It was a gorgeous early summer day at Hilton Falls Conservation Area.
The sun poked through the forest canopy overhead to paint the ground golden. Sparrows flittered from branch to branch and woodpeckers hungrily tapped at trees. Warblers sang happily and through breaks in the foliage above we could see hawks gliding silently and menacingly across the scattered clouds. Squirrels watched us pass, and once we startled a rabbit which hastily bounced off into the underbrush.
We didn't dally to watch the joyful wildlife, however. Instead, we pushed onward along the gravel trail, eager to view the waterfalls that are the namesake and centerpiece of this conservation area. Our pace quickened and our anticipation grew as the sounds of rushing water began to disrupt the all-encompassing silence of the forest. And then, suddenly, the majestic waterfall was before us, a spectacular curtain of water flanked by the haunting stone ruins of 19th century sawmills.
We paused in silence, soaking in the moment. The sound of the cascading water was soul-soothing, the view of breathtaking. We were just the latest to discover the magic of Hilton Falls.
Hilton Falls Conservation Area is located in the heart of Halton, just east of the village of Campbellville. A series of trails lead through 1,592 acres consisting of a variety of landscapes, including forest, swamp, beaver ponds, marshes, streams, and meadows. This diverse terrain is home to a rich assortment of animal and plant life. Twenty-two species of warblers nest here, several of which are seldom seen elsewhere in the region. The provincially-rare West Virginia white butterfly uses the maple forest habitat as its breeding ground, one of the largest in North America. Its larval food supply, the toothwart plant, is also rare in Ontario.
In addition to common mammals such as white-tailed deer, beavers, porcupine, foxes, and coyotes, the conservation area is home to several species of unusual mammals, such as the northern flying squirrel and the American water shrew.
There's more to Hilton Falls than just wildlife. The region is also rich in mystery and folklore.
Legends of gold discoveries and treasures hidden in a nearby cave have long captured our imagination, even though no substantive proof for either has ever emerged. It's also been suggested, with evidence to support, that Hilton Falls may have been used as a stop along the Underground Railway used by slaves escaping from the United States into Canada.
But of course, the real attraction, the reason thousands visit every year, is the waterfall itself. Here, Sixteen Mile Creek cascades over the Niagara Escarpment in a six-metre crest, plunging 10 metres down into a picturesque gorge shrouded by trees before continuing on its way to Lake Ontario. The waterfall is truly beautiful, a natural oasis. Part of its allure rests in its very contradictions- Hilton Falls is at the same time serene and powerful, graceful and rugged.
Adding to the appeal is the intimate manner in which we can explore the falls. A set of stairs descends down the side of the gorge to a viewing platform at the base of the waterfall, providing a uniquely close-up view and a spectacular vantage point for taking photographs. Even better, when stream levels are low enough to safely allow it, you can even venture behind the curtain of falling water. Indeed, it's not unusual during the summer months to hear children giggle excitedly as they peer out through the glistening sheet.
Adding to the sense of intimacy is a series of informative signs that familiarize visitors with the valley's geology and history.
Some of Hilton Falls's rich history is on display in the form of stone ruins, the remnants of 19th century sawmills, that are visible at the brow of the falls. These ruins serve to remind visitors of the importance of waterfalls to early settlers of the province as the source of power by which they could operate their mills- sawmills, gristmills, and woolen mills. These industries provided all the necessities of life: lumber for shelter, flour for food, and wool for clothing.
The first individual to harness the power of Hilton Falls was Edward Hilton who leased the land from Henry Young and built a sawmill on-site in 1835.
The lumber he cut supplied many settlers throughout Nassagaweya Township for use in their homes, barns, and businesses. But the 1830s were a turbulent time in Ontario, and battle lines were being drawn between the Tories, who supported the occasionally corrupt government, and followers of the fiery rabble-rouser William Lyon Mackenzie who demanded radical political reform.
Hilton was one of Mackenzie's supporters and got caught up in the Rebellion of 1837. Unfortunately, he chose the losing side, and was forced to flee to the United States and into exile.
In Hilton's absence, the sawmill sat vacant and was allowed to rot. It wasn't until 1856, when an Ancaster doctor named George Park acquired the property that a new sawmill emerged on site. The building Park constructed was impressive, with solid stone foundations, modern machinery, and an immense 40-foot diametre water wheel weighing 3,500 lbs. to power the saws. Dr. Park only operated the mill for a single year before selling it.
Three years later, the building was destroyed in a devastating fire, leaving behind only the atmospheric stone ruins we see alongside the falls today.
The third and final mill was constructed by John Richards in 1863. Like its predecessor, it lasted but a few short years before it, too, was razed by fire in 1867. After this last final mill was destroyed, no one else stepped forward to harness the water power of Hilton Falls.
Today, the sawmills are but a distant memory and, save for the stone foundations, Hilton Falls have returned to their original state as a natural oasis.
Hilton Falls is a short drive from Halton Hills, and boy, is it worth it.
You'll leave wonderfully stress-free, as if the soothing sound of falling and the breathtaking views washes away your worries. That's the magic of Hilton Falls.
To get there
Hilton Falls Conservation Area is three kilometres east of the Guelph Line (Halton Road 1) on Campbellville Road (Halton Road 9). The parking lot is on the south side. The trail leading to the waterfall is smooth and well-groomed, but visitors should expect a 20-minute walk.