Many of the various Silurian and Ordovician rock strata of the Niagara Peninsula are exposed in the gorge. The main Balls Falls plunges over the Irondequoit limestone, which is a resistant layer overlying several weaker shale and sandstone units (Reynales, Thorold, Grimsby, Power Glen formations). The upper falls is formed by the Lockport dolostone, which is the same unit that forms the crest of Niagara Falls.

Leaving the viewing platform, you can walk over the road bridge and through the grassy field on the west (left bank) side of the gorge. There is a footpath leading into the forest that eventually follows the gravel road, and ultimately takes you down into the lower portions of the gorge. There are some nice cascade sections below the main falls, and you could spend a few hours exploring this portion of Twenty Mile Creek. Bedrock is exposed for several hundred meters downstream from the main falls.

A small "Pioneer village" is maintained adjacent to the lower falls. There is a plaque that explains the historical significance of the site on the path to the main viewing platform. A grain mill built here in 1809 by George and John Ball still stands at the site.