Recollecting Recollet Falls

Thanksgiving weekend dawned crisp, cool and sunny and we entered French Provincial Park for no cost and parked.  French River Provincial Park boasts Recollet Falls, a historic destination involving a 4 km hike through the beautiful forest hugging the river to the falls.   The forest canopy is dense and the rocks along the trail were sometimes intimidating.  There were places where a wrong step would send you tumbling down the rocky embankment.  Nonetheless, it was well travelled with about 50 people along the 4 km trail at any one time, including two Yorkshire terriers and a couple of younger children.  My nine year old daughter came with my girlfriend and I for the adventure.

When we were there, the trees were reflecting off the water in perfect symmetry.  You can hike right down to the water itself and sit on the rocks while ruminating on the natural splendour.  Recollet Falls is in the French River gorge.  When you are about a kilometre away from the falls, you can hear a distant roar that becomes louder as they come into view.  You can also hear birds along the trail, including the Blackburnian Warbler and the Red-Eyed Vireo.

The French River runs 110 km west from Lake Nipissing to Georgian Bay.  The Restoule and Little French Rivers also connect.  This provides multiple canoe trips for exploring the natural sights and sounds of the park.  It was designated in 1986 as Canada's First Heritage River because of its history as a transportation corridor and logging route from 1615 when Samuel de Champlain arrived through to 1821.  The Indigenous peoples named it French River because it brought French missionaries to their communities along the river.  It was a one day journey for traders bringing European goods and wanting Canadian fur.

You can swim in the river but there are no designated beaches and the 120 foot depth makes it cold.  Fishing is robust, with pike, walleye, bass and muskellunge.  There are 50 lodges and marinas along the river. 

It is known for its undeveloped natural rugged beauty, bays with bull rushes and rock everywhere.  Replete with animals, the river sports moose, bear, wolf, lynx, fisher, mink, beaver, otter, bald eagle, osprey, turtle and rattlesnake.  You cannot canoe or kayak over Recollet Falls in the Spring when the water levels rise as much as 4 meters in spots, when flooding is a worry.

The hike in French River Provincial Park to Recollet Falls is worth the one to two hours it will take you.  The relaxation that you feel while sitting by the falls watching the trees reflect off the water is good for your soul.  The bird song you hear along the pine-needle blanketed forest pathway also elevates your mood.  There is nothing negative about the commune with nature this hike involves.  Embrace it and you will come away calmer and happier.

Author Norma Rawlings