Boundary Falls

Boundary Falls

Boundary Falls in the Summer

Photo by Joe Hollick

Click to enlarge
Boundary Falls

Boundary Falls in Winter

Photo by Joe Hollick

Click to enlarge

Boundary Falls is 5.9
metres (19 feet) tall and has a crest width of 1.8 m, or 6 feet.
It is a complex ribbon waterfall. According to waterfall enthusiast
Joe Hollick, it is interesting to visit Boundary Falls during
the coldest part of the winter, as ice extends all the way from
top to bottom. It is worth a visit, as it has a large overhanging
cap rock that you can walk under.

Boundary Falls is located on the boundary line of both Hamilton
and Burlington, hence the name. The top is in the Waterdown
section of Hamilton and the bottom is in Burlington with the
boundary line running through the crest or the edge of the
overhang.

History

Boundary Falls was “discovered” by Nadeem
Paracha (formerly of the Hamilton Conservation Authority)
in 2004 when he was hired to document and produce the first
inventory report on Hamilton’s waterfalls (completed in
spring 2005). At that time 65 waterfalls and cascades had
been found in Hamilton. It took a fair amount of work by
both Nadeem and Joseph Hollick doing mapping and GPS measurements
to determine that Boundary Falls was on the boundary
line of two cities.

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How to get there

You can access the waterfall if you follow the Bruce
Trail from Great Falls at the Smokey Hollow area for about
20 minutes, cross over the Grindstone Creek when you see Lower
Snake Falls (located in Burlington), follow the tributary of
the Grindstone Creek upwards past Lower Snake Falls until you
almost reach Snake Falls (or Upper Snake Falls). You will
see another ravine on the right side, follow it up about 100m
to Boundary Falls.

The easiest way to visit Boundary Falls
is to park on Mill St. in Waterdown on the south side at the
pullover beside the railway tracks (opposite the water treatment
plant), walk over the railway tracks and climb down the hill.
Be extremely careful both crossing the tracks (trains do come)
and climbing down the hill (it is slippery). You will hear
a waterfall, but it is Snake Falls (in Burlington) and
not Boundary Falls. Find the ravine that is almost opposite
where you parked the car and look for the cap rock, and there
you will find Boundary Falls.