you can set up camp, explore the site of a former Hudson’s Bay Company post, and hike up the side of the gorge to the top of the falls.

• Experience New Post Falls and learn about the history of the area on a guided, beginner-friendly two-day kayak trip with Howling Wolf Expeditions.
• Nearby René Brunelle Provincial Park offers excellent hiking, cycling trails, paddling and swimming on Remi Lake, plus secluded car camping.

Waterfall #8–#13: Lady Evelyn River, Temagami

Imagine paddling into a rustic ecolodge perched atop a rushing, nine-metre-high (30-foot) waterfall deep in the Temagami wilderness. Surrounded by old-growth pine forests and the tumbling waters of Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park, Bridal Veil Falls is just one of more than half-a-dozen spectacular falls along the Lady Evelyn River.

The crown jewel of the park, the Lady Evelyn River is renowned for both its waterfalls and the precarious portages that go along with them. Once known as Men-jamma-ga-sibi—or the Trout Streams—the Lady Evelyn has long formed an important link for canoeists. Its twin channels, combined with its pool-and-drop geology, make it possible to travel upstream on the North Branch of the river and downstream on the South Branch, for an unforgettable 7- to 10-day loop trip taking in all of the falls. Alternatively, choose a branch to explore and use a shuttle service to make a one-way trip downriver (5 to 6 days). The river is navigable all summer long but go in spring if you are looking for whitewater and the most voluminous falls.

• Besides a variety of lodging options and great meals, Smoothwater Outfitters & Lodge offers rentals, vehicle shuttles and complete canoe trip outfitting with top-notch gear.
• Contact Temagami Outfitting Company for lightweight canoe rentals, vehicle shuttles, complete outfitting and trip planning services, as well as all-inclusive guided trips for all levels of paddlers.
• Cabin Falls Ecolodge hosts Hap and Andrea Wilson welcome paddlers to their off-grid oasis from May through October.
• Learn more about canoe tripping in Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park here.

Waterfall #14: Brennan Falls, Allanwater River, Wabakimi

With more than 2,000 kilometres of lake and river canoe routes sprawling across 892,000 hectares (2.2 million acres) of northern Ontario hinterland, Wabakimi Provincial Park is one of the planet’s largest wilderness paddling areas. So it should come as no surprise the park—accessible only by canoe, bush train or floatplane—is home to its share of wondrously wild and remote waterfalls. But if I had to pick just one to inspire your first (or next) Wabakimi trip, it would have to be Brennan Falls.

For starters, the falls thunder through a narrow corridor of rock between Brennan and Granite lakes, two of Wabakimi’s loveliest lakes. Granite Lake is especially gorgeous with many islands, steep densely forested shores and some of the best smooth rock campsites in the park. Neighbouring Brennan Lake boasts a magical collection of Indigenous pictographs. Together, these interconnected lakes form part of Wabakimi’s superb Allanwater River canoe route. This is a great, all-season whitewater river for advanced wilderness canoeists, with train access from Armstrong to the put-in at Allanwater Bridge. From here, it’s a five-day paddle downstream to Wabakimi Lake where you can veer east, eventually returning to Armstrong.

• Short on time, or looking for a flatwater trip? Charter a floatplane from Armstrong and spend days exploring the diverse shorelines of Granite and Brennan lakes.
• Armstrong-based Wabakimi Outfitters is your best source for canoe rentals, route planning, outfitting and vehicle shuttles. They can help you set up VIA Rail train shuttles as well.
• Less experienced paddlers can join Wabakimi Outfitters for a guided six-day Waterfalls and Wilderness Nature Tour paddling the remote waterways of Wabakimi Park.
• Learn more about Wabakimi canoe tripping here.

Waterfall #15–#22: Louisa Falls & Kenny Falls Chain, Quetico Provincial Park

An immense wilderness canoe tripping paradise in northwestern Ontario, Quetico Provincial Park rewards solitude seekers with more than 600 pristine lakes and 2,200 backcountry campsites. Appropriately, Quetico’s finest waterfalls—Louisa Falls and the famed Kenny Falls Chain—are hidden deep within the park along its remote southern boundary with Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Approaching cult status among experienced canoe trippers thanks to a secret swimming hole perched mid-plunge, Louisa Falls lies adjacent to the sweeping beauty of Agnes Lake. Just a few portages away, the seven magnificent waterfalls of the Kenny Falls Chain give onto the south end of Kawnipi Lake. With its pictographs gazing back from stoic cliffs and armadas of spruce-topped islands framing rock point campsites, Kawnipi was beloved by the late conservation activist and author, Sigurd Olson. Intrepid backcountry paddlers can hit all of the park’s significant falls on a challenging 225-km figure eight route through the heart of the Quetico wilderness, launching from and finishing at Stanton Bay on Pickerel Lake.

Allow at least two weeks to complete this route, or halve the distance and time by flying into Saganaga Lake on the southeast edge of the park and travelling north.

• Quetico Outfitters provides a wide range of guiding services, outfitting options, canoe rentals, shuttles and waterfront cabins on Eva Lake, not far from the Stanton Bay access point. Their website also offers various route suggestions to kick-start your Quetico canoe planning.
• For complete gear outfitting and shuttle needs, Canadian Quetico Outfitters is conveniently located on Highway 17 east of Atikokan.
• Canoe Canada offers a fly-in, paddle-out package, starting at the Cache Bay ranger station on Saganaga Lake and ending at the north end of the park.
• Find more Quetico canoe routes and outfitters here.

Preparing for Your Waterfall Adventure

Paddling your canoe or kayak to a secluded waterfall can be an unforgettable adventure. Just keep in mind some of the falls on this list are seriously remote and many require considerable experience and expertise to visit safely. If a route mentions significant whitewater, difficult portages, wilderness travel or big-water experience, it’s probably best enjoyed with one of the friendly outfitters listed above.

In all cases, always ensure you’re carrying essential safety equipment—including a first aid kit, throw rope, bailer or pump, whistle and appropriate communication device. Always wear your PFD and leave your route plan, including when you plan to be back, with someone you trust. Reach out to local outfitters for assistance with trip planning and to inquire about up-to-date conditions and water levels.

Showing 'Edited Body' is no longer supported.