BUTCHER HILL FALLS
Meadowvale, Colchester County
N 45° 10.933 W 063° 00.080
20T E 499895 N 5003192
photo by Robert Pierrynowski (2006)
RIVER: Higgins Mill Brook
CLASS: plunge/cascade
SIZE: 50'+ 20'
RATING: excellent (****1 /2)
TRAIL: well worn path
DISTANCE: >100m
HIKING TIME: 10 min
CONDITIONS: easy
GEOCACHE: GCPMQA
NS Atlas Page: 50/v2
NS topo map: 01 1 E02 (Upper Musquobodoit))
photo geoscotians (2007)
DIRECTIONS: from Truro, follow HWY #102 southward towards Halifax. Get off the freeway headed eastward at exit #13, towards Brookfield. Continue on HWY 289 east to Upper Stewiacke, turning right at the crossroads onto Stewiacke Road. Turn left onto the unpaved Higgins Mill Road (marked by sign). Proceed along this dirt road for approximately 1 .5 km, where you will cross a double bridge (one is wood and one is iron). Just past these bridges is an old farm house on the right.
photo by Andrew Paul (2014)
Trail Description: The falls are located across the road from the house, over the embankment, in the deep ravine below. There is a well recognizable trail accessed roughly 100m down the road from the house, on right. Follow trail down to base of falls.
photo Sylvia Fisher (2011)
Butcher Hill Falls, also known as Higgins Mills Falls, consisting of a striking 50 foot vertical plunge into a deep pool, which then empties, cascading down a 20 foot rock slope. An easily approachable site, with ample oppurtunity for good photography.
photo Sylvia Fisher (2011)
I loved Butcher Falls. It has three natural basins. The top one is the deepest, great for having a cold bath on a hot Summer's day!
ReplyDeleteTo clarify how to find these falls: After you have passed the two bridges, you will pass a house on the right hand side. About 100 metres later, you will see a trail on the right hand side of the road, leading down in the direction of the water. This is NOT where you want to go.
Instead, follow the road past a curve. You will reach a slight widening of the road where you can park your car on the right. From here, you can NOT see the house any more. There is a small gap in the vegetation on the right, just wide enough for one person. This is the entrance to a path that is quite steep, going downhill. Go down a little, then turn left onto a less steep path. From there it is easy to find the base of the falls (located upstream).
Do not turn onto Reid's Station Road continue on and turn right on Higgins Mill Road, then follow then follow the directions of the two bridges and pass the house.
ReplyDeleteHow nice is it's water, compared to lakes? Is it colder, same? much colder?
ReplyDeleteIs it suitable to take a 6 year old child to explore and swim in the base?
Can you park overnight on that road
ReplyDelete