Princess Louise Falls
Posted by: 
abacab
N 45° 29.190 W 075° 29.442
18T E 461654 N 5037113
A hidden natural wonder in Ottawa's east end
Waymark Code: WM50H
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 12/17/2005
Views: 89
Named after Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria and wife of the Marquis of Lorne, Governor General of Canada between 1878 and 1883. She was known to have travelled the 15 miles to this lonely spot from Rideau Hall in Ottawa during her husband's term to sketch the falls. None of these sketches appears to have survived. A plaque stood here until 1951 when the highway at the base of the falls was relocated. One of the streets above the falls was named Princess Louise Drive in 1984 when the area was developed as a residential neighborhood.
The escarpment around the falls remains untouched and is now part of a city park. Access is readily available at the top where one will find some trails. To get at the bottom of the falls for the more spectacular view, you'll need to park on a busy 2 lane road and walk down the abandoned highway alignment and hop across some boulders. Travelling from the top to the bottom in the winter is not recommended!!