Crystal Falls

The Algoma District, a land of rocky hills and lakes north of Sault Sainte Marie, is quickly becoming one of my favorite day trip destinations. Every time I visit I leave wanting more...it is such a diverse and beautiful area. This day the family and I traveled north to do a bit of exploring. Our first stop was at Kinsman Park in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Within the park are two beautiful waterfalls, Minnehaha & Crystal. We than wandered our way an hour north along Lake Superior to beautiful Chippewa Falls and had some fun wandering around on the rocks. From there we headed back south stopping by to hike stunning Gros Cap, a rocky headland that rises some 300' directly out of Lake Superior just 20 minutes west of the Soo. Unfortunately, the Black Flies were out in swarms so we couldn't stay and enjoy as much as we liked but the day was still wonderful...

6-1-2008

Gros Cap & Algoma Waterfalls

Kinsman Park Hike Route Map
The approximate track of our hike at Kinsman Park, to Minnehaha Falls and Crystal Falls...
Kinsman Park
Our first stop was Kinsman Park. We walked to the south of this pond to reach the first falls...
Kinsman Park
The path to the brink of Minnehaha Falls is well-worn...
Kinsman Park
Another shot of Kinsman Pond...
Minnehaha Falls
Minnehaha Falls...it was tough getting a shot due to contrast ussues as well as the incessant Black Flies...
Kinsman Park
After Minnehaha Falls we headed back to the north side of the pond for the next falls...
Kinsman Park
Kinsman Park is a really nice place for a picnic...at least after black fly season...
Kinsman Park
Some Canada Geese enjoying the sun...
Kinsman Park
A short path leads north from the pond to Crystal Falls...
Crystal Falls
Crystal Falls is a long cascading falls, this is just the lower section...
Crystal Falls
Crystal Falls, about midway up...
Crystal Falls
A top-down view of Crystal Falls...
Crystal Falls
After a bit of a climb, the top portion of Crystal Falls...
Crystal Falls
Another look down...
Crystal Falls
This little pine caught my attention as it clung to the cliff above the falls...
Crystal Falls
Another shot of Crystal Falls on the way down...
Kinsman Park
The boys running back the car with a swarm of black flies in hot pursuit...
Chippewa Falls
Our next stop was here, at Chippewa Falls, about 45 miles north of the Soo along the Trans-Canada...
Chippewa Falls
This was a very powerful falls but the bare rocks surrounding them say they can be much larger...
Chippewa Falls
The power of this river during high water must be awesome...
Chippewa Falls
It took a bit of tricky maneouvering to get close to the lower falls...
Chippewa Falls
A pictuer just can't express what it was like to stand here...
Blueberry
We noticed a number of low-bush blueberries near the falls, though none were ripe...
Chippewa Falls
This is the upper section of Chippewa Falls...