We have been to Montmorency Falls many times in the past and have always been impressed with their beauty and power. As a child we drove along the old road near the river on the south side we always watched patiently for a glimpse of the falls to see where my parents had visited on their honeymoon. We were always rewarded with an all too brief flash of white in the distance. Years latter, Al and I took our children to visit the falls, in those days things were very informal and they could run right up to the spray from our car. Today, Montmorency Falls is a historic site, and for a $7.50 parking fee you can walk up to where the spray flies. For $7 return you can take the cable car to Montmorency Manoir or at no additional charge you can walk up the steps on the east side of the park, all 487 of them.
We decided to try a different tactic, and we drove straight up to the top of the Falls and Montmorency Manoir. We still had to pay $7.50 to park, but we saved the cable car fee.
Walking on the suspension bridge over the Falls is not for the faint of heart. You take a walkway from the Terrace at the Manoir, and you can stop at an observation platform two staircases down. It juts out and gives a fine view of the fall. Back up the stairs and up two more sets takes you to the bridge. I’m not usually bothered by heights, but the view over the falls made me a little nervous. I was reluctant to linger in the center of the bridge. You are walking on wood, and it has ever the slightest give that makes for a feeling of insecurity. I was glad to reach the other side. I did stop to take some photos though. I noticed a lot of people clinging to each other, so I guess I wasn’t the only nervous one in the bunch.
Nerves aside, it was awesome. It’s certainly the best way to truly appreciate the power and magnificence of these falls. Those 272 feet seem like a lot more when you’re standing right over them. What really surprised me was looking away from the Falls, the river looks so innocent and quiet, there is no hint of the turmoil that is about to unfold.
If you have trouble with stairs there is a path that runs in back of the Manoir that doesn’t involve any. It takes you through a park right to the bridge.