Waterfall Detail: This seasonal waterfall is located 300 meters up from the Penniac Bridge along route 8 near Fredericton. Cascading down over the ridge for over 25 meters the creek crashes and tumbles over rocks and fallen trees to the Nashwaak River. The enormous amount of water from the spring melt swells the wetlands and swamps at the top of the plateau and spills down through the creek.
Visit Detail: On Good Friday afternoon I drove out to Stanley on route 8 only to find out that the roadbed near the bridge at Nashwaak Village, was washed out by the recent freshet. So I decided to turn around and drive back to Fredericton. For some reason deciding not to take the Killarney Road but continue on along the river. Near Penniac I maintained a lookout for this well-known spring waterfall.
On this particular afternoon the stream was tearing down the hills side in a torrent. After parking near the Penniac Bridge on the opposite side of the Nashwaak River I walked back across and up along route 8 to the stream.
The climb up the hillside following the stream was rewarding. Near the top the snow was to deep to walk any further. This is a neat waterfall to visit after a heavy rain and during the spring freshet.
Falls Detail: Kelly Creek Falls is not large nor is it located within a spectacular setting. It is near a gravel pit and there is a bridge crossing over the creek at the falls. The waterfall is located 700 meters down the Sears Road, which is 5 kilometers from the intersection of the Mazerolle Settlement Road and the Hanwell Road.
Just above the falls is a small pond. The creek flows in a northerly direction towards the Mactaquac Headpond.
Visit Detail: Marlaine and I just finished choosing our Christmas tree at Frank DeWolf’s Tree Plantation on Mazerolle Settlement Road. I heard about a falls on Kelly Creek so I asked Frank. He provided directions. As a youth growing up in the area he and his friends would walk to the falls to swim and to escape the heat of the summer. Being so near we decided to take a drive out Sears Road to photograph the falls.
We parked near the pond. At the far end, cattails encased in a thin film of ice, swayed in the brisk wind. From here we nipped into the woods and walked along the edge of the creek. Everywhere there is evidence of the hurry and scurry of tiny woodland creatures captured by the recent snow. The tell tale sign of a rabbit leads further down along the creek.
A skim of ice has formed along the creek providing an ethereal ambience. Low lying branches along the edge are encapsulated. The creek will lose the struggle with winter an eventually freeze. In a month the waterfall will be frozen over until spring.
Falls Detail: Nestled in a heavily wooded area Currant Falls is small but very picturesque. It is relatively unknown except to a few of the local residents of Nortondale and surrounding area. The brook flows around Currant Hill and while doing so falls over a small change in topology and then into the Nackawic Stream.
Located on private property the waterfall cannot be seen from the road although it is physically less than 100 meters away. The only trail to the falls is through private property belonging to the Fawcett family.
Visit Detail: Driving through the rolling hills of this very picturesque countryside there is numerous church steeples. Alongside every home, firewood stacked in neat rows wait for a long cold winter. It is a cool and clear autumn morning and I am the guest of Paul Inman a fellow waterfall enthusiast. Paul has organized an outing to waterfalls in the area.
Every so often a cedar rail fence marks the edge of road. It is a treat to see these relics of our rural heritage. Following the lay of the land the road leads up from Temperance Vale to Nortondale and our destination.
The walk down to the brook is through heavy thicket. Under footing is wet and soft and we sink to our ankles. I am glad it is autumn because this area would be black fly infested in midsummer. The reward is worth the effort. Currant Falls is simply spectacular. During our visit, rays of afternoon sunlight cut through the thick forest. The light highlights areas around the waterfalls and provides a potpourri of sparkles as the brook dances over the ledge.
Falls Detail: Approximately 5 km from the junction of the Nortondale Road along route 565 to Woodstock is Millseat Falls. Everyday commuters along this road may drive straight by without noticing. For those who take time, they can view the falls by parking along side the road and walking 5 meters to the stream. The waterfall is on the West Branch Nackawic Stream. Approximately 100 meters past the bridge over the stream heading west towards Woodstock.
Cascading over a bedrock outcrop, the stream flows into a rock face and is forced to make a sharp left hand turn. It then parallels the road until turning again to flow under the bridge on route 565. The tree line along the road is cut back to the edge of the rock face. From this viewing area the edge of the stream is the rock face. So when moving through the trees there no path to the stream just a drop of 5 meter into the stream. Care should be taken.
Visit Detail: From Nackawic the drive up through the pastoral countryside of Temperance Vale to the rural hamlet of Nortondale is beautiful. The countryside is defined by hardwood ridges along the edge of farm fields. Here and there recently plowed fields produce a brown and gold tartan pattern. There is a nip of cold in the midday air as autumn begins to wane into winter.
Every waterfall has a unique personality and on this bright and sunny autumn day Millseat Falls is showing off its finer attributes. Cascading over the rock face, the sun dances in the flowing water. Spruce and cedar dominate the edges of the waterfalls.
Carolyn Derrick informed me about this little falls. She called it Andrea’s Falls for her daughter. Carolyn said they always drove up through Nortondale to Woodstock and would stop to view the waterfalls.
Falls Detail: Cascading down from the hills just south of the Town of Nackawic is the Coac Stream. Located between Upper Queensbury and Day Hill the creek is the main drainage for Coac Lake and several wetlands located deep in the high plateau to the east. This unusual name is Maliseet for pine tree in the distance and as the name suggest there are numerous large pine trees found along the ridges and escarpments shrouding this beautiful creek.
The geology in this area is predominantly granite. The kind of granite that when it is cracked open is dark blue in the center. Granite is so predominate that there is small hamlet of Granite Hill only kilometers away down the road.
To see Coac Falls, drive along Route 105 south from the junction with Route 605 in Nackawic, passing route 610 to Upper Caverhill until crossing Coac Stream a distance of approximately 6 km. The Lower Caverhill Road (old logging road) is approximately 1000 meters south of the stream on the left. Park along the highway and start hiking up the Lower Caverhill Road until meeting a woods road on the left. An old decayed pine tree blocks this road, but follow it until coming to a cable across the road. At this point there is a crossroads. Take the right hand road and follow it as it follows a ridgeline in a gentle left hand arc until reaching a road on the right. Follow this road until coming to an ATV trail on the left. This trail heads down into the ravine to the falls. The sound of the falls will can be heard from this distance. Total distance of approximately 3 km.
Visit Detail: We drove a couple hundred meters up an old woods road (Lower Caverhill Road) and parked the car and from here began a leisurely walk along old abandoned logging roads twisting and turning following the ridges to an ATV trail leading down 30 meters into the ravine containing Coac Falls.
I was the invited guest of Paul Inman, Stan Ebbet and Richard & Grace Beazley who have all visited the falls previously. I was glad to be tagging along because without exact directions, these magnificent waterfalls would be very difficult to locate.
Jeff & Melissa McCarthy informed me of the waterfalls this summer and so I drove up to the area in September looking for them. I stopped at a restaurant in Nackawic and asked if anyone knew about the falls and the answer was unanimous, they knew about Coac Falls but had no idea how to get to them.
Coac Falls are simply spectacular. It is one of those waterfalls that when you see them for the first time you are carried away with their ambience. At 21 meters Coac Falls would be among the higher waterfalls in the province and one of the most beautiful.
Waterfalls Detail: Garden Creek like many small brooks and creeks along the plateau that borders the Saint John River Valley, flows in a northerly direction down towards the “Rhine of New Brunswick”. The plateau in the Fredericton area rises 100 to 150 meters above the river valley and this results in numerous cascades up and down the river valley in this area.
The fall is located alongside the High-speed entry lane to the Trans Canada Highway heading west out of Fredericton. Just a few meters past the 1 km marker there is an ATV trail on the right hand side of the highway leading into the falls. There is absolutely no indication of these falls from the road or the trail. The walk into the falls is very short.
Visit Details: I was informed about the falls by an acquaintance, Mark Gallagher and decided to see if I could find them. I was given general idea of where the falls could be located. So this I drove up and parked along side the highway where I thought the falls might be located. There are two ravines and I chose the largest. I waded down to the stream and began to wade down stream until the mosquitoes drove me back. I wandered about 100 to 150 meters downstream with no luck. Upon returning to the car I decided to try the second but smaller gully. I was just about to climb over the guardrail when an ATV came along and stopped. I asked the driver if there was waterfalls nearby and was told that he was heading to the falls and to follow him.
Voila, within a 5 minute drive from my home there is this wonderful waterfall. I spent approximately 30 minute taking pictures. This is a nice location with a large pine tree stand shading the area. I walked down to the falls and was pleasantly surprised by the proximity to the highway. There are several large boulders from which to view the falls.
I revisited the falls on Tuesday, July 15th to take a few more pictures. Thanks to Mark and the nice people on the ATV.
Waterfalls Detail: Cascading down approximately 35 meters from Forest Hills this seasonal waterfall can be a photographer’s delight after a heavy rain or during the spring freshet. Located within the City of Fredericton, Forest Hill Falls is barely noticed by the thousands of motorists driving up and down Forest Hill Road on their commute to work. The numerous university students making their daily trek to and from UNB and St. Thomas may take the time to stop and watch the narrow ribbon of water crash and tumble through the small ravine on it journey to the Saint John River. For Frederictonian’s who enjoy nature, this urban falls is a must see just after a rain.
Visit Detail: I usually walk on Sunday mornings and on occasion make a slight diversion from my 10 km jaunt to peek in on this waterfall. For the most it is dry but on occasion, especially after a rain the brook is teeming with energy. I photographed Forest Hill Falls several times over the past few years and posted a couple of my favorite. On one instance I drove by on my way to a soccer game out of town and the brook was bone dry. A few hours later on our way back into town it was pouring rain. On the way down the hill, I quickly peeked in at the cascade and it was a torrent. After dropping my son off at the house, I returned with camera equipment and an umbrella to photograph the show. Such is the character of Forest Hills Falls.
I received information about the name of this waterfall from Jane Tarn of Fredericton. “When I got home after your presentation I looked up your website to try and find the waterfalls that our backyard brook has just below our property – the falls you see from Forest Hill Road. I found the information under Forest Hill Falls. As we call the falls Silver Falls I was confused so went searching for our property map and found it. On our map the stream along the back of our property is labeled as Silver Falls Brook. I tried locating the falls under that name on goggle without much success. I found of list of waterfalls in NB done three or four years ago that listed the falls as Forest Hills Falls. I just checked Louise Hill’s book – Fredericton New Brunswick, British North America and on page 118 she calls the falls –Silver Falls. “
Waterfalls Detail: Pinder Falls is the product of a dam that held water for a mill which is long gone or for the local paper mill in nearby Nackawic. Located on the East Branch Nackawic Stream, in the hamlet of Pinder, the river drops 10 meters into a large pool. Pinder is named after the Postmaster for the area, George T. Pinder. This waterfall can be seen from the road (Route 605). Rubble from the old dam along with a train bridge across the top of the dam give the area a rustic look, a throw back to an era of industrial development. A major distraction is the graffiti found on the concrete abutments and remnants of the old dam.
To see this waterfall, drive to Nackawic then head down river along Route 105 until you see the sign for Temperance Vale and Caverhill. Take this road, Route 605 and drive for approximately 5 km until you cross the Nackawic Stream. The waterfall is on your right. There is a small parking area just past the bridge.
Pinder Falls is not the most visually engaging waterfalls but none the less, it, like many such as Tetagouche and Charlo Falls dammed to provide hydro energy to operate mill machinery.
Visit Details: I photographed Pinder Falls one evening in May 2008. I drove up along Route 105 from Mactaquac Park because this route is very scenic and I wanted to stop in at Howland Falls as well. The Pinder waterfalls and general area is not spectacular but the amount of water flowing over the spillway on this particular evening was impressive.
I returned to Pinder Dam in late September hoping to catch the colours of autumn but alas I was a bit late. These new photo’s are HDR rendering a beautiful touch to the water. I also used Photoshop to remove the graffiti.
Waterfalls Details: Odell Park Falls is on Phyllis Creek which flows along the western boundary of Odell Park. The falls cascades through an escarpment that runs the width of the park in a southwesterly direction. The falls are not very large but is very enchanting when there is sufficient water flowing. Odell Park was once the estate of Jonathan Odell, who held the titles of physician, clergyman, poet and N.B.’s first Provincial Secretary, this 75 hectare (388 acre) park is comprised of fields, forests and streams. Odell Park is popular with all ages, as there is a playground, picnic facilities, a duck pond and a visitor’s centre. The park is open from 7am to 11pm.
It is important to note that although the creek is known as Phyllis Creek, I do not know the name of falls and have aptly called it Odell Park Falls.
Visit Details: Waterfalls come in all shapes and sizes. The Odell Park falls is small but very picturesque. It is also a seasonal falls which is dry during summers with little rain. I have trampled through almost every inch of Odell Park and this area is my favorite area of the park. I usually just leave from one of the many well groomed pathways and head up to the escarpment and follow it towards the creek and then along the creek to this secluded area. The attached pictures are from various visits over the past two years when there has been sufficient water flow.
Water Falls Details: Howland Falls is located in Bear Island New Brunswick (across the Mactaquac Head Pond from Kings Landing) and flows into the Saint John River. At approximately 11meters, Howland Falls is not high but it has its own unique character in that it consists of two drops. The first is 2 meters and the second 9 meters. To enjoy this beautiful falls simply drive up along highway 105 continuing past the Mactaquac Park main entrance for 19.5 km to where the Scotch Settlement Road meets highway 105. Take the Scotch Settlement Road and drive to the cement bridge a distance of 1 km. The path down to the falls is on your right just before the bridge.
Visit Details: Many of the small streams that flow into the Saint John River in this area are seasonal. In the summer there is barely a trickle but on this particular evening an abundance of water is surging through the notch due to the heavy winter snow.
Enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Mactaquac Head Pond and Bear Island area is part of the drive to Howland Falls. Highway 105 meanders through farmland and cottage country.
At this time of the spring the trail down to the bottom of the gorge is snow packed but manageable. You can immediately feel the drop in temperate upon reaching the base of the falls. The oxygen rich mist carries several meters down stream and it immediately provides me energy. At this time of year there is still snow along the cliffs where the spring sun cannot reach. This is one of my favorite falls to visit.