Chedoke Falls

Chedoke Falls

Chedoke Falls on August 25, 2009. Photo by Mike Mandula. Click to enlarge.

Chedoke Falls is a Ribbon Waterfall located
on the east branch of the Chedoke Creek. It is 18 metres (60
feet) in height and 9 metres (30 feet) in crest width. Chedoke
Falls experiences year-round flow.

History

Chedoke Falls is named after Chedoke Creek which runs through
the area. The interesting fact about “Chedoke” is that
it is not a Native Indian word as believed and noted in many
websites and books. In fact it is a corruption of two English
words “seven oaks”. The Native Indian caught the sound
and changed “seven oaks” into “Chedoke”.

The area at the base of the escarpment was first used as
a golf course in 1896 when the private Hamilton Golf and Country
Club rented a part of the old Paradise Dairy Farm for a 9 hole
course and then 18 holes. In 1916 the Hamilton Golf and Country
Club moved to Ancaster. Today two 18 hole golf courses exists
on this site forming the Chedoke Civic Golf Course owned
by the City of Hamilton.

In the book “Waterfalls The Niagara Escarpment” by
Jerry Lawton and Mikal Lawton, there is no photo of Chedoke Falls,
as they could not make it to the base. This is the excerpt from
their book:  “Even when you’ve seen the gorge from
above, seen how deep and narrow it is, it’s a shock to encounter
it from below. It’s one of the wildest, most out-of-this-world
places on the Escarpment – and here it is, hidden away in a spot
close to the geographical center of one of Canada’s largest cities!”

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How to get there

Chedoke Falls is located almost in the centre of Hamilton and
yet it is extremely difficult to get to the bottom of this waterfall.
You can see it from the top as it is located on Scenic Drive
at Denlow Dr. (at the first ravine west of Garth St.).

From the bottom, you can access it from the Chedoke Civic Golf
Course. From the parking lot at the golf course follow the Chedoke
Radial Trail to the most easterly ravine on the east side of
the golf course, then follow this ravine upstream for several
hundred metres. There is no trail and you will need waterproof
boots. You will past both Lower Chedoke Falls and Denlow Falls
before you reach Chedoke Falls.

Chedoke Falls Photo Gallery

Chedoke Falls

Chedoke Falls. Photo by Dan Court. Click to enlarge.
Chedoke Falls

Chedoke Falls in spring. Photo by Joe Hollick. Click to enlarge.
Chedoke Falls

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

Chedoke Falls. Photo by Ray Love. Click to enlarge.
Chedoke Falls

Vintage Chedoke Falls postcard. Courtesy of Joe Hollick.
Chedoke Falls

Vintage Chedoke Falls postcard. Courtesy of Joe Hollick.

Chedoke Falls Video

On July 14, 2008, our site sponsor and webmistress visited Chedoke
Falls and took a video. (We called it Scenic Falls at first-
a slip because we were on Scenic Drive. Thanks to Joe Hollick
for setting us straight!)