Complete Guide to High Falls & Little High Falls, Muskoka

Located in Bracebridge, High Falls is one of the biggest and most popular waterfalls in the Muskoka region. Here's what you need to know!

We’ve previously posted a little bit of information on High Falls on Muskoka in our Arrowhead Provincial Park Camping Guide, after visiting it for the first time a few years ago.

It’s since become a must-see destination for us, whenever we’re in the Muskoka region. Beyond the main waterfall itself, it’s just a really great place to visit - ethereally lush trails through a forested area, two more waterfalls, a cute picnic area - it’s always a great time!

That said, a little blurb as a “things to see near Arrowhead Provincial Park” section in a campground review just doesn’t do justice to the High Falls Picnic Area, and everything you’ll find there!

So, after our most recent visit in Spring 2026 ... we decided to give it the full visitor’s guide treatment here on 2 Nerds in a Truck.

Now we can share more information about the picnic area, the two other falls on the property, and those GORGEOUS hiking trails.

So, let’s get to it!

The Basics:

Location Name: High Falls Picnic Area
Address: Bracebridge, ON (No proper address, click for Google Maps Location)
Website: N/A
Price Free!
Reservations: Not applicable
Season: Mid May to Mid October.
Park Hours: 5 am - 9 pm Daily.

Logistics

One thing to note: If you search “High Falls” in Google Maps, it’ll take you to a parking spot across the falls - if it takes you to the RIGHT “High Falls” at all. (There are many different waterfalls of the same name, even in Ontario. At least THREE are in Algonquin Provincial Park, alone!)

You’ll want to either search “High Falls Picnic Area”, or click the link we provided in the “basics” section, above.

Beyond that, here is some basic information to help you plan your visit to Muskoka’s High Falls:

Registration and Check In

This is basically a rest stop kind of park. While it’s gated in the off season, there’s no gatehouse or anything to check in at when it’s open.

There’s no need - or ability - to reserve parking or anything, you just show up, find your parking, and start exploring!

As a note: If you come in via Power Pt Rd - north of the falls - you may or may not be able to cross the bridge over the falls. Sometimes it’s blocked off - I’m guessing due to the high water levels?

2 part image showing the entrance from the north side of the falls. — The Bridge from Power Point Rd

Parking

There is VERY little in the way of parking at High Falls.

At the end of the park’s loop - right at the upper part of the falls - there are maybe 4-5 parking spots.

Aside from that, you can park at each of the handful of little picnic nooks... but that’s about it.

A very small parking lot on the side of a road. — The Parking Lot

Washrooms

There is a small, seasonal washroom building to the right, as soon as you enter the main parking area.

If you’ve turned left / gone onto the loop to head towards the falls, you’ve passed it.

A yellow washroom building with 2 stalls. — The washrooms at High Falls.

Maps and Signage

There is no park map - unfortunate, on account of the trails! - and very little in the way of signage.

If you’re just looking for easy access to the falls, it’s pretty easy to find it - just follow the road until the end of the loop, and you’ll see the bridge easily!

If you’re looking to hit the trails though, it’s more of an exploration thing.

The trails from the main road (on the back half of the loop / when you’re returning from the bridge area) aren’t marked, but they’re pretty obvious when you see them.

The one closest to the falls is fairly difficult to get down (slippery rocks!), but is the closest to the best viewing areas.

If you go a bit further down the road - closer to the entrance of the park - you’ll find a few more trails into that forest area. The last main one is a flat and easy one, that will take you to the bridge over Potts Falls.

A portage symbol and a sign for the Great Trail on a tree. — The Only Directional Signage We Saw!

Accessibility

The accessibility of High Falls Picnic Area really depends on what you’re looking to do.

In terms of just visiting, checking out the falls from the top, picnicking, etc - fairly accessible. There’s a barrier-free washroom stall, and parking at each of the picnic outlets.

While there are no designated disability parking spots on site - as far as we saw - if you CAN snag a spot at the falls, you should be able to get a view.

The bridge over the falls has a step up to get to it, but - as you’re looking from the parking towards the falls - if you go to the left down the road, there’s a natural path down to a viewing area, on your right.

This is the best view of the falls for those with mobility impairments.

Note: If you come to the wooden steps, you’ve gone too far.

2 part image showing a path down to a viewing area next to High Falls in Muskoka. — The Accessible Viewing Area

In terms of the trails and better views of the falls, you’re really not going to want to tackle those if you have any balance problems or mobility impairments.

Getting down to the better views of the falls means getting down steep areas, stepping down boulders - slippery in a lot of areas - and, depending on where you go, climbing over a large fallen tree.

I’ve done some wild stuff while in a walking boot, and I would ABSOLUTELY not recommend doing so here.

If I were using any kind of mobility aid at all, I would stick to the viewing area at the top side of the falls.

That said, one of the paths in from the main road - the one marked with a portage sign - is a fairly easy, flat path that will take you to a bridge on top of Potts Falls, with a really nice view of the area from there.

It may or may not actually be wheelchair accessible, but any other mobility aid should be fine.

Pets

We’ve seen several dogs walking the trails. They were all larger, though - smaller dogs may need help getting up some of the larger rocks and such.

There are garbage cans in the picnic area, but no poop baggie dispensers - so plan accordingly and PLEASE pick up after your pet!

Park Store

There is no park store of any kind at High Falls Picnic Area.

Visitor Centre

There is no Visitor Center at the High Falls Picnic Area.

Picnic Area

There are a handful of picnic areas along the loop of road that goes through the park. Probably 5 of them?

They’re individual little nooks, with a single picnic table and space for a car or two to park right at the site.

As a note, the one on the right - just before the bridge - by FAR has the nicest view. It’s right on the water ... at least in the spring!

6 part image showing different little picnic alcoves at High Falls Picnic Area. — The Picnic Areas

Connectivity

We always seem to have decent to good internet reception at High Falls Picnic Area, on Rogers Wireless.

I can never resist uploading waterfall videos to a friend or two, while on site!

High Falls Picnic Area Waterfalls

While it’s named after the largest and most impressive waterfall in the area, there are actually 3 waterfalls in this park, just a short walk from each other.

2 of them are easy to get at least some kind of view of, the third will require a short hike to access.

These are:

High Falls

At about 16 metres tall and 30 metres across, High Falls is one of the biggest waterfalls in the Muskoka area. It’s a cascade style waterfall, and the watercourse is the north branch of the Muskoka River.

Sometimes it’s referred to as “Niagara of the North”. I mean, it’s a nice waterfall, but I definitely reserve that nickname for Kakabeka Falls!

Anyway - like many waterfalls - High Falls is part of a hydroelectric generating setup, with the power generating equipment just above the falls. Unlike many of those waterfalls, though, you can easily get great views - and photos - of High Falls WITHOUT that infrastructure visible.

There are a few different view points for the waterfall:

1. From the bridge that runs overtop. This is the easiest to access, right from the road/parking area. You can see the top of the falls - and the water below - but that’s about it.

2. From a viewing area to the left of the bridge (when looking at it from the parking area).

If you walk a few metres further along the road, there’s an open area with a tall rock monument in it. There’s a sloped path and set of set-in wooden steps leading down to an area that overlooks the side of the waterfall.

This is the easiest view of the waterfall itself, and it’s RIGHT next to it.

5 part image showing the paths down to the accessible viewing area, and the view of high falls from it. — The Viewing Area Next to High Falls.

3. From below. If you take one of the hiking trail options off to the right - just after the previous viewing area - you can make your way down some boulders and on to the flat, forested area below. Head in the direction of the falls, and you’ll come to a series of openings with great views of the falls.

When the water is low, you can easily get out on some rocks that jut out in front of it, but this is far too dangerous when there’s a strong flow on the go.

4 part image showing various views along the trails at High Falls in Muskoka. — The lower viewing area, accessed from the 1st and 2nd trails, and the view from that spot.

4. From the other side of Pott’s Creek. Apparently you can follow the trail on that side, staying to the right when it splits off. It’ll take you down to the river, and has access to the shoreline. We haven’t gone that route yet, but apparently you can see both High Falls and Little High Falls from the shore there.

5. From the High Falls Bay Camping & Waterpark , below. This is really the only place to get a straight-on view of the falls, but it’s from a distance and requires a reservation!

Little High Falls

Little High Falls is a ... well, little... cascade waterfall that’s kind of off to the side of High Falls.

Like Pott’s Falls - more on that in a minute - its watercourse is Potts Creek, which flows along the picnic area, down in the lower, forested area.

Short of booking a reservation at High Falls Bay, the only way to see this one is to hike down along Pott’s Creek.

There’s a pretty good view of the falls on the picnic area side of the creek - it’s very close to the lower viewing area (#3 above) for High Falls. Just head away from the falls, along the water - you’ll come to it in about 1 minute.

Alternately, you could cross Potts Creek over Potts Falls and walk down to the edge of the Muskoka River on that side, for a better view of the Little High Falls from below.

High Falls, a large cascade waterfall pm the Muskoka River. — Little High Falls

Potts Falls

Like Little High Falls, Potts Falls is located on Pott’s Creek... just a little further away from the Muskoka River.

You can hike along either side of the stream to get there - with access to the base of the falls from either side - or take the trail with the Portage sign straight to a bridge over it.

From the bridge, you can hike to the base on either side, if you like.

4 part image showing various views of potts falls. — Potts Falls

About the Names...

There are some WILD inconsistencies when it comes to the names of Little High Falls and Potts Falls. I’ve seen both falls referred to with each of the names, and ALSO both falls named as “Potts Falls”, with one being “Upper Potts Falls” and the one next to High Falls being referred to as Lower Potts Falls.

Google Maps has each one noted, and it refers to them as I have - with the upper falls being Potts, and the lower falls being Little High Falls.

This makes the most sense to me, partially because it seems weird to have the upper one called “Little High Falls”, rather than the smaller waterfall that’s right next to High Falls.

So, apologies if it’s wrong, but I’m choosing to see the Google Maps naming convention as the correct one.

4 part image showing a short path to Potts Falls, and views from the bridge over the falls. — The Path Straight to Pott's Falls from the Road.

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Entertainment and Activity

Some basic information on the things you can see and do while visiting High Falls in Bracebridge:

Hiking

Aside from the Trans Canada Trail cutting through the picnic area (across the bridge over High Falls, along the picnic area road, and down the trail over Pott’s Falls), the trails at High Falls aren’t named or mapped.

It’s basically a case of... you take a path off the side of that main road, find your way down to the forest floor below, and wander around.

Going counter clockwise along the loop road through the picnic area, the first trail off to your right - after passing the tall stone cairn - is a short and steep path over some large rocks, to take you DIRECTLY to the area viewing the falls from below.

Certain times of year, this path gets pretty dangerous - wet moss, wet fallen leaves, etc make that descent SLIPPERY!

On our most recent trip, we elected to take the second trail in.

It’s a longer trail that takes you a little further away from High Falls, but it’s easier (and safer!) when the conditions are slick.

You’ll still need to navigate over some rocks, roots, and trees to get down there, though.

Once you get down to the bottom, you can turn left to go see the bottom of Pott’s Falls:

... or continue to the right, to head toward High Falls.

When you get to the area next to High Falls, you can (sometimes) walk out onto a flat rock for a good view - not advisable when the flow is high! - or continue up a bit of an embankment for a different view:

If you continue back to where you came down, you can hike up along the area parallel to the road, and find your way to higher land - and the bridge across Potts Falls.

This is the where the Trans Canada Trail continues - you’ll connect up with the third (?) Trail from the main road, which is the one marked with the portage and Great Trail signs.

From here, you can cross the bridge and either hike down to the other side of Pott’s Fall’s, or continue along the Trans Canada Trail from there.

Biking

Aside from the little main loop of road, there really isn’t anywhere to go biking here.

Swimming

While there’s swimming at the resort nearby, there isn’t really any safe or desirable access to swimming from within High Falls Park.

Birding, Wildlife, and Nature

Weirdly, the most wildlife we’ve seen during our visits has been the odd squirrel. It’s usually pretty quiet for birding - or maybe we just can’t hear birds over the roar of the multiple waterfalls!

While it hasn’t really been a great birding destination for us, the vegetation is REALLY cool.

The hiking area is incredibly lush, and we love looking at all the different mosses and such that thrive on all the boulders down there!

Boating

There is no access for boating from within High Falls Picnic Area / Park.

Fishing

I’ve seen people with fishing rods heading into the park, but accessing fishing areas from that picnic area seems like a bit of a hassle. It’s Muskoka, so there are great fishing locations EVERYWHERE!

Educational & Cultural Opportunities

The only educational signage we saw at High Falls was one on the bridge, giving some history and details about the bridge over High Falls.

There’s also a memorial cairn for Aubrey White, with some information about the work he did as “The Father of Forest Protection” in Ontario. He was also Assistant Minister of Crown Lands, and eventually the Deputy Minister of Lands, Forests, and Mines.

If you have time, Google him - he seems far more interesting than we really have time or space for, in this post about waterfalls!

Niantic Games

There are a handful of Niantic Game features (Pokestops, Poke Gyms, Ingress Portals, etc) in the High Falls picnic area.

They’re mostly clustered right around High Falls itself, and there is generally really good cell phone reception in the area.

Final Thoughts

Obviously, we love High Falls - we make a point of stopping there every time we camp at Arrowhead Provincial Park!

It’s a great place to stop over and have a little picnic while on a road trip, but we really recommend spending a bit more time here, and exploring the trails a bit.

We love the mossy rocks and really the whole feel of the forested area below the main road. It’s so lush and gorgeous, with very ADD friendly trails. You can see and experience a lot of great views and get a bit of a workout, in a fairly small area!

The falls have been impressive every time we’ve been there, and don’t seem quite as dependant on spring thaw / rainfall as a lot of other falls we’ve seen.

That said, they’re definitely EXTRA impressive in the spring, during flooding season.

Whatever time of year you go, though, expect a gorgeous visit!

High Falls