May 11 - Fintry Falls

Another waterfall on a bright sunny day. We drove up north on the west side of the lake to Fintry Provincial Park.

Westside Road was fun to drive in the CRV but it would be a great sports car road. In its entire length I think there was only one short section of dashed passing markings. These pictures were from coming home so the direction is backwards.

Sometimes wide and smooth.

Sometimes narrow and a bit bumpy but always curve after curve.

Just before we got to the park there was a massive new gated development carved into the cliff.

The park has a creek flowing down a steep cliff. The delta created by the creek, as it went into the lake, was a large farm.

The octagonal cow barn.

As with all the other creeks right now, Shorts Creek is bursting with water. We could see the mist rising from the falls from the parking lot.

Because the cliff is so steep the only way to see the falls is to climb the stairs. Jennie counted almost 500 steps to the top.

The first lookout (166 steps).

The creek takes a sharp right turn just below us so even this far away it was a constant struggle to keep the mist off the camera lens.

The next picture is from coming down but it shows the conditions to get to the next very wet lookout.

When we went down there was a cloud overhead but going up it was sunny with a great rainbow.

The photosphere from here.

Up to the next much drier lookout, which was about 1/2 way up the main falls.

A great place to watch all the crashing water.

Up to the top of the middle set of stairs (155 steps) to the next lookout. This one was at the top of the main falls and we could see around the corner to the water feeding it.

And the photosphere.

Me taking the photosphere.

More time spent staring at the crashing water.

Then the final set of 200 steps to the very top for the overall view.

We went back to the previous lookout to have lunch.

We talked to a nice younger couple about their and our travels. They had a small drone that they launched from the lookout and flew it up and down the falls. They even used it to take what I imagine must be a pretty good selfie.

Then the long but easy climb back down to the car and home.