Jones Falls | TorontoHiking Ontario Waterfalls

Jones Falls

Jones Falls (Rating=A) is a pretty Grey County cascade waterfall caused by the 12 m drop of the Pottawatomi River flowing over the escarpment. It has a crest of 10 m.

LOCATION:	Jones Falls is situated in the Pottawatomi CA on the west side of the city of Owen Sound. Follow 10th Street West to Springmount. Turn north on Highway 6. The entrance is on the immediate right. Free parking is available. Click on the Road Map button below for a Google Road Map and driving directions. The Falls Locator button shows a map of other waterfalls in the area.
ACCESS:	The falls is about a 450 m rocky walk of moderate difficulty from the free parking lot. The falls is not wheelchair accessible. Click on the Trail Map button below for area walking trails.

NEARBY FALLS	LAT	LONG	TYPE	H (m)	W (m)	SOURCE	FACING
Jones Falls	N44.55916	W80.98542	classical cascade	12	10	Pottawatomi River	S
Inglis Falls	N44.52615	W80.93432	complex cascade	18	6	Sydenham River	N
Indian Falls	N44.62101	W80.95457	classical plunge	15	12	Indian Creek	E
Walter's Falls	N44.48833	W80.71151	classical cascade	14	15	Walter's Creek	N
Hogg's Falls	N44.28691	W80.54425	curtain plunge	6	10	Boyne River	N

Trail Map	Road Map	Falls Locator

ToHi WATERFALL RATINGS

Overall Rating: Jones Falls = A

Waterflow: A -year round flow; diminished in summer
Falls Size: B - < 15 m
Aesthetics: A -very attractive falls in a nice setting

THE JONES FALLS AREA:

jones-falls Scenic Jones Falls is located on 116 hectares of Niagara Escarpment land in the Pottawatomi Conservation Area. Cascading 12 meters over the escarpment, the Pottawatomi River eventually makes its way to Owen Sound Bay on Georgian Bay. You can view the falls year round and even in the summer with diminished water, it is still worth viewing.

Jones Falls was named after Samual Ayres Jones, who bought the property in 1849 from a surveyor names Charles Rankin. A sawmill was construced by Jones just below the falls on the north side of the river.

The rocks in this area have undergone weathering as groundwater seeps into cracks and crevices and then freezes and thaws repeatedly making the cracks larger and larger until, in time, blocks of the hard dolostone break away and fall from the face of the escarpment. This accounts for the numerous crevices in the area and along the trail. You will also observe limestone pitting created by the naturally acidic rainwater.

Numerous eastern white cedars, hundreds of years old, cling to the side of the escarpment. This site contains various trees and shrubs ranging from Wild Rose to hard maples. Patches of white trillium and columbine are among the wildflowers that can be found in the area. Cliff swallows, pileated woodpeckers, porcupines and woodchucks are common to the conservation area, as are garter snakes and painted turtles.

JONES FALLS AREA WALKING TRAILS:

Bruce Trail, Springmount Side Trail. For a map of area trails, click on the Trail Map icon above.

jones-falls From the parking lot off Hwy 6 (County Rd 18), the Springmount Side Trail connects with the Bruce Trail. There keep to the left along the Bruce Trail which leads to a vantage point providing a breathtaking view of the surrounding lowlands and Jones Falls. The trail is flat and passes through scrubby brush to begin but soon becomes rocky and slippery when wet. The trail crosses a bridge over the Pottawatomi River where the shallow water below is rushing to meet the crest of the falls. Soon you can see the falls in front of you.

You can climb much higher to a point well above the falls for a great view but be careful if the rocks are wet. Good photos can be taken from this vantage point if you can hold the camera steady. I had to use my friend's knee as a tripod as he laid as still as possible on the sloping rocks. You can join and follow the Bruce Trail further along the brow of the escarpment, or hike the alternate trail system provided. The Falls is also visible from Hwy 21.