River Valley Scenic Route

Falls Detail: Acker Creek flows in a westerly direction into the Saint John River near the small hamlet of McKenna, which is approximately halfway between Woodstock and Hartland on the eastside of the Saint John River. The falls is named for the Jennings family an Irish family who homesteaded along the creek. The road leading to the falls is also called Jennings. Over time the water cut through a ridge of bedrock oriented horizontally and running perpendicular to the creek. The timeless energy etched a narrow notch for the top falls and then found a second fissure to the right; and it cut a second notch for the stream to drop over and into a larger pool before continuing towards the Saint John River.

From Woodstock, cross the Saint John River to Grafton and take a left onto Route #105 towards Hartland.  Travel approximately 5 km until the Acker Creek Bridge (a concrete structure).  After the bridge turn off to the right onto a dirt road called the “Jennings Road”.  Drive up the road approximately 2 km until an open field on the right.  There is a camp along the edge of the field next to the woods.  It’s called Blacks Field, park here.  The coordinates for the field are N46° 13.257′ / W067° 28.814′.

Follow the woods road on foot, as the walk is not more than 2 km. On the way in, there is two side roads on the left but continue straight.  There is an old abandoned car on the right and a side road leading down to right but once again, stay straight.   There is a slight uphill through an old apple orchard and then a small clearing under a large pine tree with remnants of an old campfire. The coordinates for this location are N46° 13.191′ / W067° 28.277′.

From the large pine face east (right) and follow the narrow path over and down a very steep incline into the ravine.

Visit Detail: On Friday, October 24th I scrambled down into the Jenning Falls Ravine with Paul Inman and Stan Ebbett both of Fredericton as well as Richard & Grace Beazley of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Twice a year these fine Haligonians travel to Fredericton to meet up with Paul and Stan to go WATERFALLING. Through the kindness of Paul I was invited to tag along. Earlier in the day the group lead me Coac Falls, near Nackawic and in return I directed the crew to Jennings Falls.

Almost, weekly I receive information about waterfalls. I received information about and directions to Jennings Falls from Nancy Prosser. So thank you ever so much.

Jennings Falls are spectacular and a must for waterfalls enthusiast to visit. The trek down into the ravine was a task but we all managed to make it down and out unscathed. It was such a treat to share the visit with such fine people.