For those days when you might be a bit too tired for the exertion required by a bona-fide hike, there are many opportunities in Cape Breton for a quick stop at a look-off or waterfall. The CBRM's Gillis Falls are impressive for their pristine quality and relative closeness to our urban center. To get there, head towards Eskasoni First Nation from Sydney by taking exit 6W off Hwy 125 onto Hwy 4, and about 12 kilometers later right onto Hwy 216. Another right turn just over a kilometer later will take you onto Gillis Lake Road. From there, head north for about 3.5 km, and park on the side of the road just before the small bridge. The first waterfall, and a nice swimming hole, are on the lower side of the bridge. The approach is steep but short.
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| A trusted pair of insulated rubbers takes a person into the cold water without a problem. |
The second falls are on the other side of the bridge, so you'll want to ascend back to the road. These are on private property, so you may want to drive up a little further to his driveway and ask the owner's permission before venturing forth. This driveway features a bridge--look down, and you'll see that you are now on top of the second falls. The owner wasn't home when we ventured over, so we decided to head down anyway, returning our car to its first parking spot and hopping the gate seen here on the upper side of the bridge. If you happened to be carrying your fishing gear and a Nova Scotia license, you would be allowed to access water via private property in any case.
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| An impressive flow of water right below the owner's driveway. |
On our way back out, we met a man (not the owner), who said the landowner didn't mind people going to the falls as long as they weren't destructive, and that the "No Trespassing" signs were more or less intended to protect himself from people getting hurt on his property. It being early April, and with a fair amount of snow still on the ground, we didn't stick around for a picnic, though the falls' proximity to Sydney has me thinking that a favored takeout might be an enjoyable treat to bring next time.
Geocaches in area:
"Two Falls for the Price of One"
N 46° 02.957 W 060° 23.56 Status: Good (4/6/13) GCJ7EY
