Visiting Webster/Tews Falls will soon cost $30 for a car of 4

Webster Falls and Tews Falls, some of Hamilton's most popular waterfalls to visit, have become a victim of their own popularity.

To try to get fewer people to visit, Hamilton Conservation Authority officials announced that fees to park and visit the area will be going up on the May long weekend.

Starting May 21, it will cost $10 to park a vehicle and $5 per person to visit. That means a single visitor arriving by car will pay $15, and a carload of four will pay $30. Kids under 5 are free.

People with $105-per-year membership passes to Hamilton's conservation areas will still have to pay the per-person and vehicle fee on weekends and holidays from May 21 to October 31.

That has led to damage to plants and animals in the area, and also poses a risk to the people visiting, the authority said.

The conservation authority "is taking these steps to manage a situation that has become overwhelming for the conservation area and its neighbours," according to a statement announcing the change.

There are more than 100 waterfalls in Hamilton, so perhaps the new fees will encourage waterfall-gazers to find new places to explore.