Jan 2

January 2016 Upper Louth West and East Falls

January 2016 Upper Louth West and East Falls

Giant’s Rib Escarpment Education Network’s Waterfall of the Month for January 2016 is Upper Louth West and East Falls.

Both Upper Louth West Falls and Upper Louth East Falls are located on Sixteen Mile Creek on the north side of Staff Ave. in the Town of Lincoln, Region of Niagara. Both could be considered to have a height of 4 metres (13 ft.).1a Upper Louth Falls West - January 2016

The Sixteen Mile Creek bed runs parallel to Staff Ave. on the south side, and then takes a 90 degree turn northward under the Staff Ave bridge. Approximately 20 m north of the bridge is located Upper Louth West Falls, a plunge cascade type falls, however even with this extremely well defined creek and waterfall channel, this waterfall is mostly dry year round.

At one location where Sixteen Mile Creek runs parallel on the south side of Staff Ave., the water somehow has found an underground fissure or opening in the escarpment rock, such that the water flows underground, passing under Staff Ave., and then resurfacing on the north side 25m east of the defined 1b Upper Louth Falls East - January 2016creek channel as described above, and forms a newer talus or long cascade type waterfall. This newer creek flow has not created a defined channel yet, however it appears to handle about 95% of the Sixteen Mile Creek flows and I have called this “newer” waterfall Upper Louth East Falls.

The attached map and photos may help you to understand both Upper Louth West and East Falls more clearly.

1d Map Upper Louth Falls West & East - January 2016To visit Upper Louth West and East Falls, exit the QEW at Jordan Road. Go south on Jordan road to the end. Turn left onto Niagara Rd 81 (Old Hwy 8) and then turn right onto 17th St. Continue on 17th St up the escarpment and turn left onto Staff Ave. (just past 7th Ave. on right side). There is a small parking lot on the left side just before Staff Ave curves to the right. Then walk back along the roadway westward to the waterfalls.

By Joseph Hollick