10 Best Waterfalls near Halifax
Looking for the best waterfalls near Halifax? We’ve got you covered with 10 of the best waterfalls in the area.
Halifax may be known for its rich history, great food and waterfront boardwalk, but it’s also a city that’s blessed with plenty of outdoor opportunities. In addition to the numerous lakes and hiking trails, there are also several waterfalls in the area that are worth a visit.
Other areas of the province boast more falls, like the Annapolis Valley or the waterfalls in Cape Breton, but it’s still possible to chase a few waterfalls near Halifax.
We’ve rounded up 5 of the best waterfalls that are within a short drive from the city, as well as 5 more that are just under 90 minutes drive from downtown Halifax.
So if you’re looking for a new adventure, here are 10 of the best waterfalls near Halifax.
Best Waterfalls Near Halifax
1. Miller Lake Falls
📍645 Perrin Drive
Miller Falls, located just outside of Halifax near the Halifax airport, is one of the easiest waterfalls to access. It’s a beautiful waterfall just off the main road and you can hear the waterfall as you park.
It’s not possible to swim in these falls, but there are many lakes nearby where you can swim.
Hiking Time: 6 minutes
Distance: 0.6km
How to Get There: Park on Perrin Drive, just off exit 5 on Hwy 102 and take the short trail just before the bridge that crosses over the falls.
2. Johnson River Falls
📍901 Perrin Drive, Hardwood Lands, NS
Johnson Falls was one of the first waterfalls we set out to explore after moving to Nova Scotia.
It’s a beautiful waterfall, and one of our favourites to visit year-round.
Johnson River Falls is not too far of a drive from Halifax, and just down the road from Miller Lake Falls, making it easy to visit both falls in one visit.
The trail is just under 5km return and isn’t too challenging, making it a great hike for families. It can be quite muddy though, so best be prepared!
The trail begins by following an ATV trail and then heads through trees until you reach the falls.
Once you reach the falls, you can return the same way you came, or continue on past the falls to Soldier Lake, where you can cross the river and hike back to the other side of the falls.
Hiking Time: 1-1.5 hours
Distance: 4.2 km return
How to Get There: Park at the end of Perrin Road and follow the ATV trail for a few hundred meters until you see a trail off to the right side. There is a trail ribbon at the entrance to the trail.
3. Webber Lake Falls
📍74 Service Road, Halifax
Webber Lake Falls is one of our favourites year-round, but it’s especially lovely in the fall when the leaves begin to turn colour and land on the rocks beside the water.
The trail is easy but fun – there’s a tree bridge to cross – and leads to a beautiful waterfall, where you could easily spend an hour or two just enjoying the surroundings.
The trail to the falls is a circular route, and you can do it either way, but after parking in the cleared area off the highway, we suggest heading to the right and taking that trail first, which will lead you through the forest before reaching the falls.
Hiking Time: 25 minutes
Distance: 1.6km loop
How to Get There: Take Exit 2A on Hwy 101. On the west side of the highway, there is a cleared area that serves as a parking lot, just before the barrier that blocks off the service road. Walk along the service road and the trailhead will be on your right.
4. Pockwock Falls
📍Pockwock Road, Hammonds Plains
One of the tallest falls within a few minutes of Halifax, this is an easy hike and one that’s great for families.
Most of the hike follows an old road that was originally part of Old Annapolis Road, which connected lumber camps and was used to get from Halifax to Annapolis Royal.
Unfortunately, there was a bit of garbage at the beginning of the trail when we went, but once past that, it was a great hike.
The trail is wide but has a few steep sections and plenty of loose rocks, so proper footwear is a must.
The falls are just off the old road and can be heard, but not seen, from the trail. Once you reach the bridge, follow a side trail a few hundred meters to the falls.
Hiking Time: 45 minutes
Distance: 1.3 km return
How to get there: From Hwy 103, turn onto Hammonds Plains Road, then turn onto Pockwock Road and park at the sharp bend. Hike from here to the falls.
5. Slaughenwhites Cascades
📍35 Old School Road, Upper Tantallon
Located in Upper Tantallon, this is an easy 10-minute hike where you’ll see not just one, but four different cascades.
A short hike through the woods will bring you to the East River, which you walk alongside to see the different cascades.
While this is one of the shorter hikes, it’s not an easy hike, as the trail isn’t well-defined but you can follow the river to see the cascades.
Hiking Time: 20 minutes
Distance: 1 km return
How to Get There: From Halifax, take St. Margaret’s Bay Road to Peggy’s Cove Road, then turn left on Old School Road. Here you’ll see a hiking trail in the woods that leads to the East River.
Other Waterfalls Near Halifax: Under 90 Minutes Drive
6. Joe Howe Falls & Waddell Falls, Truro
📍29 Park Rd, Truro
Joe Howe Falls and Waddell Falls are both in Victoria Park and are only a few minutes from each other, but it’s worth seeing both falls.
Victoria Park is a large park in Truro, with well-marked signs indicating the various trails and attractions throughout the park.
Joe Howe is the first waterfall you’ll come to, and then a few minutes upstream is Waddell Falls.
Both falls are easy to access and viewing platforms provide excellent views of the falls.
Hiking Time: 45 minutes
Distance: approx 2 km out and back
How to Get There: From the parking lot, follow the signs to Joe Howe Falls, then continue on to Waddell Falls. There are multiple trails that lead to the falls, but all are well-signed.
Driving Time from Halifax: 1 hour
7. Wentworth Falls, Wentworth Valley
📍NS-4, Wentworth Valley
One of the most popular falls in the area, Wentworth Falls is easily accessible. The falls are located a few hundred meters from the highway along a flat and well-used trail.
Wentworth Falls is gorgeous any time of the year – we’ve been in both the summer and winter – and you can’t go wrong whenever you visit.
In the summer, there’s a shallow pool at the bottom of the falls, and kids can usually be seen splashing through the shallow rocks in their boots.
You can also climb to the top for a different view of the falls, and there’s an interesting tunnel at the top where the water flows from.
Hiking Time: 10 minutes
Distance: 0.25 km return
How to Get There: From Halifax, take Hwy 102 to Truro, then Hwy 104 towards Amherst. Take exit 11 for NS-4 towards Folly Lake. Just before Ski Wentworth, you’ll park on the side of the highway and the trail to the falls is on the west side of the road. Chances are good that you’ll see other cars parked here as well – even in the winter.
Driving Time from Halifax: 1 hour 25 minutes
8. Butcher Hill Falls, Upper Stewiacke
📍623 Higgins Mill Road, Upper Stewiacke
These gorgeous falls are a bit of a hidden gem. A short and easy trail from the road through trees leads right to the base of the falls.
Butcher Hill Falls is a two-tier waterfall, with a steep upper fall and a flatter lower waterfall. It’s possible to carefully hike beside the first fall to stand at the base of the upper waterfall, or just view the full waterfall from the base.
As it’s a short and easy trail from the road, it’s easy to visit these falls all year round.
While it’s a bit of a drive from Halifax, if you combine a visit to a few waterfalls, it’s a worthwhile day trip!
Hiking Time: 10 minutes
Distance: 0.25km
How to Get There: From Hwy 287, turn onto Branch Road, then right again onto Meadowvale Road, and left onto Higgins Mill Road. There is a parking area on the right with some trail flagging tape.
Driving Time from Halifax: 1 hour 20 minutes
9. Phantom Falls, Dean
Phantom Falls, or Fantum Falls as the sign reads, is one of the larger waterfalls near Halifax.
It’s an easy to moderate hike, depending on whether you view the falls from above or below.
The trail is marked with a sign reading “Fantum Falls”, and a short, narrow trail leads through the woods to the top of the falls. There are lots of trees blocking the view but you can hear and see the falls from here, or continue down to the bottom for a better view.
It’s not an easy climb to the bottom of the falls but with hiking shoes or boots, it’s a fun climb down. I wouldn’t recommend it with young kids – my kids were 7 and managed it ok, although they’ve done other tricky hikes and climbs before.
From the end of the trail, turn right and follow the river until you see a faint trail heading down to the water. There are ropes to assist in getting down to the water.
The view from below makes the climb down worthwhile!
Hiking Time: 1 hour
Distance: 2km
How to Get There: From Upper Musquodobit, take Hwy 336 for 4.5km from the intersection of Hwy 224. There’s a dirt road on the right, drive over the bridge and look for the flagging tape on the right, which leads to the falls.
Driving Time from Halifax: 1 hour 20 minutes
10. Ettinger Falls, Windsor
📍Windsor, NS
Ettinger Falls is one of the more well-known waterfalls near the HRM. This was one of the first waterfalls we explored in the province, and one that quickly got us hooked on chasing waterfalls in Nova Scotia.
It’s a popular place to visit and an easy hike from where you parked. While we didn’t swim there, there IS a rope and my kids want to visit again and take a dip.
*If you’re up for a bit of a longer hike, there are two more falls downstream and several small cascades upstream from Ettinger Falls.
While Ettinger Falls is a bit of a drive from Halifax, it’s only a few minutes from Windsor, so why not check out some things to do in Windsor after visiting the falls?
Hiking Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 1.25km
How to Get There: From Halifax, follow Hwy 101 to Windsor. Take the exit for Glooscap Trail, turn left and then left again onto Hwy 1/Evangeline Trail. Take a right onto Three Mile Plain Cross Road, then right onto Windsor Back Road.
Driving Time from Halifax: 50 minutes
Other Waterfalls Worth Mentioning
Christie Brook Falls, Truro
Hiking Time: 1.5 hours
Distance: 3.2km
Nearby: Good to combine with a visit to Joe Howe and Waddell Falls
Burnside Community Waterfalls, Upper Stewiacke
Hiking Time: 5 minutes
Distance: 0.3km
Nearby: Fantum Falls and Butcher Hill Falls
Horse Pasture Falls, Wentworth Valley
Hiking Time: 1 hour
Distance: 4km
Nearby: Wentworth Falls, just on the opposite side of the highway
Final Thoughts: Best Waterfalls Near Halifax
Chasing waterfalls is a fantastic way to explore the natural beauty of the area. Whether you’re after a quick and easy hike or a bit more of a challenge, there’s a waterfall adventure waiting for you. So grab your hiking boots, pack a snack, and head out to discover some of the best waterfalls near Halifax. Happy exploring!
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