EUGENIA FALLS
There are a number of beautiful and interesting water falls you can visit in our area. One of the often visited ones is the Eugenia Falls, located in Eugenia on Grey Road 13, and can be reached from Flesherton by taking the Highway 4 turnoff. It is marked on some road maps. With a variety of things to do, see and photograph it is an ideal location for an afternoon outing day trip with the family or friends. When you get to the town of Eugenia turn northwest on Pellisier St. and follow the signs.
You get your first view of the crest of the waterfall from the parking lot. You are advised to stay on the “safe” side of the stone wall as the vertical cliffs are about 30 m high. For better views follow one of the trails. At the head of the western one there is a sign with information about the escarpment and Eugenia’s history. This trail takes you takes you along the edge of a forested gorge, when you come to a clearing in the woods look back to the falls, for great view. If you are an experienced hiker you can continue along the trail to a weakly defined path down to the bottom of the gorge and make your way back to the base of the falls. If you follow the downstream trails for about a hundred feet there is a nice view of the whole falls. You could also take the eastern one that takes you directly down to the falls following a low stone wall along the ridge. If you like you can go east to the top of the falls or go west to join up with the western trail.
The area is situated in a conservation area encompassing 23 hectares of river valley and upland forest along the Niagara Escarpment. The falls are 30 meters high but fairly narrow. The best time to view them is in the spring, when the snow melts as the water becomes sparser during the summer because the nearby power plant uses much of the water from the river. They were discovered by a Mr. Brownlee in 1852, and were the site of a brief gold rush until they learned it was only fools gold. Surveyors named it after Empress Eugenia, a consort of Napoleon III. There is a picnic area and shelter there if you packed a lunch.
You will also want to visit the Emporium that is across from the falls. As well as a wide variety of wares there is also a Beaver River Grill, The Pickle Guy, Wow Candy Store and The Brilliant Bread and Cheese Co. The building used to be a gas station and garage but was renovated and since 2000 has an old fashioned diner style lunch counter and plays all types of music. The Emporium is open Wednesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm and holiday Mondays.
There are a number of trails you can follow through the gorge and one that leads to Hogg’s Falls; but some of them are difficult and dangerous so are considered for experienced hikers only. The one that most people can follow is large and well groomed. Near the start of this trail is an old monument honoring the soldiers of World War 1, and if you follow it for about 20 minutes to will take you downstream to river level where the official trail ends.
If you are looking for somewhere to spend an enjoyable afternoon at Eugenia Falls you should find something to interest you.
Scources:
http://gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/eugenia.shtml
http://www.mycollingwood.ca/Eugenia_Falls.asp
http://www.start.ca/users/mharris/waterfalls/eugenia-falls.html
http://www.day-trips.ca/content/eugenia-falls
http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trails-a-z/eugenia-falls-conservation-trail/
http://www.trailpeak.com/trail-Eugenia-Falls-Lookout-near-Collingwood-ON-1004
http://www.eugeniafallsemporium.com
