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Albion Falls

Chris Ecklund’s video of Albion Falls roaring like a tiger. Shot in August 2009.

Albion Falls Photo by Frank Greco. Click to enlarge.

Albion Falls in Winter. Photo by Dan Court. Click to enlarge.

Albion Falls is a Complex Classic Cascade waterfall
19 metres in height. Located at the southernmost tip of King’s
Forest Park in Hamilton, its source is Red Hill Creek. Albion
Falls enjoys year-round flow.

Albion Falls is the premier waterfall
in Hamilton’s east end. Two viewing platforms were constructed
by the City of Hamilton in 2005 – 2006 at a cost of approximately
$350,000. The Project Manager at the
City of Hamilton for designing and constructing the two viewing
platforms that were built in 2005/2006 was Steve Barnhart,
Landscape Architect for the Public Works Department. He also
is one of the City of Hamilton representatives on the Hamilton
Waterfall Group that meets several times each year.

Rocks from the Albion Falls
area were used in the construction of the Royal Botanical
Gardens’ Rock Garden.

In July 2009 a weekend rainstorm altered the gorge at Albion Falls. Entire sections were carved out of the earth and the shifting of rocks in the 100 foot wide, forty feet deep space created a third ‘shelf’, making the waterfall more accessible than ever before.

See some videos of the new Albion Falls.

History

This waterfall has a rich history. It was once considered as
a possible water supply source for Hamilton, and rocks from the
surrounding area were used in the rock garden of the Royal Botanical
Garden. The land on which Albion Falls is located was once known
as Albion Mills or the Village of Mount Albion.

The original
property owner was William Davis, a plantation head who supported
the British during the American Revolution. After the British
defeat, Davis fled his home in North Carolina in 1792 and came
to Canada. After being granted the waterfall and 500 acres
of land that surrounded it, Davis established Albion Mills. This
small settlement grew into an important community as the nineteenth
century progressed, featuring a grist mill, blacksmith shops,
taverns, a church and a general store. In 1880, its name was
changed to Mount Albion.

The main road through the village was -and still is- called
Mud Street. A stone toll road to the city of Hamilton was built
in 1880. The keeper collected fifteen cents per return trip for
one-horse wagons, and twenty cents for two-horse wagons.

The mill continued to operate until 1907, when Robert Grassie,
the owner, fell into the wheel pit and was killed. After that
accident, the mill was never run again.

Mount Albion had a strong sulphur spring bubbling
up from a shallow drill-hole. According to historian J.E. Turner,
who addressed the local historical society in January 1946, “The
water does not freeze easily. It is too strong for domestic use,
yet is valuable for farm stock.”

Half a mile down the valley, two streams join, one from Buttermilk
Falls and another from what was once called the Mill Falls. A
dam and a primitive sawmill was located there during the mid-1800s.
One day a group of workmen there quarrelled and one of them was
killed. His ghost was often seen thereafter, hovering over the
stream, travelling along the roads, or flitting through the woods.
One tipsy patron of the Black Horse Tavern in Mount Albion was
sure that he saw the spirit lurking beside a tree one night.
He swung his fist, and discovered to his detriment that the pale
form was the dangling corpse of a freshly killed pig. The courageous
drunk broke his right arm.

According to Joe Hollick, “In
the 1950′s Albion Falls was the destination of
hundreds of youngsters (including myself) on
Good Friday either walking or biking to Albion
Falls or hiking up the Red Hill Creek. During
that decade, there was a small general store
across the road from Albion Falls and all of
us would go in to buy pop and treats after the
long trip to Albion Falls. The store was demolished
about 1960 and it was a sad day for us youngsters
to see the store gone. On these hikes if the
volume of water was not too large, we would walk
across the ledge half way down the waterfall.”

Discuss
Albion Falls on our Forum.

Albion Falls Legends

Albion Falls is a place of tremendous beauty,
yet it is also the site of numerous tragedies,
some famous, some now forgotten. It’s also the
location of the first natural gas discovery in
Ontario. Read some of the stories below!

Lover’s Leap

How to get there

To reach Albion Falls by car, exit on Dartnell Road from the
Lincoln Alexander Parkway. Go south on Dartnell, then go left
onto Stonechurch Road East. Turn left onto Pritchard Road, then
left again onto Mud Street. You will find two parking lots available
on either side of Mud Street where it connects with Mountain
Brow Boulevard.

To reach Albion Falls via a walking trail,
take the Escarpment Rail Trail or the Albion Side Trail of the
Bruce Trail.
View Larger Map

Albion Falls Photo Gallery

These pictures were taken after the July 2009 weekend that changed the layout of the gorge. Click on images to enlarge.

Photos by Chris Ecklund







Photos by Dan Court




Photos by Jeremy Shortt

Below are photos submitted by site staff and supporters. Click
on images to enlarge.

Albion Falls. Photo by Lorraine Booker.
Click to enlarge.

A vintage postcard of Mount Albion and
Albion Falls

Albion Falls in winter. Photo by Joe
Hollick. Click to enlarge.

Albion Falls in Winter. Photo by Dan Court. Click to enlarge.	Albion Falls. Photo by Steve Gilchrist. Click to enlarge	Albion Falls. Photo by Steve Gilchrist. Click to enlarge
Albion Falls. Photo by Ralf Nowak. Click to enlarge	Albion Falls. Photo by Ralf Nowak. Click to enlarge	Albion Falls. Photo by Ralf Nowak. Click to enlarge
Albion Falls. Photo by Ralf Nowak. Click to enlarge	Albion Falls. Photo by Ralf Nowak. Click to enlarge	Albion Falls. Photo by Ralf Nowak. Click to enlarge
Albion Falls. Photo by Ralf Nowak. Click to enlarge	Albion Falls in winter. Photo by Deb Cole. Click to enlarge.	Albion Falls in winter. Photo by Deb Cole. Click to enlarge.
Albion Falls in winter. Photo by Don Scott. Click to enlarge.	Albion Falls. Photo by David Piano. Click to enlarge.	Albion Falls. Photo by David Piano. Click to enlarge.

Rosie looking out over Albion Falls August 1, 2008	Rosie looking out over Albion Falls August 1, 2008	Albion Falls as seen from the viewing platform
The majesty of Albion Falls as seen from the viewing platform	The area of Lover’s Leap, where Jane Riley died in the early 1800s	We kept hoping that this gutsy soul didn’t lose his balance….
This photo was taken from the bridge, facing the ravine	This photo has a closer view of the water’s edge	Could this be a remnant of an old stone wall from the mill?
Others were out waterfalling that evening too!	Sign on the Mount Albion Bridge. Good job to all involved!	Rosie viewing the steep stone incline with awe.
A stunning view of Albion Falls from a side trail.	Nature has provided us with a viewing platform of its own!	The power of the water was a pleasure to behold and photograph
Framed by trees, Albion Falls is an unforgettable place to visit	We found this pipe jutting out near the old mill site	Rosie drops everything to give it a closer look
Rosie thinks we’ve found something! An old gas funnel perhaps??	What’s that we see off the beaten trail???	An old set of steps leading from the road down toward the mill site!
Rosie climbs the stairs and looks out onto the road	Rosie heads back down, like people did years ago….	A glorious panoramic view. Is that Hamilton we see out there?
Taking a closer shot… yes, that’s the City of Waterfalls!	Lover’s Leap in the waning sun. A sad but beautiful sight

Albion Falls Plaque

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