Anchors the list with Ontario’s most famous waterfall context—useful for readers using Niagara as a benchmark for ‘wow factor.’ Photo credit: Hornblower Niagara Cruises
Quick Summary
Waterfalls are awe-inspiring, daunting, and calming all at the same time. Ontario, above the Great Lakes, is filled with clear lakes and rushing rivers—and gorgeous waterfalls—both right in the city and in the backcountry. While Niagara Falls is the most well known, there are many other spectacular cascades to explore.
Quick Facts
- Waterfalls Featured: 6 must-see waterfall destinations
- Province: Ontario, Canada
- Most Iconic: Niagara Falls (188 ft high, 2,600 ft wide)
- Hamilton Area: 100+ waterfalls in the Hamilton region
- Paddler Pick: Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater (6 waterfalls, 1,491-mile canoe network)
6 Must-See Waterfalls
1. Niagara Falls
Location: Under 2 hours from Toronto
Dimensions: 188 feet high, 2,600 feet across (Horseshoe Falls)
Ontario's iconic Niagara Falls is a must-see. These three emerald-green cataracts straddling the Canada-U.S. border are North America's most powerful. Canada's Horseshoe Falls on the Niagara River are a whopping 188 feet high and 2,600 feet across. Put on a raincoat and take a Hornblower Niagara Cruises catamaran to the base to get sprayed by the thundering clouds of mist, or take the Niagara Parks Commission self-guided subterranean Journey Behind the Falls.
2. Kakabeka Falls
Location: Northern Ontario (Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park)
Distinction: Ontario's second-highest waterfall
If you don't want to join the crowds at Niagara, head to Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park to see the province's second-highest waterfall. Mighty Kakabeka Falls is gorgeous year-round, and you can get a good look at the water and gorge right from the wrap-around boardwalk. Especially beautiful when set off by fall's changing leaves in yellows, golds, and crimson. Hike or cross-country ski the nature trails, swim at the beach upriver, and check out the fossils at the base—estimated to be over 1.6 million years old.
3. High Falls at Algonquin Provincial Park
Location: Central Ontario (along York River)
Best For: Picnics and swimming
For a picnic and a cool dip on a hot summer day, visit High Falls at quintessentially Canadian Algonquin Provincial Park, a massive wilderness playground. Hike an easy path through the red pines along the York River to High Falls—a gently sloping waterfall that creates a fast-moving chute between two deep pools. It's essentially a natural slide propelling you down the smooth, glacial-polished river bed. Warm up, sunbathe, and picnic on the smooth gray rocks après swim.
4. The Devil’s Punchbowl & Hamilton Area
Location: Hamilton area (1 hour from Toronto)
Total Waterfalls: 100+ waterfalls in Hamilton area alone
The Hamilton area on Lake Ontario's western tip has 100 waterfalls alone. Albion Falls is a classic cascading 62 feet down the forested mountainside in King's Forest Park. Tew Falls (135 feet high) looks like something from a fantasy novel with a curtain of transparent water raining down a sculpted gorge colored with layers of sediment and clingy green vines—located in Spencer Gorge/Webster Falls Conservation Area (nearby tiered Webster Falls is incredible too). But the Devil's Punchbowl off the epic Bruce Trail takes the prize: a dramatic vertical drop of water ribbons tumbling off a precipice into a deep bowl. Look for fossils in the sand—this area has over 40 million years of geological history in shale and dolomite.
5. Hog’s Back Falls
Location: 15 min by car / 50 min by bus from downtown Ottawa
Also Known As: Prince of Wales Falls
Mix big city fun with natural wonders at Hog's Back Falls (aka Prince of Wales Falls). This is a wide, man-made falls where the UNESCO World Heritage Site Rideau Canal, with its canal locks and the steep canyon of the Rideau River, split. Especially magical in winter when the mist coats everything—rocks, bridge, spindly tree branches—in a frosting of white ice. Cross-country ski, walk, or cycle in the surrounding park's paths along the river with impressive views.
6. Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park
Location: Northern Ontario
Best For: Paddlers and photographers
For paddlers, Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park is the #1 choice. This pristine wilderness features an idyllic river for backcountry canoe adventures and boasts a 1,491-mile canoe network. Picture foamy white falls flowing down rugged rocks on a backdrop of green pine forest. There's plenty of fodder for photographers with six main waterfalls in the park. Paddlers love the river's many and varied rapids. Pitch a tent near the falls and nod off to nature's lullaby.
Follow-Up Questions
- What's the best way to experience Niagara Falls up close?
- Are there waterfalls with swimming holes in Ontario?
- How many waterfalls are there in the Hamilton area?
- Which Ontario waterfalls are best for photographers?
- Can I canoe to waterfalls in Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater?
Associated Entities
Ontario, Niagara Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Niagara River, Hornblower Niagara Cruises, Niagara Parks Commission, Journey Behind the Falls, Toronto, Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, Algonquin Provincial Park, High Falls, York River, Hamilton, Lake Ontario, Devil's Punchbowl, Bruce Trail, Albion Falls, King's Forest Park, Tew Falls, Spencer Gorge/Webster Falls Conservation Area, Webster Falls, Hog's Back Falls, Prince of Wales Falls, Ottawa, Rideau Canal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rideau River, Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park, Ontario Parks, Ontario Travel, Destination Canada
Sources & Registry
Destination Canada – Ontario's most stunning waterfalls: https://travel.destinationcanada.com/en-us/things-to-do/ontarios-most-stunning-waterfalls