June 12, 2006. Owen Sound and Grey County Waterfalls.
The Indians at our motel said that we can have a breakfast not earlier than eight and as we woke up perhaps at six we started the day going to Jones Falls. I shoot mostly my 35mm slides - no pictures here at the moment.Back in motel, we had a small breakfast while chatting with the owners. The place was almost empty (we've seen only one lady that wanted to take breakfast after us). The owner said that a week or two later, when the summer vacation starts, you can't find any rooms in the area - everything is packed. They said also that the only waterfalls to see was Inglis Falls. Actually, that was the place where everyone goes, but to my mind all were good.
The next was Indian Falls, short drive from Owen Sound. They call it "Scenic Drive" but I would say it was not very special. The waterfall was. After about twenty minutes walk through the forest (with kind that's slow) you reach round shaped gorge. The falls is not really strong but tranquil and beautiful.
Below is the gorge looking from the waterfall. The trail to the parking goes through the forest on the left side. You can probably go down there through the gorge but it won't be safe when with kids.
Inglis Falls is located not very far from Owen Sound too. It's the only one with paid parking ($3, I think), but then, you get lots of paved trails there, and it's more accessible by those who can't jump over stones. We started at the view point just near the parking and then Matvei and me went down the gorge to see the waterfall from the other side.
The way down the gorge is rather steep, marked with plastic bags tied to trees, and you can probably reach the waterfall botton but the stones are quite big and the way is only suitable for more adventurous than us.
After this day of waterfalls my son is always asking whether we are going to see one whenever we are on vacation.
We wanted to go back to Owen Sound to have something to eat, but could not find even McDonald's in the downtown. However, local A&P supermarket had a big choice of prepared food. I have impressed two ladies serving food there with the amount of stuff I took. On the side of the supermarket parking there was a table with two benches for hopeless people like us. The supermarket lunch was good actually.
The next on my list was Walters Falls, located on private property open to public. They have built (or maybe rebuilt) a medium size hotel, Walters Falls Inn, just near the water falls. Actually, the falls is nothing special if you see it from hotel. But there is no direct way down. You have to take a walk through the forest first, away from falls, then there where the way down is not that steep, go down to the stream and then back to the falls. And enjoy it - it's great. If you forget the hordes of mosquitos enjoying you.
Going back to the parking was not as easy. Somehow we've missed the way up and were lost. We've managed to climb then back to the upper path, with the loud cries of Leon, whom I took in one hand, catching the branches with the other. The guy at the hotel whom we asked the way before, when I told him we've lost the way, said that actually the nature is so great there that it wouldn't be a problem to spend some more time in the forest. Well, I could agree with him, but we wouldn't manage to get back to Toronto on our feet in two days.
We went then through lonely roads and villages hidden among forests to find the last thing to see on that day - Eugenia Falls. It has an enormous gorge, with beautiful view in the valley and above the forests, but the stream is very small. As I read in the guide on the Internet, most of water is being diverted to a hydroelectric station and mills nearby (that you don't see - they are probably upstream).
After finishing the waterfalls we drove to Collingwood, a town located on the Georgian Bay. It's known by its resorts, including skiing, golf etc. We arrived there at the end of the day and found that there were not much of a choice of hotels. Holiday Inn wanted $139 and this was too much for us, but a gentleman there suggested that we try at Cranberry Suites almost across the street. Combined with our relatively late arrival and probably that the hotel was under small renovation, we've got a room for all of us with breakfast for about $110. (Breakfast was goooood there!)
Go back to Part 2: Lake Huron Next: Part 4: Collingwood, Lake Simcoe, Barrie and Orillia.