Onaping Falls – Hear the Rushing Water Roar
Located approximately and hour north of the city of Sudbury (Ontario) this winding waterfall is truly magnificent, even more so in fall when colors are at their peak and mist hangs over the tree line. The strange snake like formation fills a rock channel and spews water out into a crater at its base, dropping nearly 46 meters (150 feet) over a lengthy two kilometers.
Table of Contents
Geography and Geology
Located on the edge of Greater Sudbury, as part of Ward 3, Onaping is in a very rural part of the country. In fact the falls are located nearly 40km from downtown (nearly 30 minutes by car), on roadway 144.
The falls are part of the Sudbury Basin, a well known geological basin having occurred nearly 1.85 billion years ago when it was hit by a meteorite. The are is rich in minerals and has a long history of mining.
Exploring the Falls
A.Y. Jackson Lookout
The falls can be accessed from two parking lots connected by trails. The first is at the base of the falls, to the south, where the A.Y. Jackson Lookout is located. In the parking lot there is an outdoor mineral exhibit as well as some minecarts.
Please Note: The lookout is the spot that the painter, A.Y. Jackson, installed himself to paint the Onaping River, the water body that feeds the falls. The result was his painting “Spring on the Onaping River”, a painting that was stolen and is currently lost.
From the lookout, elevated high above the tree line, you will be privy to a magnificent view of the falls.
Upper Falls and Steel Bridge
The second lot is at the top of the falls, to the north. It is possible to hike from one lot to the other via nature trail or by a short drive. The trails are fairly accessible and easy to climb.
At the top of the falls, you will find a steel truss structure connecting both sides of the river. It crosses the river at a point of high flow and offers nice views of the upper falls.
Under the bridge is a treacherous rocky river bed that water spills over at high speeds. From here you can follow the falls back down if you wish.
Conclusion
If you make it out to the falls and lookout do so, it is well worth spending the time to explore it… even if it is nothing more then a short hike. After all they were nice enough to be painted!
