Chutes-Dorwin Park

Dorwin Falls takes its name from Jedediah-Hubbell Dorwin, a merchant from Vermont who arrived in Canada around 1815 and built a flour mill and sawmill at this waterfall on the Ouareau River in the 1840s, in partnership with Montreal financier Peter McGill. Though Dorwin's industrial facilities were destroyed by fire in 1859, leading their owner to retire to Montreal, the natural site that bears his name today has become one of Rawdon's flagship attractions, renowned for its 18.3-meter waterfall plunging into a particularly striking Laurentian forest setting. The park, developed with a network of ecological trails totaling approximately 3 kilometers in a loop through century-old maple and pine forests, offers several panoramic viewpoints for admiring the falls from different angles, particularly spectacular in autumn when the vibrant fall colors enhance the landscape. In winter, the site transforms with an illuminated skating and walking trail winding through the pine forest, creating an enchanting atmosphere that extends the park's appeal well beyond the summer season. Access to Dorwin Falls also includes, by way of a special wristband, entry to the nearby Cascades Park and municipal beach, forming a trio of complementary recreational sites that make Rawdon a particularly complete nature destination.