I'm really surprised Kakabeka Falls only has 2 reviews. It's deserving of some better recognition…read more And...lol, I guess that's why I'm here today, to share in the experience.
Alright well, Kakabeka Falls is actually a provincial park located on the outskirts of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
If you're making the 150-mile North Shore Scenic Drive up Minnesota's eastern coast, you'll eventually encounter the border with Canada and if you have a passport, you might as well gain entry and make the 38-mile drive north here.
I had a pretty high outlook for Kakabeka Falls, and it didn't 100% fulfill my expectations.
During my research, I had read that the 131-foot waterfall is known as the "Niagra of the North".
So...I assumed that it'd be similar to Niagara Falls, but...this is just one specific waterfall, (majestic to some degree) that's viewed from a few different observation areas. There's not much to the park other than short hiking trails in nature and a campground.
While in comparison, Niagara Falls is one of the great world destinations with an abundance of exploring options. You can use multiple days to admire the magnitude of such an iconic landmark.
Although I expected a lot more from Kakabeka Falls, coming to see this with a clear and open mind, overall, I still found it impressive and would recommend it to outdoor and waterfall enthusiasts, lol.
There are 3 forms for visiting. You can pay for times...
- 2 hour visit
- 4 hour visit
- All day visit
Kakabeka Falls sits right beside the entrance/parking lot so you don't need the entire day to see it.
I paid for the 4-hour option which was $8 Canadian or around $6 US.
I also purchased a souvenir magnet for $2 as well.
There's a boardwalk pathway that navigates around the falls. All you have to do is casually stroll it. It takes 20 - 30 minutes to walk. And just stop at your own accord when you feel like taking a picture. This is the main highlight/feature of the park.
For those wanting more hiking/exploring time, here were 3 paths recommended to me by the park ranger...
- Mountain Portage Trail - 1.1 km loop
- Little Falls Trail - 2.5 km loop
- Poplar Point Trail - 3.8 km loop
There's also a campground inside the park. They accept travelers with and without reservations.
I'd also like to point out the setting. I visited yesterday for the early part of June and the surroundings were perfect. It wasn't hot or humid and simply stopping at different points on the Boardwalk Path to appreciate the sights was worth the small price of admission.
Lastly, looking away from the falls was scenic. The river flows down in between a rugged valley gorge and when you're standing high above along the boardwalk path, it makes for special views.
Kakabeka Falls can be categorized as an under the radar attraction located just north of the US/Canada border. It's not difficult to access and having time to appreciate a beautiful waterfall backdrop is a winning formula, from my pov.