Scenic Views · Fishing · Ontario
A set of rapids on the Black River inside Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park, north of Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, with a sandy swimming beach downstream and rough trails. No facilities; long gravel road in.
Victoria Falls is a stretch of rapids and small drops on the Black River, deep in the Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands, a large, undeveloped provincial park on the southern edge of the Canadian Shield. Reviewers describe it as serene and scenic, with a popular sandy beach about 500 m downstream of the bridge at the bottom of the rapids.
Getting there means a long, narrow gravel road. One reviewer notes the road has improved in recent years but isn't maintained from November to mid-May. The park is non-operating, so there are no washrooms, drinking water, picnic tables or campsites at the falls, and cell coverage is poor.
The Montgomery Creek loop starts from the small parking area, and one hiker walked it all day without meeting anyone. It's rough in places with river crossings, but the first and last kilometres are easy and scenic. Paddling, hiking and fishing are all possible here for visitors comfortable in undeveloped terrain, under Ontario's regulations.
Don't swim in the river just below the bridge, where there have been fatalities; use the beach downstream. Ticks have reached the area, and bugs can be bad, so dress for it. Camping isn't permitted at Victoria Falls.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 115 Google reviews. Conditions and rules change — check current park, access and fishing regulations before you go.
