High Falls Trail (Barron Canyon Road)

This is an out-and-back walk on the eastern edge of Algonquin to the Barron River’s natural waterslide and the High Falls area. Plan on about 5.3 miles (8.5 km) round trip, retracing the same forest path; the mapped corridor is about 4.3 km each way. Allow around three and a half hours for the walk and a short stop, with more time if you want to explore the river. It’s a good half-day choice if you want to reach the falls without a canoe trip or the longer Eastern Pines backpacking route from Achray.

The maintained footpath runs through mixed forest and is described as well defined, but it is unsigned and does not appear on the park’s mapped trail list. The dirt access is the part that’s easiest to miss, so note it before leaving Barron Canyon Road. The ground rolls up and down rather than climbing steadily; the route’s sampled elevations range from about 200 to 280 metres. The distance is the main commitment. The open, exposed rock begins at the river, not on a long summit climb.

The route reaches the Barron River where it flows from Stratton Lake toward High Falls Lake. The natural waterslide runs over smooth, water-polished granite slabs into deep pools. The separate High Falls waterfall is roughly 100 metres downstream and can be easy to miss if you stop at the chute. Following the bank to the waterfall adds a short, rough riverside detour beyond the mapped trail. The river drops about 29 metres between the two lakes, which helps explain the force of the water here. For a photo, include the dark polished ledges below the flow; they show how the river moves across the rock.

Treat the chute as a natural river feature, not an inspected waterpark. Flow and erosion can change the hazards, and a sharp rock edge can be exposed; scout the water before anyone enters it and keep children close. The waterfall itself is not a safe swimming spot. Smooth sloping rock and moving water make a poor place to test your footing, especially near the drop. Poison ivy has been reported along the trail and shoreline, so watch where you sit or put down a pack.