Giant’s Rib Escarpment Education Network’s (GREEN) Waterfall of the Month for November 2016 is Chedoke Falls.
Chedoke Falls is located in Hamilton on the east branch of the Chedoke Creek at the east end of the Chedoke Golf Course off the Chedoke Radial Trail. Chedoke Falls has year round flow, with a height of 18m (60 ft.) and a crest width of 9m (30 ft.) and is considered a Plunge Ribbon type waterfall.
Currently at the AGH (Art Gallery of Hamilton) there is a painting on the second floor titled Chedoke Falls by Henry Nesbitt McEvoy dated 1889. The first picture attached to this article is a photograph of that painting. The second picture with this article is a recent photograph of Chedoke Falls taken in 2016. As expected and as can be seen, there are some changes over the past 127 years. The first is that the natural creek at the top of the falls, as seen in the painting, has now been enclosed into a concrete structure containing a large storm sewer pipe, through which the water now flows. The second major change is erosion to the rock face of the waterfall, and the pile of stone rubble (from the erosion) can be seen at the base of the falls in the 2016 photograph but was not present in 1889.
Chedoke Falls is located in the centre of Hamilton however good viewing access to it is difficult. From Hwy 403 take the Aberdeen Ave. exit and travel approximately 1 km to Studholme Rd. Turn right onto Studholme Rd. and then turn left onto Beddoe Dr. which will take you to the Chedoke Golf Course parking lot. From the parking lot, follow the Chedoke Radial Trail eastward to the most eastern golf fairway. Beside this fairway is the eastern branch of the Chedoke Creek. Follow the Bruce Trail located beside it up the slope to a lookout for Lower Chedoke Falls. You then have to carefully walk around this lookout and then trek along the western slope of the ravine about 150 m to Lower Chedoke Falls, and then follow the creek bed for an additional 200 – 300m to Chedoke Falls. Note that this is an extremely difficult hike, thus be prepared.
By Joseph Hollick
Follow Us!