Northern Wilds May 2022

Page 16

Waterfalls

Adventures in the Spring By Eric Weicht

Located in Grand Portage State Park, the rugged 3.5-mile hiking trail to Middle Falls offers spectacular views. | CRAIG SCALI

S

pring in the North is an acquired taste. In some ways it’s like coffee—a little muddy and bitter, but after a while it’s hard to imagine life without it.

May in particular is a beautiful, unique time to be on the North Shore. Hiking trails are less crowded, bugs are still dormant, and the birdwatching is at its best just before the leaves bloom. The star of this springtime show, however, are the waterfalls. There are so many waterfalls along the North Shore of Lake Superior—more than most people will see in a lifetime of exploring—and the best time to experience these watery wonders is during the spring melt when water levels are at their highest. They range in size from the fleeting “phantom falls” that decorate rockfaces along Superior and Highway 61 after a heavy rain, to the 131-foot Niagara-like cascade that is Kakabeka Falls near Thunder Bay. Spring waterfalls are beautiful, but they can also be treacherous. It is important to bring appropriate gear for the day’s conditions—extra layers, food and water, as well as hiking boots with good traction (maybe even a pair of snow cleats depending on the spring), hiking poles, and a first aid kit. Make smart choices and don’t forget a camera.

16

MAY 2022

NORTHERN WILDS

Kakabeka Falls At a whopping 131 feet high, Kakabeka Falls is the second highest waterfall in Ontario. Accessing the falls is an easy walk from the parking lot, but there are a few more challenging hikes (especially during spring conditions) that give access to portions of the Kaministiquia River as well as Little Falls, which—despite its name—is well worth the extra effort. Nicknamed “Niagara of the North,” Kakabeka Falls has been carving itself out of the unstable shale beneath its flows since the decline of the last ice age. The surrounding layers of shale contain some of the oldest fossils in existence—some as old as 1.6 billion years—and the waters beneath the falls are a preferred spawning area for endangered Lake Sturgeon. The Legend of Green Mantle: Look closely into the mist off the Kaministiquia River as it roars over Kakabeka Falls and you might just see Princess Green Mantle; the Ojibwe princess who selflessly led a troupe of Sioux warriors over the edge of the falls to save her tribe from attack. Read more about the legend at: bit.ly/kakabekafallslegends.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.