A great attraction on the west side of the Bruce Peninsula is beautiful Sauble Beach, located in the community of that name. The beach is 11 kilometres in length and the gentle offshore slope makes it ideal for swimmers of all ages.
During the summer the beach on Lake Huron attracts thousands of visitors. Just north of Sauble Beach is Sauble Falls Provincial Park. Many folks visiting Sauble Beach stay at this conveniently located provincial park.
As we headed for a tour of the Lake Superior north shore in September, my wife Claudia and I took the opportunity to visit this park on our way. Usually when visiting the area we go up Hwy 6, but I must admit I enjoyed the drive west of Guelph through farm country along Highway 86. Fields of corn, mixed dairy and beef cattle farms were all interesting to see.
Arriving at Sauble Falls, we were pleased with the campsite that we had booked and quickly set up, before nightfall, so that we could visit the main attraction — Sauble Falls.The Sauble River is actually an off-shoot of the Rankin River which is part of a well-known canoe route in the area. The Sauble River splits into two sections and it is the northern one that creates the falls located at the park. It is not a high falls, but it is a beautiful one. We spent some time with our camera and iPhones capturing it.
A gentleman I had spoken to as I approached the stairs leading to the falls mentioned seeing a heron by the water at certain times of the day, and I was fortunate to see it both in the evening and again in the morning. There were also several mergansers and a cormorant in the waters below the falls, obviously looking for a meal.
In spring and fall the site is a popular location for anglers, as there are spawning runs for both rainbow trout and chinook salmon. It’s an area where you can view the fish struggle over each ledge of this cascading waterfall to spawn upstream, a remarkable sight to see.
At one time the river and falls were a site of both lumbering activity and an historic mill. The campground is conveniently located and staying there allows the opportunity to visit other site in the area. Another great Ontario provincial park to visit.
