If there’s one nation on Earth where you should ignore the lyrics of TLC’s 'Waterfalls', it’s Canada. Home to roughly 1,700 named waterfalls, and countless other unnamed ones, the country is tailor-made for people who love taking in these wonderful natural spectacles. From famous cascades to lesser-known marvels, we've rounded up and ranked our favourites – just remember to pack those waterproofs.
Our selections are based on the first-hand experience of our well-travelled team. The list is unavoidably subjective.
Click through this gallery to see our rundown of Canada's must-visit waterfalls...
As you can see, the famous Bow Falls in Banff National Park is far from the highest or grandest waterfall on our list. What this 30-foot (9m) rumble over a low-gradient pitch lacks in scale, however, it more than makes up for with natural beauty.
The classic 1950s movie River of No Return starring Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum was shot here. Today, you can follow in the pair’s footsteps along scenic Bow Falls Trail on the south shore of the Bow River.
Deep inside ruggedly remote Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park, in the West Chilcotin area of British Columbia, you’ll discover Canada’s third-highest waterfall. Plunging 855 feet (260m), this huge unbroken drop at the mouth of Turner Lake is utterly breathtaking.
Way out in the backcountry with very limited infrastructure, getting to Hunlen Falls is anything but easy. Your best bet is taking a 20-minute floatplane flight from Nimpo Lake. Hikers skipping the aerial approach should bring a tent, as it's a 20-mile (33km) round trip from the nearest car park with a vertical gain of 2,625 feet (800m).
Taking its name from the magnificent 230-foot-high (70m) Brandywine Falls, Brandywine Falls Park serves up a soul-soothing blend of hiking, mountain biking, picknicking and picturesque views. Tripled in size in 2010 to include a habitat for red-legged frogs (keep an eye out), the park is an idyllic expanse of nature in which to spend some time.
Wondering where the whole 'Brandywine' thing comes from? It may have stemmed from a historic wager between two surveyors, who bet a bottle of brandy that they could more accurately estimate the waterfall's height.
Despite its 20th-century transformation into one of Canada’s most important hydroelectric resources, Churchill Falls remains a beautiful and dramatic pocket of nature in Labrador. Churchill River, which takes its name from Britain’s wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill, flows for more than 200 miles (300km) before it hits a series of cataracts.
This photo was taken just downstream of the Churchill Falls hydroelectric project. As you can see, although the project has reduced the water’s flow somewhat, the setting still serves up stunning views.
To see Canada’s highest waterfall with your own eyes, you’ll have to head to Strathcona Provincial Park in British Columbia. Beginning its drop from a height of 1,456 feet (444m), the awe-inspiring Della Falls is the kind of epic sight that will stay with you long after you’ve seen it.
To get a good look at this giant from its base, hop on the nine-mile-long (15km) Della Falls Hiking Trail. From there, it’s a 1.9-mile (3km) walk to a picturesque viewpoint on the Love Lake-Mount Septimus Trail.
One of the largest waterfalls in British Columbia, and one of the most important in the Canadian Rockies, Wapta Falls doesn’t hold back. During the peak of summer melt, the flow here can swell to over 13,000 cubic feet (368 cubic metres) per second. This number comes down considerably in winter, but the waterfall and its setting are no less pretty for it.
Located in Yoho National Park, and the biggest waterfall on the Kicking Horse River, it drops 58 feet (18m). With an average span of 330 feet (101m), you might need to use your camera’s panoramic mode to get it all in one shot.
Up in the sparsely populated Northwest Territories, just outside the village of Kakisa, you’ll find Lady Evelyn Falls. The 56-foot (17m) curtain of spray, which is caused by the Kakisa River jumping off an ancient coral reef, sits in a park of the same name (Lady Evelyn Territorial Park).
Fishing enthusiasts in particular will love it here. Northern pike, pickerel and Arctic grayling can all be caught at the base of the falls. The park itself has over 20 powered campsites, so you can really make an adventure of it.
Some epic waterfalls require epic hikes through the wilderness, but others, like the charming Sutherland Falls near Revelstoke, require only a short wander. Sat temptingly in Blanket Creek Provincial Park, the waterfall's effort-to-reward ratio makes it hard to resist.
If you’re feeling particularly intrepid, consider climbing up around the back of the falls for a fresh angle. Alternatively, enjoy some camping at the Blanket Creek Campground, under a mile away from the falls.
No, do not adjust your screen settings or call your optician – you’re not seeing double. Instead, you’re looking at a photo of the wonderful Twin Falls in Yoho National Park. Hikers who love watching water thunder off rock, while surrounded by sweeping wilderness, will love the trail connecting Takakkaw Falls with the falls pictured here. Bring your tent along to make a night of it.
Yes, it's really called that, but don’t let the questionable name put you off. Sat among the jaw-dropping majesty of Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, this waterfall is one of the highest in eastern North America and sure to impress those who make the effort.
Plummeting from roughly 1,150 feet (350m) above sea level, it’s the kind of sight that can easily give you a neck ache. Originating atop the imaginatively named Big Level Plateau, the water drops a long, long way into the clear Western Brook Pond.
Wawa’s Magpie Falls is also known as Magpie Scenic High Falls, Scenic High Falls, High Falls and High Falls of the Magpie River. Whatever you call this aquatic gem, you won’t be disappointed.
Standing 75 feet (23m) tall and stretching 124 feet (38m) across, this gorgeous waterfall is destined to be your desktop wallpaper. Just a few steps from the parking area you’ll find the main lookout and an idyllic picnic spot. There’s also a short trail serving up fresh vantage points.
Despite resembling something straight out of The Lord of the Rings, you don’t need to travel to Middle Earth to see the popular and picturesque Inglis Falls in all its glory. The most visited of the three waterfalls surrounding Owen Sound, the 59-foot-high (18m) cascade is the result of the Sydenham River meeting the edge of the Niagara Escarpment.
Come for the views down the valley and out to the harbour, stay for the enjoyable hiking trails and birdwatching opportunities. The historical remains of a grist mill should also catch the eye.
The people of Whistler, it’s fair to say, know a thing or two about nice waterfalls. Found in the Callaghan Valley region, near where the Nordic events of the 2010 Winter Olympics took place, this picture-perfect landmark drops 141 feet (43m) over three sections.
At the end of spring and the beginning of summer, the rapidly melting snow on nearby mountains results in the water here packing extra punch. Seeing it do its thing is easy as can be, with a viewing platform sat handily next to the parking lot. No hiking required.
Nestled in Nahanni National Park Reserve, up in the wild and remote Northwest Territories, you’ll find one of Canada’s greatest natural wonders. Known as Náįlįcho in the Dene language, Virginia Falls plunges 315 feet (96m) into the deep canyons of the South Nahanni River. That’s twice the height of the world-famous Niagara Falls.
Roaring thunderously against a backdrop of boreal forests, imposing cliffs and the landscape of the Mackenzie Mountains, it looks like it’s been beamed in from the wall of an art gallery. Accessible via floatplane or guided expedition, this is definitely one for more intrepid travellers.
Hitting a height of 131 feet (40m), Kakabeka Falls is the second highest waterfall in Ontario. And thanks to a boardwalk that wraps around the top, tourists who make the effort are rewarded with eye-popping views from various angles.
Over time, the Kaministiquia River has cut deep into the rocks to reveal 1.6-million-year-old fossils at the bottom. Once the historic route of voyageurs, the French-Canadian frontiersmen involved in fur trading, a wander in these parts can – if you let your imagination off the leash – feel like time travel.
Whether you’re visiting in summer or winter, Montmorency Falls should be an essential part of any Quebec itinerary. Easily accessible from the historic Old Québec neighbourhood, which is just a 15-minute drive away in Québec City, the falls offer a convenient escape for nature lovers looking for some fresh air.
The falls are 272 feet (83m), making them 98 feet (30m) taller than the legendary Niagara Falls. Got a head for heights? You can walk over the falls with the help of a spectacular suspension bridge.
Singer-songwriters seeking somewhere soulful to shoot their next album cover could do a lot worse than Shannon Falls, in Shannon Falls Provincial Park. Found just south of Squamish on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, the water here plummets 1,105 feet (335m) in a way that begs to be photographed from every angle.
Known as Kwékwetxwm, the waterfall holds a special significance for the Squamish people, the area’s first inhabitants. Legend has it that Say-noth-ka, a two-headed sea serpent, created the majestic spectacle by repeatedly slithering up and down the mountainside.
Even by the lofty standards of the Murtle River, Helmcken Falls in British Columbia is something special. The most famous of Wells Gray Provincial Park’s seven falls (all of which sit on the Murtle River), this 463-foot-high (141m) landmark is epic in every way.
Officially the fourth tallest waterfall in Canada, the way Helmcken’s water shoots over the volcanic Murtle Plateau has to be seen to be believed. Most people choose to visit in summer, but there’s something to be said for checking out its enormous winter ice cone.
Standing 1,224 feet (373m) tall, Takakkaw Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Canadian Rockies and the second tallest in Canada. Situated in beautiful Yoho National Park, its cascading water and picturesque mist are fuelled by snow and ice melting in early summer. It's easy to see why the waterfall’s name is based on the Cree word for ‘wonderful’, and if you’re lucky you might even see a rainbow at the falls' base.
Found in beautiful Jasper National Park, the 75-foot-high (23m) Athabasca Falls might not be high by Canadian Rockies standards, but the sheer size of the river feeding it lends it tremendous power. Pouring over a layer of hard quartzite, the falls have cut into the softer limestone beneath, leading to intricate features including potholes and a short canyon.
Flowing from the mighty glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, the Athabasca River is the largest river system in Jasper. Visitors follow in the footsteps of historic map makers and gold-rushing fortune seekers who adventured here in the 19th century.
Straddling the border between Ontario, Canada, and New York, USA, Niagara Falls is one of North America’s most famous natural wonders. Combining height and volume in the most spectacular way, it actually consists of three separate waterfalls. The highest of these, the 188-foot-high (57m) Horseshoe Falls, sits on the Canadian side.
The dictionary definition of epic, and incredibly popular to boot (it gets 12 million visitors every year), Niagara simply had to take our number one spot. No visit is complete without enjoying the stunning Journey Behind the Falls experience, which will leave you breathless (and quite wet).
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