Crisp and Clean Canadian Shield Waterfall

The long, rugged waterfalls of the Canadian Shield are a photographer's dream. Typically with one of two main drops, the stereotypical cascade in Northern Ontario will have several smaller drops over a run of up to half a kilometre's distance. Onaping High Falls is just such a waterfall. Located northeast of the main city of Sudbury, Ontario, the waterfall is located just off highway 144, the road that will take you north to Timmins.

Onaping High Falls

This waterfall is highlighted by the dramatic final drop of the Onaping River before it enters calmer waters. The river takes a 90 degree turn after the main waterfall, creating a bit of a whirlpool effect. However, what's above the main waterfall is actually quite a bit more photogenic.



First off, Onaping High Falls is free to visit. The parking lot is located just off highway 144 and is more advertised as a rest area with washrooms than a spectacular occurrence of nature. There is a viewing platform off the parking lot that will give you a clear shot of the main waterfall. What it doesn't show you from that point is what's lying just upstream. Countless visitors stop and see the main falls and miss out on the beauty beyond.

A trail runs from the parking lot to the base of the main falls then takes you up the rocks to the top. Along the way, there are several smaller drops full of rushing, clear and clean water. At the top, the trail crosses the river via a foot bridge. On the other side, a looping trail takes you through the wooded area.

The unfortunate thing, as with much of our accessible natural environment, is that folks still seem to have the urge to visit with a can of spray paint in their pocket. The graffiti ruins a good portion of the good angles and you have to really work around this visual pollution to get a clean shot.

The image above is available for download at Dreamstime. This is just one of several taken at this location. The photo was taken midday. Luckily, this landscape is beautiful, regardless of lighting conditions.

For a similar style of waterfall in the vicinity but with less flow and more twists and turns, take a look at Duchesnay Falls. This cascade is located in the opposite direction, just to the west of North Bay.