Length of stay: 1 day
Visited: October 2023
Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park is located in northern Ontario, just west of Thunder Bay. It features the second largest waterfall in Ontario, which is often referred to as the Niagara of the North. It is open year round and contains a number of overlooks and viewing platforms that wrap around on either side of the falls.
We spent the Thanksgiving long weekend at Neys Provincial Park and it was time for us to head back to Thunder Bay to fly home. After wrapping up our short hike at Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park, we received a notification that our flight had been delayed by over an hour. Since we had some extra time to kill, we decided to swing by Kakabeka Falls before heading to the airport.
We arrived at the park late in the afternoon. From the main parking lot, we headed towards the boardwalk which provides access to the falls. The Boardwalk Trail (750m one-way, rated easily) follows a wide boardwalk along the edge of the gorge and contains several different viewing platforms. Regardless of the angle, the falls are impressive.
The boardwalk ends near the Visitor Centre. From there it’s a short stretch to reach the Mountain Portage Trail (1.25km loop, rated easy). The gravel trail loops through the forest and follows along a path that early travellers used to get around Kakabeka Falls.
The trail also contains a few viewing platforms overlooking the river, gorge and falls. While many of the leaves had already fallen, there were still a few clinging on.
Once we looped back to the trail head, we followed the Boardwalk Trail to the parking lot. While there are a few other trails in the park, it was time for us to head to the airport.
L
That is an impressive waterfall! Your pictures are beautiful, I can never figure out the right settings on my camera to capture them accurately.
Thanks for your kind words. I’m not the greatest with cameras either and haven’t even figured out half the different settings on mine. I’m convinced it’s impossible to take a bad picture when the scenery is that beautiful.
We loved Kakabeka Falls. We just loved saying Kakabeka. This stop gave us a good chance to stretch our legs when we drove across Canada in 2018. Thanks for the memories Linda. Allan
I’m not going lie, we quite enjoying saying the name of the falls too! It’s a gorgeous waterfall without the crowds you’d find at Niagara Falls. Glad you got to see it when you drove across Canada. That’s a road trip we’d like to take someday. Cheers. Linda
The Falls in the Fall are breathtaking!
Oh I know! We’ve been here before in the summer, but it was nice to return in the fall to see how different the landscape looks when the leaves were changing colour.
Thanks a lot for your beautiful reply ❣️🙏
And many thanks for leaving a comment! Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Fantastic cascade shots, such a wonderfully attractive “Niagara of the north”..
Thanks so much for your lovely comment. I actually think these falls are better than the ones at Niagara as they are more rustic and far less crowded. Plus, the surrounding area is way less gimmicky. It’s more our kind of style.
This is such an impressive waterfall and it looks amazing in autumn!
Oh I know. It’s a very photogenic waterfall. We’ve been here before in the summer, but it was neat to return and see it in a different season. Perhaps next time we’ll visit in the winter.
These are such pretty pictures, I don’t want to stop looking at them.
Kakabeka is a great waterfall. We were there a couple of years ago, and after we got home I compared it to a picture that my dad took when I was a kid. It was interesting to see that the terrain is almost exactly the same in the two pictures. Maggie
That is so cool! 😀
Kakabeka Falls does not disappoint. It’s neat to hear that they still look the same after all those years!!
You are too kind. I’m convinced it’s impossible to take a bad picture when the scenery is that stunning.
I love the falls, very beautiful! I love the park name too. 😊🇨🇦
Oh I know! I’m not going to lie, it’s a lot of fun to pronounce the name of this park. It’s also an added bonus how it isn’t very busy.
😊😊🇨🇦🇨🇦
It was useful to be alerted in good time that your flight was delayed so you could visit the waterfall rather than be sitting bored in the terminal building!
Oh I know. It was nice to get the notification that our flight was going to be delayed before we arrived at the airport. This way we got to squeeze in a visit to this provincial park, so it worked out well!
What a fabulous way to spend airport waiting time! Your photos of this impressive falls are beautiful, Linda.
Thanks! I’m so glad we got the notification before we got to the airport! This way we were able to squeeze in a short visit to Kakabeka Falls. I’d say it worked out well!
Such beautiful waterfalls, Linda, definitely a must-see on any trip to the Thunder Bay area. I love visiting and exploring waterfalls especially when the falls are running high as they can produce quite a bit of mist which can create beautiful rainbows. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
We initially weren’t even going to visit Kakabeka Falls, but when our flight was delayed, we figured we might as well since it’s not too far from the airport. It’s definitely a highlight of the area. And it’s not very crowded, which is always a huge bonus. Thanks for reading and happy Friday! Linda
Oh such beautiful shots. I’m a sucker for waterfalls. Love it.
Thanks so much for your kind words Brian. Who doesn’t enjoy a nice waterfall!? It’s actually the second largest waterfall in Ontario, after Niagara Falls. But it doesn’t have nearly the same amount of visitors as Niagara Falls, which makes for a much better viewing experience.
This waterfall is very impressive, and I can see why it is called the Niagara of the North after seeing your beautiful photos. It is also neat how the trails give you different vantage points of the falls!
It’s nice that there’s a trail that wraps around on either side of the gorge and that there’s numerous viewing platforms. It helps spread out the visitors (not that there are many to begin with, but still) and it gives you the opportunity to see the falls from different angles. It looked especially beautiful with all the fall foliage in the background.
Stunning!
Kakabeka Falls is one impressive waterfall! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Kakabeka was such a wonderful surprise to see in person. We loved it and exploring the local area and trails too. I remember we saw an eagle perched on a tree at the falls too. I look forward to visiting again one day.
We actually missed out on Kakabeka Falls the first time we took a road trip to Thunder Bay. There just wasn’t enough time to see it all!! I’m glad we’ve been able to return and see it in both the summer and fall. How lucky that you spotted an eagle while you were there! We’ll definitely be back again too. It would be neat to go in the winter to see the falls covered in snow and ice. The park even offers cross-country skiing, which sounds like fun.
Hope you’re enjoying March Break!
I told the hubby I’d seriously be interested in doing Thunder Bay next March Break to experience it in wintertime and he just laughed. He thought I was joking. 😆
Today is our last day in Mexico and we head home tomorrow bright and early. It’s been an up and down week, some very hard moments with a disregulated T, but you take the good with the hard and I’m thankful for the time away. It’s been great.
Hope you and the family had a good week too. I heard we got some summery weather!
Glad to hear I’m not the only crazy person that thinks it would be fun to visit Thunder Bay in the winter! Many of the parks stay open year round, including Sleeping Giant (which also has a few heated cabins). I’m sure the hiking is more challenging, but it would be neat to see how the landscape transforms with all the snow and ice. Plus there wouldn’t be any bugs.
It’s wonderful that you were able to get away with your family for the March Break, even if T had a few moments. We had some really nice days last week, but of course now it’s back to being winter. Go figure we get some snow and colder weather right at the end of March. Thankfully it’s supposed to warm up again next week though. And we have Easter to look forward to!
Wow! Beautiful and amzing Kakabeka Falls, looks very relaxing. Love the sound of the water
falling for me means flowing good energy. Thank’s for share Linda.
Have a lovely day.
Thanks for reading and for your lovely comment. Kakabeka Falls is quite impressive. It’s nice how there’s so many different viewing platforms so we can see the falls from different vantage points. I couldn’t agree more about enjoying the sound of rushing water. I find it so soothing. Have a wonderful weekend. Linda
Sounds and amazing place to visit
thank’s for comment Linda. Agree they sound of rushing water Is so soothing. Have a wonderful weekend as well. Keep enjoying.
Elvira
Thanks! You as well!
Always a pleasure, thank’s.
A great waterfall indeed, it should be kept secret to avoid Niagara’s fate.
Fingers crossed. Niagara Falls is beautiful, but I’m not a fan of how crowded it is and how gimmicky it has become. Kakabeka Falls is more remote and rugged (and significantly less busy), which is much more style.
These falls look amazing. Why have I not heard of them before??
Kakabeka Falls, along with many of the parks along the northern shore of Lake Superior, are one of the best kept secrets in Ontario. Fine by me as it means I don’t have to battle the crowds! Plus the area around the falls isn’t developed and is just left to nature, which is definitely not the case with Niagara Falls!
Wow the waterfalls are really impressive, and the trail looks lovely too amongst all those trees
The falls are pretty spectacular. It’s nice that there’s so many viewing platforms so you can see it from a bunch of different angles.
Thanks for sharing this idea with these Waterfalls. Anita
The scenery around Thunder Bay is beautiful. I’m glad we managed to check out these falls before our flight home. Thanks for reading. Linda
Thanks 👍
Love the colours and the capture of the falls. You put your time to good use that day.
It was a bit of a dark and dreary day, so it was nice to see a splash of colour from the fall foliage. The falls are pretty impressive and definitely live up to its Niagara of the North nickname, but without any of the crowds. I’m so glad we got a heads up well in advance that our flight was going to be delayed as this sure beats hanging around at the airport!
100 to nature time versus sitting in an airport! I had never ever heard of this Niagara of the North falls so now if we drive through some year I will know. Bernie
Oh absolutely! Kakabeka Falls is definitely a great spot to add to your list if you’re driving across Canada. It’s close to Thunder Bay and the trail around the falls is short and sweet.
Such a wonderful place and stunning beauty of earth wonders,the waterfall 👏💗and gorgeous photography as well 👍🏻😍 surroundings beauty marvellous 👌💗thank you for sharing this wonderful park , my dear friend🖖✍️
You are too kind. It’s always nice to spend time outdoors enjoying nature. The scenery was beautiful, especially the falls. Have a wonderful weekend. Linda
🌹🙏💕👍🏻🌹
Wonderful shots of the stunning waterfalls and lovely forest trails. Your spontaneity certainly payed off that day. Kakabeka Falls PP beats any airport lounge I’ve ever been to. Hope you are all doing well!
Thanks! It’s generally pretty annoying to deal with a delayed flight. I’m so glad we received the notification well in advance so we could spend a bit more time exploring rather than sitting around in the airport. We initially weren’t even going to visit this park, so I’d say it worked out rather well!
It must have been a refreshing hike with a wonderful view ☺️
You bet! Even though the weather wasn’t the greatest, the views of the falls more than made up for it!
Those waterfalls are incredible! Proof that nature is powerful and beautiful at the same time 🙂
Oh I know! Nature is pretty amazing, which is why we like to spend so much time enjoying the outdoors!
What a wonderful way to spend some extra time before your flight! Kakabeka Falls is truly a sight to behold, and it sounds like you made the most of your visit by exploring the Boardwalk Trail and the Mountain Portage Trail. Thanks for sharing your experience!
For sure. Visiting a beautiful waterfall sure beats sitting around the airport doing nothing. I’m so glad we received a heads up about the delay well in advance so we were able to adjust our plans. Thanks for reading. Have a wonderful weekend. Linda
This seems to be a very wise thing to do to kill that extra hour you got because of the flight delay. It just never crossed my mind to do such thing. But you gave me an idea of what I can actually do if the same thing happens to me — given a beautiful place like Kakabeka Falls is just around the corner.
Oh I know! Spending time in nature sure beats sitting around the airport doing nothing! We’ve actually been to these falls, so we had a rough sense of how long it would take. It also helps that the airport and city are small so we didn’t have to worry too much about lines or traffic, which always helps.
Beautiful pictures!
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. When the scenery is that stunning, it’s impossible to take a bad picture!
Very impressive waterfall!
Oh I know. The scenery around the falls is pretty spectacular too. Especially in the fall when the leaves are changing colour.
Splendid waterfall. The noise from it must have been very loud.
It’s one of the best waterfalls in the province. We definitely heard the falls before we saw them! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Linda
What a stunning waterfall – I’m sure you don’t regret being able to see it (even though your flight was delayed). Now this is a great testament to spending maximum time in nature right up to the last minute!
Not at all. This has been the first time where having a delayed flight worked in our favour! It helped that the falls isn’t too far from the airport and that because it’s a small city, we didn’t have to worry about traffic. The timing worked out perfectly!
Stunning waterfalls! I’ve so enjoyed exploring these Ontario sites with you.
Thanks for your lovely comment. The area around Lake Superior is one of Ontario’s best kept secrets. Most of my favourite parks are along here.
You’re welcome.
Great waterfall shots!!! I enjoy scenic trails like this one. A great setting for your camera is under m ( manual) and finagling with the light amount. I usually use1/ 80 on a cloudy day but if it’s brighter I jump to 1/200 haha. I like manual because you’re in more control to get the lightning how you want it. I have a Nikon. The settings might be different with other camera brands. I hope that helps 🙂 the photos you get are incredible regardless 😄.
Thanks so much for your lovely comment and the tip about camera settings. I’ll have to give this a try next time! I really should do a better job of learning about the different settings, especially considering how much I take pictures!
I hear you , Linda! I have had my camera and almost 10 years and I’m STILL learning the settings and options. I get so used to taking photos a certain way with certain lighting but when I started messing around with lighting and using manual, I started getting really colorful shots . The automatic setting is great for days with trickier lighting like if you’re trying to get a bird shot, as birds are quick and you don’t always have time to play with lignting. But when they’re in plenty or photographing something still, it’s nice to mess around with the options . I do agree with Michael. Your photos are phenomenal as is <3
You are too kind. I’d love to take a photography course someday. Seems like it would be worth it considering how many pictures I take! The only issue is finding the time. There never seems to be enough of it.
I know what you mean !!! I’m trying to post twice a week and half of the time end up only posting a few times a month!!! It drives me crazy but I’m working on it . I love writing so much. I’m trying to make more time for it . It’s so cathartic and relaxes me.
I enjoy writing too and have been trying to post once a week, but it’s more like once every other week. The issue is finding the time. There never seems to be enough of it!!
That’s the truth ! Time is fleeting like the seasons
That’s for sure. But hey, hopefully that means we won’t take it for granted.
Maggie. You hit all the angles with time to spare to catch the flight!!
Thanks for your kind words. It helps that there are a lot of different viewing platforms on either side of the gorge to get different views and vantage points of the falls. This sure beat hanging around the airport lounge doing nothing!
I haven’t been to the falls. I flew into Thunder Bay 28 yrs. ago to give a presentation at a hotel for a bunch of people.
Hopefully you’re able to return someday as the area around Thunder Bay is quite lovely. There’s a lot of great hiking trails. Plus the views of Lake Superior are just fabulous. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. Linda
A local friend used to live in Thunder Bay for probably over 6-7 yrs. and taught at Lakehead University.
Oh nice. We’re actually thinking of taking another road trip to Thunder Bay next summer. I just can’t get enough of Lake Superior.
Am hoping to visit an U.S. friend in Minnesota which might include hike in Lake Superior area on her side.
Sounds amazing. We’ve only ever been to the Ontario side of Lake Superior, but I’ve heard the scenery is just as spectacular in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Perhaps someday we’ll take a road trip around the entire lake. We just need to find the time and vacation days!