With the unique landscape of Nova Scotia, it is no wonder that there are so many waterfalls across the province. Many waterfalls are located in provincial parks, however, you may need to hike into the woods to find them. If you are planning to see these waterfalls, you should be sure to wear the appropriate footwear and clothing.
Listed below are 25 of Nova Scotia’s most beautiful waterfalls that you can visit and explore.
**Kindly respect the property, please leave no trace – remember to take only memories, leave only footprints.**
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1. Miller Lake Falls
At the north end of the Miller Lake on Tillmann Brook are the Miller Lake Falls. These waterfalls are about 30 minutes from Halifax. The Miller Lake Falls are located on the Waverley Game Reserve. However, the trails will not take you to the falls. It is about 10 minutes from the trail, so be prepared to take a walk in the forest.
Address: 3-57 Sanctuary Ct. Fall River
2. Indian Falls
On the North Branch Lahave River are the Indian Falls. The falls are located in the Lunenburg Municipal Park. The trail system is an easy walk and will take you to the Indian Falls. Just north of the Indian Falls is the Lahave River Campground. There is also a rock beach, picnic area, look-offs and other walking trails nearby that you can enjoy.
Address: Indian Falls, Lunenburg
3. West River Falls
West River Falls is a series of small waterfalls on the West River near Sheet Harbour. The nature trail will take you to a footbridge with great views of the falls. The trail is well groomed and is an easy hike. It is just a short walk to the footbridge.
Google Map
4. Mary Ann Falls
Near Broad Cove on the Cabot Trail and in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park are the Mary Ann Falls. These falls are one of the most popular waterfalls in Cape Breton. It is very easy to find and there are a number of viewing platforms. There is a staircase that will take you to the base of the falls, and you can swim in the base pool.
Address: Broad Cove Campground, Victoria
5. MacIntosh Brook Falls
A popular location for tourists is the MacIntosh Brook Campground and its waterfalls. There is a trail that starts at the picnic area near the campground that will take you to the waterfalls. The trail is an easy 1.7km return hike and will take you to the waterfall and the brook. The trail is well-groomed and clearly marked.
Address: MacIntosh Brook Campground, 23606 Cabot Trail, Pleasant Bay
6. Liscombe Falls
Near the popular Liscombe Lodge Resort is the Liscombe River and the Liscombe Falls. The trail starts out easy going, but will become more challenging as you go further along the river. If you are planning to travel the trail, you should be sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes. The trail is a challenging 9.6 km hike, which takes 4 – 6 hours to hike. The suspension bridge will take you over the waterfall and the man-made fish ladder to help the Atlantic salmon population.
Address: Liscombe River, Highway 7, Liscomb Mills
7. Corney Brook Falls
At the end of the Corney Brook Trail in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park are the Corney Brook Falls. The falls are 15-meter drop at the bottom of the box river canyon. It is an easy to moderate 6.5 km return hike for most people.
Address: 18573 Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Highlands NP, Cabot Trail
8. Uisge Ban Falls
This popular waterfall is easy to access and is a five-story drop. The Uisge Ban Falls Provincial Park has an easy trail to the waterfall with rest stops along the way. The Falls trail takes about 1.5 hours round trip hike.
Address: Uisge Ban Falls Provincial Park, 715 N Branch Road, Baddeck
9. North River Falls
Just a few kilometres north of North River Bridge on the Cabot Trail is the North River Provincial Park, which is home to the North River Falls. The trail to the North River Falls is long and difficult at times. The trail is well maintained so it is easy to stay on. It is an 18km return hike through the woods. It is said to be the highest waterfall in Nova Scotia with a 32 meter drop.
Address: North River Provincial Park, Oregon Road, Baddeck
10. Joseph Howe Falls (Victoria Park Falls)
On the Lepper Brook in Victoria Park in Truro are the Joseph Howe Falls or the Victoria Park Falls. Above these falls are the Waddell Falls. The falls are on the trail, and to get the best view of the falls, you will need to climb the 176 steps of Jacob’s ladder.
Address: Park Road, Truro
11. Annandale Falls
The Annandale Falls are said to be the tallest waterfalls in the Wentworth Valley. Visiting the Annandale Falls requires you to scale down a steep hill. The trail is not groomed, so it can be dangerous at times. There is a rope left by other hikers; however, you need to use caution when using ropes set by other hikers. The waterfall is about a kilometre from the road and will take about an hour to hike to.
Google Map
12. Upper Burnside Falls
Down the staircase in the Burnside Community Park is the Upper Burnside Falls. The Upper Burnside Falls are a part of the Meadow Brook. The stair case is well maintained so getting to the waterfall is easy. There are picnic tables to relax at and enjoy a picnic at the park. The climb back up the stairs can be a calf-burner at times.
Google Map
13. Londonderry Falls (Great Village River Falls)
Londonderry Falls or Great Village River Falls are different from most other waterfalls in Nova Scotia. These falls are stretched along the river and are a number of smaller waterfalls grouped together. The falls are found east of Parrsboro, near Economy. There is an overlook in the Manager’s Park and it is part of the trail, which easy and well-groomed.
Google Map
14. Moose River Falls
A beautiful waterfall that is a challenging hike to get to. The Moose River Falls are named after Moose River and the community of Moose River. The waterfalls are on the East Branch Moose River. The route to the waterfalls is not well-marked, so it does not get a lot of traffic. Be careful when hiking to the waterfall, as there can be loose silt, shale, and sandstone.
Google Map
15. Economy Falls
Between Upper and Lower Economy are the Economy Falls, which are the most visited falls in Nova Scotia. The falls are in the Economy River Wilderness Area, which is part of the trail system. The trail to the falls is overall easy to hike, but the 186 step staircase can be tiring. Luckily, there are benches on the staircase so you can take a break as you climb. In total, the hike is a 2km return trip.
Address: River Philip Road, Economy
16. Hidden Falls
At the edge of the Cobequid Mountains in Five Island are the Hidden Falls. During the hike to Hidden Falls, you will pass 3 smaller waterfalls. The Hidden Falls are around 21-meter hills and the unmarked trail is tricky at times, so you need to be cautious of where you walk. Hidden Falls are on private property, but the owners allow the public to enter. So, please be respectful of the land and the owner’s wishes.
Google Map
17. Wards Falls
Wards Falls are on the North Branch of Diligent River just outside of Parrsboro. While on the trail is not on hiking system, the path is maintained and will take you over a number of bridges. There is a cave at the top of the Ward Falls. The ladder on the side of the fall is not maintained so use caution if you decide to climb up to the cave.
Address: 10713 Parrsboro Shore Rd, Diligent River
18. Delaps Cove Waterfall
Delaps Cove Waterfall is along the Bay of Fundy, just north of Port Royal. It is an easy hike to and is on the Delaps Cove Wilderness Trail system. To get to the falls, you will need to take the Bohaker Trail, which is 2.2 km long trail that is well-groomed. It is a wide veil-like falls and has a 15 meter drop. There is a viewing platform at the top of the waterfall where visitors can stand and take photographs.
Address: 2077 Shore Rd W, Granville Ferry
19. Moores Falls (Morse Falls)
Moores Falls is really three waterfalls along the same stretch of stream. It is near Kentville in North Alton on Prospect Road. The first fall is only about 3 meters high; however if you keep going upstream you will find a fall that is over 15 meters high. You will need to walk through water to get to the third fall. The falls are not on a trail system, but the stream is just a short hike from the road.
Please be aware that 4866 Prospect Road is a PRIVATE PROPERTY — NO TRESPASSING!
Address: 4790 Prospect Rd, Cambridge
20. Crystal Falls
Crystal Falls is close to Greenwood on a road off of Harmony Road. The road is old and goes through the forest. You can drive until the road is too rough for your car or you can park on Harmony Road and walk down the road. There are two trails that go to Crystal Falls, there is a trail before the suspension bridge and one trail just after the bridge. The trail before the bridge is the easier option and will follow the river upstream. The pool at the bottom of the falls is nice for swimming.
Address: Mumford Brook Crystal Falls Trail, Harmony, Kings Co
21. Mill Falls
These falls are easy to locate because they are in Kejimkujik National Park, which is on the Mersey River. The trail to Mill Falls starts near the visitor service building. The trail is easy and well groomed. You can view the falls from the viewing platform. There are picnic tables near the viewing area for visitors to take a break at, which makes it a nice place to enjoy a picnic.
Address: 3005 Main Parkway, Maitland Bridge
22. McMaster Falls (Rockville Notch Falls)
McMaster Falls (Rockville NotchFalls) is located in the McMaster Mill Historic Park in Greenwood. You can either climb over or walk around the guardrail and the groomed trail will take you through the forest to the viewing platform overlooking the McMaster Falls. You can also see remnants of an old dam and mill from the trail. This park features a trail that leads down to the former sawmill site along with interpretive panels that describe the McMaster Mill’s history. It also has a pedestrian walkway leading down into the gorge for views of the original pen stock and public seating areas that make it easier to view the dam and the waterfalls.
Address: 230 Rocknotch Rd, Kingston
23. Jeffers Brook Falls (Ripley Falls)
Just north of Parrsboro is a 30-meter high waterfall on Jeffers Brook. The Jeffers Brook Falls have a pool at the bottom that is surrounded by sandstone. If you head upstream, there are 7 more waterfalls that you can visit. However, the trail is not groomed and it is challenging for many people to climb up the cliffs.
Address: 1734 Newville Rd, Parrsboro
24. Wentworth Valley Falls (Higgins or Sylvia Falls)
When the water is high, which is normally during the spring, the Wentworth Valley Falls is a ‘full veil’ falls. These falls are easy to get to and are breathtakingly beautiful. Unlike other falls in the area, there is no deep gorge that you have to scale to get to the falls. These falls are located in the Wentworth Valley, just north of Truro. The trail going to the falls is not on a trail system, but it is easy to access. You can splash around the base of the falls, but make sure it is safe before you enter the water.
Address: 14962 NS-4, Wentworth
25. Harrington Falls
Near Parrsboro is the Harrington River and the Harrington Falls. The falls are also known as the “Garden of Eden Falls”, which are high and narrow. What makes these falls special is that you can walk behind the water. Hiking down the gorge can be dangerous, and you should be prepared to walk through water. There is a cave nearby that you can explore during your hike.
Address: 1357 Lynn Rd, Lower Five Islands