Devils Punch Bowl- Hamilton

The Devil's Punchbowl (previously known as "the HorseShoe Falls") dates back to over 450 million years ago! Originally materials from the Niagara escarpment were deposited in a large inland sea.  About 1 million years ago the area was subjected to 4 ice ages and following the end of the last ice ages there were very high water levels and this is what created the details of landscape of the punchbowl.  One of the streams crashed over the escarpment at Stoney Creek carving what has now become the Devils Punchbowl.  Not the loveliest of waterfalls  as the flow has been greatly reduced, but the Devil's punchbowl is an historical landmark and fascinated visitors and geologist year round.

The Devil's Punch Bowl Falls has quite a history to it.  Like all history, some facts are fascinating while others can be tragic.  The Devil's Punch Bowl is located in Stoney Creek.  Believe it or not, about a hundred years ago, it was called the "Horseshoe Falls" because of its round concave gorge.  Of course now we know the Horseshoe Falls, as the Niagara Falls in Canada.  The Devil's Punch Bowl received its name possibly around the time of the prohibition when 'moonshine' was made in the area.  


Historically, there have been numerous tragedies of suicides into the gorge from various points surrounding the bowl over the years.  

There are legends and myths that also surround the Devil's Punch Bowl.  Poems have been written for the 'Cross on the Hill", by Emily Lawrence. 


High on the mountain, the site has a lookout with amazing views of Lake Ontario, Stoney Creek Castle, the Skyway Bridge and the Hamilton Harbour to name a few.


The main attraction though is the falls which comes from the Stoney Creek and cascades down a 37 metre drop into the Punch bowl.  Like most waterfalls there are two separate falls, the Upper and Lower.  The lower falls is a 6 metre 'classical' fall.  


While peering down into the gorge, it almost seems endless with spectacular rock and shale formation of textures and colors.  This site is a major tourist attraction in the Niagara Escarpment and well worth the trip!