The 25 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Canada

Canada is a vast country with towering mountains, large rivers, immense glaciers, and deep canyons, so it is not surprising that the country has more than 1700 major waterfalls. Nature has been particularly generous to British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. There are waterfalls in Canada that flow backwards, and those in the north that freeze over completely create mesmerizing shapes and forms.

Niagara Falls

It is impossible to describe the raw beauty of Niagara Falls. Even photos cannot completely convey the power and beauty of nature at its most majestic. Standing on the banks of the Niagara River, deafened by the thunder of falling waters, it is easy to feel insignificant and humbled. Even the thousands of tourists lining the wall separating the broad walkway from the falls cannot diminish the feeling of absolute awe. Niagara Falls consist of three waterfalls between Canada and the United States: the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls, with Goat and Luna islands separating them. The falls, located on the majestic Niagara River as it spills Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, have the highest rate of flow of any world waterfall: six million cubic feet of water spills over the edge every minute. The falls were formed after the glaciers of the last ice age receded and the water from the Great Lakes cut through the Niagara Escarpment on the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Niagara Falls is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North America, and it has developed its own industry, dominating the region.

Helmcken Falls

The fourth tallest waterfall in Canada, Helmcken Falls in British Columbia is easy to access from the main park road, which means you will have to share it with busloads of tourists. But, it is worth it. The fall drops 141 meters down in two tiers, and you have a spectacular vantage point from the viewing platform on its rim. Helmcken is part of the Wells Gray Provincial Park, which was created in 1939 to protect the falls. Murtle River tumbles down six more falls through a narrow canyon before reaching Helmcken. You can approach the falls following the four-kilometer Brink Trail along the Murtle River south bank that begins close to Dawson Falls. Visiting the falls in winter is a mesmerizing experience, as the water creates a 50-meter ice cone at the bottom of the canyon. The cone starts to slowly dissipate in March.

Bridal Veil Falls

Gently dropping 400 feet over a wide, rounded rock face, Fraser River creates a magnificent fall that looks like a lacy, romantic veil. It is located at the south end of the Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park. The fall is located 16 km east of Chilliwack, near Rosedale, British Columbia in Canada. The source of the fall is water tumbling down from Mount Archibald, flowing into Bridal Creek on its way through Cheam Lake Wetlands Regional Park, ending finally at the Fraser River. The falls are easily accessible from Highway 1, requiring an easy 10-minute walk on a wide, softly graded path. The park near the falls is very popular place for a picnic, and there are several tables and benches. The falls freeze in the winter, creating a fragile wall of ice that can crash down at any time, making the area near the base dangerous.READ MORE