Drysdale Falls, Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia

GPS : 45.635933, -63.250994

These falls have everything I value. Tall waterfall, deep pool, multiple jumping locations, and it’s never overly populated. The walk is even short. If you go on a day where the flow is moderate and you like to jump, you will not be disappointed. These falls are approx 40 feet in height and fall at a 90-degree angle. The pool at its base is large and deep. At the top of the falls, there is a small pool that is also deep but is very dangerous. A small feeder fall approx 5 feet in height flows the river into the pool then down the falls themselves.

Important Information – Depending on the day you arrive, you will have the opportunity to jump and swim. In saying this, any day you have the opportunity to swim but if the flow is moderate or strong I would advise not to jump or get into the small pool at the top of the falls as there are a strong current and undertow. The top pool is known as a plunge pool which is very dangerous and once you have entered it the only way out is jumping down the main falls. It is dangerous. On a day where the flow is weak, check the depth of the main pool prior to jumping. To reach the top of the falls you will hike up the left-hand side of the falls, there is a well-established path up to the top. Once you reach the top, you will be approx 15 feet above the top of the falls. This is a run and jump location if you’re confident. Once at the top you will travel to your left along the rivers edge on the rock face for approx 50 feet before you scale down the rock face to reach the river. There are multiple ways down to the river from the top, this is just the route I chose. I have witnessed people jump from the top into the small pool at the top of the falls as well. Do that at your own risk. Once you get down to the river’s edge, walk downstream towards the falls. You will come to the feeder fall just above the small pool. Jump into this pool as it is a large pocket above the main falls. Swim to the edge and carefully stand up. The rocks are slippery but near the middle of the opening, there is a good base rock to stand on. I will warn you, once you jump into the small pool at the top of the main fall, it is extremely hard to chicken out of the main jump and climb out of the pool. Only jump into the small pool if you are going to jump. There are 3 spots to jump. The rock face at the top of the climb where you need to run and jump in order to clear a tree, the top of the main fall, and on the other side of the main fall near the big tree as you will see in the photo. They all vary in height. The walk to these falls is short, approx 1km of relatively flat terrain. If the river is low you can walk the river bed the entire way. When the water is higher, there are portions of the walk along the river’s edge on dirt, roots and loose rocks that is easy to identify. From where you park you will walk into the woods on an easily identifiable trailhead. You will veer to your left before heading right, down a bank towards the river’s edge. Walk upstream until you reach the falls. Make sure when parking your car on the road that all 4 tires are not on the pavement. Use the shoulder of the road as police have been known to give out tickets at this location.

Directions – These falls are located just before Tatamagouche on Balmoral Rd also known as Highway 256. If you are traveling from Halifax you will head towards Truro on highway 102 (Veterans Memorial Highway). Upon reaching Truro, you will take exit 14A onto Onslow Rd (Highway 4). At the top of the off-ramp, you will turn right and follow Onslow Rd until you reach a left-hand turn onto Highway 311. Follow Highway 311 until you reach a left-hand turn onto Balmoral Rd. The general parking location is along Balmoral Rd just after you cross the river. Parking on the shoulder of the road before entering the woods on the designated path to your left if you park on the right-hand side of the road. The path entering the woods will be just after the end of the guard rails in place to your left. The guard rails start