Waterfall Record

This is a portion of a waterfall with a rainbow.

The Waterfall Record

Lower Ball’s Falls, Ontario

Lower Ball's Falls is a 100 foot / 30 meter tall waterfall in Ontario near Niagara Falls.
Lower Ball’s Falls in July 2015

Quick Facts

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Distance of Hike: 0.6 miles / 1.0 km round trip
Height: 100′ / 30 m

The Record

I live in Michigan, and this past weekend I drove to Niagara Falls. You may not necessarily realize it, but along the way, there are a significant number of other waterfalls, especially in the Hamilton area. The other waterfalls aren’t as big as Niagara Falls, but they are nowhere near as busy. If you’re looking for a peaceful, relaxing waterfall, then one of these might be more of your cup of tea.

I only stopped at one waterfall, Lower Ball’s Falls, along my way. There is also an Upper Ball’s Falls, but it required a hike, and I was on a set schedule. (It isn’t a long hike, though.) The hike to Lower Ball’s Falls seemed much shorter than the advertised distance, even accounting for the conversion from kilometers to miles. The actual trail may be more extensive, leading to a longer listed hiking length.

Obviously, it is better to visit waterfalls in Spring and early Summer because of the higher water flow, but in this case, there may be another reason too. The water was actually flowing fairly well for mid-July…But the trees and greenery were in full bloom. This made it rather difficult to see the whole falls. In the spring, before any leaves and plants are out, you’ll likely be able to see the whole waterfall better.

Directions

  1. From the QEW, take exit 57 heading south onto Victoria Rd.
  2. Pass ON-81 and ON-73. Shortly after passing ON-73, you’ll see Sixth Avenue to your left (assuming you’re headed south).
  3. Turn left onto Sixth Avenue. Drive a short distance to the entrance (at 3292 Sixth Avenue), where you’ll find Ball’s Falls Centre. Park here. There is an entrance fee, which can be found on the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority website. (There is another parking area that seemed to be “reserved” for certain situations…at least that’s what a sign said.  There was a wedding being held there that day.)
  4. Follow the signs to Lower or Upper Ball’s Falls. It was relatively straightforward.

Where in the World is Lower Ball’s Falls?

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