Located in the centre of St. George, fresh water from Magaguadavic River falls 21 metres into a gorge that empties into a tidal basin. Since 1784, hydropower from First Falls has powered for a variety of industries including shipbuilding, lumbering and sawmills, granite works finishing sheds, and a pulp mill. The old mill beside the falls, is now an electrical power generating plant. St. George Gorge is designated a Local Historic Place for its impact on the development and economy of the Town of St. George.
The world’s first artificial fishway was built into the gorge at First Falls in 1928. The Salmon Fish Ladder is made of 43 concrete pools resembling a staircase of water cascading from pool to pool. Visit the fish ladder at the Upper Gorge Picnic Area for an elevated view, or walk down the staircase at the base of the picnic area for a view from right inside the gorge! On most days you can even feel the mist from the falls on your face. Nicknamed “Rainbow Gorge”, you can often see a rainbow within the gorge itself!
video by Cory Morrow
A visit to the gorge in early summer should include a stop at the 2 viewing windows, where you can watch fish make their way against the current and through the fish ladder. And of course the most picturesque time for viewing the gorge is the fall, as the kelidescope of color from the fall leaves against the mist of an early fall morning makes for a picture worthy of any Instagram post!
video by Cory Morrow
While you’re there, look for the famous “Old Pine Tree”, an eastern white pine within the gorge. This tree is believed to be one of the oldest living trees in New Brunswick!
