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canyonwalker) wrote2025-08-29 03:42 pm
canyonwalker) wrote2025-08-29 03:42 pm
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Albion and Buttermilk Falls
Canada travelog #18
Hamilton, ON · Tue, 26 Aug 2025. 2:45pm.
The bad news today was dry balls. As in, we drove a long way to Balls Falls, and they were dry. Even worse, we found out a number of other falls we planned to hike this week are dry, too, and thus not worth visiting. At least we found that out before hiking all the way out to the falls. It's frustrating to hike all the way out somewhere just to get dry balls. And there are other falls on our list we can hike that aren't dry. Two we visited this afternoon back in Hamilton are Albion Falls and Buttermilk Falls.
Ironically for having bailed on Balls Falls because it was dry for the season, by the time we got back up to Hamilton for Albion Falls it was raining. At least it was a light rain and was already tapering off by the time we parked at the trailhead.
Albion Falls is part of a city park in Hamilton. There's no fee to enter, and even the parking is free. Bonus! Plus, you can see the falls from a pair of overlooks that are just steps from the parking.
(BTW I mentioned it had just rained when we startd hiking. This picture, showing some sunshine, is from when we got back to the car after finishing the hike. Yes, yet again it rained while we were hiking and became sunny once we were done! 😡)
From the parking lot we walked first around to the opposite side of the gorge. On the way we saw that there used to be a trail going down into it. "Can we hike up a trail from the bottom to see the falls?" has been a recurring question of ours this week. Falls are often much better appreciated looking up from the foot rather than looking down from above. But the Hamilton area authorities have been aggressive about closing off gorge trails. The gorge trail at Webster Falls was closed pretty hard. Here it's obvious there used to be an official trail. In fact you can even see the stairs on the other side of the fence. But the gate is now locked... and a vine covered with thorns has been grown over it. Hamilton's so serious about keeping people away from nature they've got a druid on the payroll!
We walked around to the other side of the gorge. There's a vista called "Lovers' Leap". Though really it should be called "Lovers Prevented From Leaping By A 5' High Spiked Fence". At least the Lawful Neutral druids didn't grow thorn bushes over it.
After No-Leaping-Past-The-Fence we doubled back past the parking lot and continued the trail in the other direction. There's actually one very long trail, the Bruce Trail, that connects numerous waterfalls along the Niagara Escarpment. We hiked it only as far as the next falls over, Buttermilk Falls.
The water is falling gently at this time of year, making Buttermilk Falls more of a Bridalveil Falls type of view. How do they come up with these names? I mean, bridalveil I totally get. But buttermilk? What about a waterfall makes people think, "Mmm, curdled milk?"
As we headed back to our car I spotted a short side-trail that led to another view of Buttermilk Falls. It doesn't lead to a trail to the bottom of the falls. With the steep canyon here any trail down would be one of those "Watch the last step" deals. 😅 But it does give a perspective that's not quite as on top of the falls as the main viewing area.
After this we walked back to the car. It was awesome to see these two falls on one short hike, and right in the middle of town, too. But we're not done for the day. No; there's more to come!
Keep reading: Next we hike Sherman Falls, then Tiffany Falls.
Hamilton, ON · Tue, 26 Aug 2025. 2:45pm.
The bad news today was dry balls. As in, we drove a long way to Balls Falls, and they were dry. Even worse, we found out a number of other falls we planned to hike this week are dry, too, and thus not worth visiting. At least we found that out before hiking all the way out to the falls. It's frustrating to hike all the way out somewhere just to get dry balls. And there are other falls on our list we can hike that aren't dry. Two we visited this afternoon back in Hamilton are Albion Falls and Buttermilk Falls.
Ironically for having bailed on Balls Falls because it was dry for the season, by the time we got back up to Hamilton for Albion Falls it was raining. At least it was a light rain and was already tapering off by the time we parked at the trailhead.
Albion Falls is part of a city park in Hamilton. There's no fee to enter, and even the parking is free. Bonus! Plus, you can see the falls from a pair of overlooks that are just steps from the parking.
(BTW I mentioned it had just rained when we startd hiking. This picture, showing some sunshine, is from when we got back to the car after finishing the hike. Yes, yet again it rained while we were hiking and became sunny once we were done! 😡)
From the parking lot we walked first around to the opposite side of the gorge. On the way we saw that there used to be a trail going down into it. "Can we hike up a trail from the bottom to see the falls?" has been a recurring question of ours this week. Falls are often much better appreciated looking up from the foot rather than looking down from above. But the Hamilton area authorities have been aggressive about closing off gorge trails. The gorge trail at Webster Falls was closed pretty hard. Here it's obvious there used to be an official trail. In fact you can even see the stairs on the other side of the fence. But the gate is now locked... and a vine covered with thorns has been grown over it. Hamilton's so serious about keeping people away from nature they've got a druid on the payroll!
We walked around to the other side of the gorge. There's a vista called "Lovers' Leap". Though really it should be called "Lovers Prevented From Leaping By A 5' High Spiked Fence". At least the Lawful Neutral druids didn't grow thorn bushes over it.
After No-Leaping-Past-The-Fence we doubled back past the parking lot and continued the trail in the other direction. There's actually one very long trail, the Bruce Trail, that connects numerous waterfalls along the Niagara Escarpment. We hiked it only as far as the next falls over, Buttermilk Falls.
The water is falling gently at this time of year, making Buttermilk Falls more of a Bridalveil Falls type of view. How do they come up with these names? I mean, bridalveil I totally get. But buttermilk? What about a waterfall makes people think, "Mmm, curdled milk?"
As we headed back to our car I spotted a short side-trail that led to another view of Buttermilk Falls. It doesn't lead to a trail to the bottom of the falls. With the steep canyon here any trail down would be one of those "Watch the last step" deals. 😅 But it does give a perspective that's not quite as on top of the falls as the main viewing area.
After this we walked back to the car. It was awesome to see these two falls on one short hike, and right in the middle of town, too. But we're not done for the day. No; there's more to come!
Keep reading: Next we hike Sherman Falls, then Tiffany Falls.