Waterfall Detail: Melanson Falls is another of New Brunswick’s hidden gems near the highways and byways of our beautiful province. The McQuade Brook has etched a deep ravine into the pastoral landscape north of Moncton in the Irishtown and Scotch Settlement communities on its journey to the Shediac River and the Northumberland Strait.
To see these falls take the Elmwood Drive exit off the TCH in Moncton and then drive northeast away from the city on Route 115 through Tankville and Irishtown continuing towards Notre Dame. Look for the sign indicating Cove Road. Take this road until reaching a steel trestle bridge over McQuade Brook. There is a short trail on the left hand side of the road just past the bridge leading to the ravine and the falls. A sign indicating private property is posted at the beginning of the trail.
Visit Detail: I received an email from Colin Leger of Moncton with a Google Map attached indicating the location of these falls. There was no name attached but only a promise that if I drove out to the falls I would find something special. Well, today I was in Moncton and took the time to drive out to the brook. Colin’s directions were bang on and I had little trouble finding the falls. Over the centuries the brook has etched a steep sided ravine into the landscape and the result is a very beautiful ravine and waterfalls.
I recently spoke with Linda Evans who’s family lived next to the brook and waterfalls for many years. Linda recently informed me that the waterfalls is known as Melanson Falls.
It does look much different in the summer as you suggested
Took photo’s of this yesterday. Very nice falls and only about 15 minutes from Moncton. Great directions. Thanks
You mentioned it is private property. Do the owners allow people to view the falls?
I only realized last night that there was a picture of the falls on line. I grew up and now in my senior years am back living on my old homestead about a mile down stream from the falls and although I have lived away for some years I have never really been away as I returned several times per year to visit my family and we all have been going there for many years and I too grew up and attended school with the Melanson family I have never ever heard it referred to as Melanson falls. I do know the Brook is known as the McQuade brook as it starts in McQuades off MacLaughlin Rd. I also know it was known in days gone by as a “driving” brook(as per my grandfather and my father)meaning logs were cut and driven down stream to a sawmill that was on part of the property my grandfather bought in about 1910.I never could quite figure out how they got the logs over the falls !! I now live on the property although that part of the farm has been sold some 30 yrs ago to someone by my dad. The mill was on the opposite side of the brook from the house where my grandparents, parents and now I reside. The whole area where the Falls are and the Melanson Property was all known as Scotch Settlement at that time it was not until the civic numbering project in the mid 90′s that so much of the area was renamed to Irishtown and Notre Dame by the people brought in to do the civic numbering project it was only with much work on the part of several of us that we got to keep any of the Scotch Settlement area name and only a small portion of it. It has been around for several centuries and now gone by a stroke of the pen of strangers to the area.
The most direct route to it if coming from Moncton direction is to turn east off Iristown Rd/Elmwood drive /Rte 115 at Scotch Settlement Rd and drive to Cove Rd and turn left it is only in about 1/4 of a mile saves about 5 mi. And yes it is private property on both sides.
I know these falls quite well. The Land is owned by Dave Steeves. The Path going down to these falls is very steep and dangerous. I assume Dave posted his land as young adults were leaving quite a mess after partying in the Area.
Can anyone e-mail me the land owners information I would like to ask for permission to photograph the falls I’ll also clean it while I’m there
jeremielandry@rogers.com
wow! I would want to visit this Melanson Falls! Canada is indeed a wonderful place!
I am interested in visiting the falls, but is it a problem if it is marked private property? How do you get to it? Could someone post a google map on how to get there? Thank you!
We visited the waterfall and couldn’t believe how beautiful it was, there wasn’t much garbage but whatever there was I brought back to my car. There nothing worse than seeing the beauty nature can give us and having to look at broken beer bottles and other trash.
Hopefully the owner of the property forgives our trespass in exchange for environmental consciousness.
I would very much like to visit these falls. Is there a way to contact the property owners to obtain permission to photograph them?
I wouldn’t be very long, they’d barely notice me.
Beautiul spot! Been there a couple times as a relaxing way to spend the afternoon.
Dave and Betty Lou Steeves’ Farm is called Irishglen and is located on the Irishtown Road. It’s the farm just next to the Store. Tel 383-9742 I would say the only reason the land is posted is to stop people from polluting the land and possible liability if anyone injured themselves. They are a great friendly couple. Check out their Giant Pumpkins while your visiting, I’m sure you would be welcomed.