The Best Waterfalls in Ontario: A Guide to the Most Beautiful Falls

In Ontario, there are more than 400 waterfalls to appreciate, making it difficult to decide which to visit. Of course, Ontario is home to several well-known must-see waterfalls, one of which you can probably name without any difficulty. However, there are plenty of other waterfalls in the area to "wet" your thirst for tourism. However, how would you know which falls to pick?

Whether you're looking for the highest waterfalls in Ontario, the largest waterfalls in Ontario, or the hidden waterfalls in Ontario, this guide will walk you through the top 10 waterfalls in Ontario that should be on any nature lover's bucket list. You'll find it much easier to limit your options by looking at some of the best waterfalls in Ontario, which will make organizing your road trip much simpler.

Discover the list of the best waterfalls in Ontario for visitors

Discover the Top 10 Best Waterfalls in Ontario

Once more, you probably won't be able to view all 400 of Ontario's waterfalls in a single trip. Nevertheless, there's no need to be depressed because these are some of Ontario's greatest waterfalls and are worth seeing the first time around! 

1. Niagara Falls – The Most Famous Waterfall in Ontario

Niagara is one of the most famous waterfalls in Ontario

Why not begin with Ontario's largest and most well-known waterfall to get the cascade going? Although the United States shares some of it, it's no secret that the Canadian side offers the greatest views of Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls, the most well-known waterfall in southern Ontario, provides tourists with exhilarating views and sounds throughout the year.

You may go around and take pictures from the many vantage points; if you wait until dusk, you'll see the Falls illuminated. To experience the Falls up close, if you're the more daring kind, take a Hornblower Tours-style ship (you'll need to get to the American side if you want the Maid of the Mist). 

2. High Falls – One of the Biggest Waterfalls in Ontario

The High Falls leave a lasting impression on visitors to Algonquin Provincial Park, particularly during warmer months. Allow the High Falls, which are a natural slide, to carry you along with the swift-moving water if you have the courage. The Ontario hiking trails with waterfalls, which are a major feature of Algonquin Provincial Park, are the ideal location for you to experience it. Alternatively, you could camp close by and take in the local sights and noises. 

3. Kakabeka Falls - The "Niagara of the North"

Kakabeka is a great fall to visit in Ontario for travelers

If you've been wondering about northern Ontario waterfalls by now, you're in luck because Kakabeka Falls is just waiting for you. You're in for a true treat if you can come during the changing of the leaves at this waterfall, which is the second-highest in Ontario after Niagara Falls. Kakabeka Falls has more than 16 kilometers (just over 10 miles) of hiking paths, many of which provide views of the falls, making it a must-visit destination for anybody looking for waterfall hiking trails in Ontario.

You won't be let down if you decide to visit in the winter; Kakabeka Falls is still a stunning and distinctive sight even when it's frozen.

4. Lady Evelyn River Falls

In northern Ontario, Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park is home to several waterfalls. A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park offers some of Ontario's greatest canoeing. You also have access to some of the famous waterfalls in northern Ontario, including Muskego Falls, Cabin Falls, Centre Falls, Fat Man Falls, Frank Falls, and Helen Falls.

Many of them are situated in places where camping is possible, which increases the amount of time you may spend there. If you enjoy hiking on waterfall-lined paths in Ontario, prepare to journey through Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater and keep an eye out for eagles and other wildlife.

5. Devil’s Punchbowl – A Geological Wonder

Devil’s Punchbowl is a great waterfall in Ontario that must-visit

There are other waterfalls in southern Ontario if Niagara Falls is a little too crowded for your liking. One such location is the Devil's Punchbowl, which is close to Hamilton. Fans of Ontario hiking paths with waterfalls will love the 121-foot ribbon falls and the Bruce Trail access. Devil's Punchbowl, one of Ontario's most unusual and undiscovered waterfalls, is a spectacular rock amphitheater with tiered escarpment cliffs and a waterfall that plunges into the bowl below.

6. Tew’s Falls – The Highest Waterfall in Ontario

With a height of 41 meters (135 feet), Tew's Falls is the tallest waterfall in Ontario for tourists looking for breathtaking vistas. It is sometimes likened to a miniature Niagara Falls and is situated in the Spencer Gorge Conservation Area.

7. Bridal Veil Falls – A Stunning Waterfall on Manitoulin Island

Bridal Veil Falls is a great place for hiking to see the salmon leaping up

Bridal Veil Falls is one of the most beautiful falls in Ontario and is well-liked by both locals and visitors. It is situated on Manitoulin Island, just outside the settlement of Kagawong. A short walk from Kagawong's shoreline or a tiny parking area along Highway 540 provides easy access to the falls. The 10.7-meter-tall waterfall, which is fed by Lake Kagawong, features two viewing platforms and a flight of stairs that descend to the falls' foot, where you may bathe in the glistening cascades' crystal-clear waters. For a different viewpoint, go behind the waterfall. In the fall, you may see the salmon leaping up to the foot of the falls to spawn.

8. New Post Falls - Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario

New Post Falls is one of the top 10 waterfalls in Ontario. This towering, strong waterfall, which lies a few kilometers north of Cochrane, Ontario, has cut out an unusually deep and narrow valley, with a chasm that is nearly 50 meters deep. With few to no people blocking your view, New Post Falls is a breathtaking hidden gem that offers breathtaking vistas of water cascading from the tall canyon. 

Enjoy the views from the top of the stunning falls or the views from the bottom, where mist rises from the base as the water plunges to the narrow ravine below. Keep an eye out for animals like wolves and moose, and don't forget to pause and take in the distinctive vegetation in the vicinity of the falls. Boats are the most convenient means to reach the New Post Falls, which are close to the Abitibi Canyon Generating Station. Experienced boaters may paddle up the river to explore this serene yet magnificent location, and local outfitters also provide guided trips to the falls.

9. Onaping Falls – Sudbury, Ontario

Only 35 kilometers west of Sudbury, Ontario, is the town of Onaping Falls, home of the Onaping Falls Waterfall, sometimes referred to as Onaping High Falls or High Falls. Parts of the impact crater left by a massive meteorite that fell here about 2 billion years ago are still visible next to the Onaping Falls parking lot. Part of the Sudbury basin and Lake Huron watershed, this striking waterfall plunges over 42.7 meters in many big cascades and can readily viewed from several lookouts, some of which are wheelchair accessible. You may see the falls from several viewpoints along the route as a small trail rises beside them.

10. Hog’s Back Falls - A Hidden Waterfall in Ottawa

Take the 15-minute drive or 50-minute bus ride from downtown Ottawa to Hog's Back Falls, also known as Prince of Wales Falls, if you want to combine your big city fun with some natural beauties. The UNESCO World Heritage Site Rideau Canal, with its canal locks and the steep canyon of the Rideau River, splits at this broad, man-made waterfall. In winter, when the mist covers everything in a layer of white ice, including rocks, bridges, and spindly tree limbs, it is particularly enchanting. Enjoy breathtaking vistas as you cross-country ski, stroll, or ride along the park's riverbank walkways.

Planning your trip to explore the top waterfalls in Ontario

With a variety of well-known waterfalls like Niagara Falls, lesser-known waterfalls like Albion Falls, and the tallest waterfalls in Ontario like Tew's Falls, Ontario is a waterfall lover's heaven. These top ten waterfalls in Ontario provide life-changing experiences, whether you're searching for an exhilarating journey or a tranquil getaway.

So, get your hiking boots and camera ready and begin discovering the best waterfalls in Ontario right now!