Montreal Falls waterfall
Nearby gauge (Batchawana River) · 3.5 m³/s · Much lower than usual

Montreal Falls

Ontario

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

Before you go

We found no public road or trail to Montreal Falls, which sits at a hydroelectric dam and railway trestle; do not enter dam or railway property.

Photo Credits (5)
1.
David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
2.
davidwilson1949 / David Wilson CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
3.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
4.
WabbitWanderer CC BY-SA 2.0 · Flickr
5.
WabbitWanderer CC BY-SA 2.0 · Flickr

About Montreal Falls

Montreal Falls is an officially named waterfall on the Montreal River in Algoma District, at the site of Brookfield Renewable Power's MacKay Generating Station (62 MW). The Algoma Central Railway crosses the river here on the Montreal River trestle, about 472 m long and 40 m high, whose lower parts were encased in concrete when the dam was built. We found no public road or trail to the falls.

Why This Waterfall Exists

Montreal Falls flows over hard intrusive rock laid down over 2.5-2.8 billion years ago. These resistant rocks form a durable ledge that water cannot easily wear away, creating the falls where softer material downstream has already eroded.

Nearby Falls Worth Visiting

Agawa Falls (25 m) lies 14.0 kilometres to the northwest.

Trail & Hike Details

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Montreal Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Montreal Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall winter

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Check with the managing park or local authority for current conditions.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 1 hour ago Barely Flowing

These readings come from the Water Survey of Canada gauge on Batchawana River, 30.3 km away, not on Montreal Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

3.5 m³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

Much lower than usual for this time of year

Based on 57 years of record

2.14 m

Water depth at gauge

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

Flow is well below normal for this time of year, so the waterfall may be a trickle.

About This Gauge

This gauge is on a regional waterway. Conditions at the falls may differ, especially after local rain.

WSC 02BF001
30.3 km from waterfall

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the WSC gauge BATCHAWANA RIVER NEAR BATCHAWANA (30 km away).

Moderate confidence
Barely Flowing right now
3.5 m³/s
→ Holding steady
0008404TodayTomorrowSatSunMonTueWed

Today

Barely Flowing

3.5 m³/s

4/10

Tomorrow

Barely Flowing

3.2 m³/s

4/10

Sat

Barely Flowing

3.4 m³/s

4/10

Sun

Barely Flowing

3.7 m³/s

3/10

Mon

Barely Flowing

3.5 m³/s

4/10

Tue

Barely Flowing

3.6 m³/s

4/10

Wed

Barely Flowing

3.6 m³/s

2/10

Best window: Today — barely flowing flow, fog (trip score 4/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from early April to late May, peaking in April.

How we calculate this

This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest WSC stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Chapleau hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Weather Forecast

Location & Access

Getting There

We found no public road or trail access to Montreal Falls. The site is the Montreal Falls station on the Algoma Central Railway. The Montreal River Gorge at Montreal River Harbour, where Highway 17 crosses the river near Lake Superior, is a separate site about 16 km to the west.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Elevation

359 metres above sea level

Coordinates

47.270296° N, -84.435712° W

Visitor Tips & Gear

Additional Information

Nearby Attractions

The Montreal River Gorge at Montreal River Harbour can be glimpsed from the Highway 17 bridge, though the bridge is narrow and unsafe to stop on.

Wildlife

Region supports moose, black bear, wolves, foxes, beaver, beaver activity, and a wide variety of boreal birds. Exercise standard wildlife safety precautions (store food securely, maintain distance, do not feed wildlife).

Cities near Montreal Falls

Nearby Waterfalls

15.2 km away
In Lake Superior Provincial Park
Ontario
Easy
0.3 km 6 m

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