Devils Hill Falls
{{Infobox waterfall
| name = Devils Hill Falls
| photo = 20121020 Devil's Hill Falls 1.jpg
| photo_caption = Lower Devils Hill Falls, Victoria County, Nova Scotia
| map = Nova Scotia#Canada
| map_width = 220
| relief = yes
| location = Devils Hill, Nova Scotia, Canada
| coords = {{coord|45|58|41.43|N|60|01|44.53|W|display=inline,title}}
| elevation =
| height = {{convert|12.5|m|ft}}
| height_longest = {{convert|6|m|ft}}
| number_drops = 3
| watercourse = Devils Hill Brook
| type = Upper & Lower classical ledge waterfalls connected by a cascade
}}
Devils Hill Falls is a waterfall on Devils Hill Brook, flowing off Devils Hill,{{cite web |title=Devils Hill |url=http://www4.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/CAJKR |website=Canadian Geographical Names Data Base (CGNDB) |publisher=Natural Resources Canada |accessdate=19 April 2020}}{{cite web |title=Devils Hill |url=https://nsgi.novascotia.ca/geonames/?cgndb_key=CAJKR |website=Nova Scotia GeoNAMES Explorer |publisher=Province of Nova Scotia |accessdate=22 April 2020 |quote=Original Decision Date: 20 February 1976}} sited approximately {{convert|5.5|km|mi}} south of the Mira River on Cape Breton Island, in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The waterfall is in three parts, an upper classical ledge waterfall, about {{convert|6|m|ft}} of fall, followed by a cascade leading to the lower falls, another classical ledge waterfall, about {{convert|4.5|m|ft}} in height.{{cite book |last1=Ellison |first1=Wally |title=Waterfalls: Cape Breton's hidden treasures |date=2013 |publisher=The Author |edition=first}} The waterfall is a short distance off of New Boston Road, about {{convert|3|km|mi}} from the community of Catalone. The falls are located on privately owned property.
The Devils Hill Road Trail
The falls are a short hike, about a {{convert|230|m|ft}}, in from New Boston Road to where the trail crosses the brook on a small bridge. The lower falls are just downstream of the bridge, the upper falls upstream, about {{convert|60|m|ft}} along a path running along the east side of the brook.
The Devils Hill Road trail is actually the old Devil’s Hill Road to Terra Nova. After visiting the falls it is worth a walk further to where the country opens up as the views are wonderful, especially in the fall.{{cite web |title=Devils Hill Falls |url=https://hikecapebreton.ca/short-hikes/devils-hill-falls/ |website=Hike Cape Breton |accessdate=19 April 2020}} Devils Hill road continues {{convert|3.3|km|mi}} to meet the Terra Nova Road, and while the New Boston road end is no longer maintained by the province, it remains a provincially owned road so is open for the public's use. After about {{convert|2|km|mi}} the road will improve from a trail to a maintained road with a few scattered homes before meeting the Terra Nova Road.
Local tradition explains the name Devil's Hill, and the Devil's Hill Road that runs along the side of the hill, were named so because a gentleman met the Devil on his way home from Mira Ferry, or possibly New Boston, one night after a dance in the late 19th century.{{cite web |title=Devil’s Hill Falls |url=https://www.moosebait.com/portfolio-item/devils-hill-falls/ |website=Moosebait.com |accessdate=19 April 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Faubert |first1=Victor |title=Views from Devils Hill |url=https://vmfaubert.com/cb/essays/29/p19.html |website=Vic’s Web Site |publisher=Victor Maurice Faubert |accessdate=25 April 2020 |location=Jackson, New Jersey |language=en |date=17 October 2012}}{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=Adam |title=5 Easy Hikes Near the Fortress of Louisbourg |url=https://www.cbisland.com/blog/five-fun-hikes-near-the-fortress-of-louisbourg/ |website=cbisland.com |publisher=Destination Cape Breton Association Inc. |accessdate=22 April 2020}}
There were quite a few farms along the road that went to the Mira, a few of them owned by German families and Gael families from Scotland. Many long gone now, returned to forest.
Geocache
There is a small traditional geocache at the falls, located so it is accessible year round, which has been in place since February 2005.
{{citation
| url = https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCMPBP_devils-hill-falls
| title = Geocaching Home - Cache Details GCMPBP
| publisher = Groundspeak
| accessdate = 20 April 2020
}}
Gallery
File:20121020 Devil's Hill Falls Trail Head.jpg|The Trail Head of Devils Hill Road, on the New Boston Road.
File:20121020 Devil's Hill Falls - Upper Falls.jpg|Upper Falls
File:20121020 Devil's Hill Falls Cascade 2.jpg|The cascade and flume between upper and lower falls.
File:20121020 Devil's Hill Falls Lower Falls.jpg|Lower Falls
File:20121020 Devil's Hill Falls Trail 1.jpg|Along the Devils Hill Road.
File:20121020 Devil's Hill Falls Trail 2.jpg|Along the Devils Hill Road.
File:Devil's Hill Panorama.jpg|Along the Devils Hill Road, looking West by Northwest up the road left, MacPhersons Meadows in the distance centre, with Catalone Lake off to East (far right) in the distance.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category}}
External links
- [https://vmfaubert.com/cb/essays/29/p18.html Victor Faubert's Web Site - Devils Hill Falls]
- [https://vmfaubert.com/cb/essays/29/p19.html Victor Faubert's Web Site - Views from Devils Hill]
- [https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/6433277491 Map of falls, trail, bridge and path to upper falls]
{{clear}}
{{Canadian Trails}}
{{Cape Breton Regional Municipality}}
Category:Waterfalls of Nova Scotia
Category:Hiking trails in Nova Scotia
Category:Geography of Cape Breton County