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Niagara – Lake Erie

You are here: Home / Community Profiles / Communities / Niagara – Lake Erie

Niagara-on-the-Lake • Niagara Falls • Fort Erie • Port Colborne • Wainfleet

Starting in Niagara on the Lake (read profile), the Waterfront Trail heads south along the 56 km Niagara River Recreation Trail–a wonderful, scenic walking or cycling experience.

Managed by the Niagara Parks Commission, this trail links Niagara-on-the-Lake to Fort Erie with an almost completely off-road path that follows the majestic Niagara River. Along the route you will find loads of cultural, historic and natural attractions as well as hundreds of events and festivals. There are restaurants, shops and wineries–and of course, the stunning world wonder, the Niagara Falls. The Niagara Parks Commission was established in 1885 to protect, create and manage parkland (3,274 acres now) along the Canadian side of the Niagara River. The Trail was constructed in 1986.

The Niagara River Recreation Trail is family-friendly. The only break in the dedicated path occurs in Niagara Falls, where experienced cyclists will use a short section of the Niagara Parkway with caution. Inexperienced or young cyclists can walk bikes on the sidewalk. Given the scenery, this is not a terrible hardship.

At Old Fort Erie, you’ll begin travelling along Lake Erie. From Fort Erie to Port Colborne the Waterfront Trail is completely off-road where it is cosigned as the Friendship Trail. The Friendship Trail follows an old rail bed which means it is flat, mostly straight, and easy to follow. Heading west from Fort Erie, you may want to take a short detour to enjoy Crystal Beach‘s white sandy beach and patios. In Port Colborne you’ll find restaurants and shops to explore. HH Knoll Lakeview Park is the city’s major waterfront park.

In Port Colborne you’ll find a trail junction where you can head north along the western edge of the Greater Niagara Circle Route along the Welland Canal Trail, an off-road path that follows the Welland Canal. This path links up with the Lake Ontario section of Waterfront Trail in Port Dalhousie, St. Catharines. It is part of the popular regional cycling experience–the Greater Niagara Circle Route. Running 170 km, the Greater Niagara Circle Route follows Lake Ontario, the Niagara River Recreation Trail, Lake Erie and the Welland Canal. A great weekend- getaway.

From Port Colborne, the Waterfront Trail follows rural roads that hug the shoreline in Wainfleet where there are three beach access points for those looking for a dip in the Lake and some excellent eateries along the route (east of Brawn) for those needing a meal. People interesed in camping should consider the Long Beach Conservation Area. While in the area,  check out the Wainfleet Wetlands Conservation Area. It was a quarry until the 1960s though it would be hard to believe that today. Years of restoration work led by the Conservation Authority have naturalized the area creating a thriving eco-system that attracts birds and wildlife. Fossil enthusiasts will love this area. Hikers and walkers will enjoy trails in the Wainfleet Wetlands Conservation Area (check out the Quarry Trail) and Morgan’s Point Conservation Area, where the boardwalk and trail take through dunes and old growth forest.

Download Printable Map

Niagara River and Lake Erie

Download Printable Map

Lake Ontario

Niagara Fort Erie

Trail Attributes

Distance: Approximately 94 km including:

  • 56km of shared road and off-road trail comprising the Niagara River Recreation Trail
  • 24km of off-road trail from Fort Erie to Port Colborne along the Friendship Trail

Some Highlights:

Niagara Falls & the Horseshoe Falls – Two of the most iconic waterfalls in North America
Niagara Butterly Conservatory
Queenston Heights – Historic sight of the Battle of Queenston Heights with a monument, restaurant, scenic views, and the southern terminus of the Bruce Trail.
Crystal Beach
Wainfleet wetlands

Local Maps and ConnectionsStaging AreasAmenities and TransitHelpful Links

Links to Local Maps

The regional cycling map provides a comprehensive guide to cycling in Niagara. Both the Lake Ontario and Lake Erie sections of Waterfront Trail are clearly marked, as well as the connections on the Niagara River Recreation Path and the Welland Canal Trail. The map is also available as an downloadable interactive PDF map for iPhone and iPad devices.

The Niagara Cycling Map is also available for download on an interactive PDF map.

Tourism Niagara’s Cycling Route maps: Developed in collaboration with the Regional Niagara Cycling Committee, the Cycling in Niagara Map offers six different day trips in the region. It is available in English and French.

The Niagara Parks Commission Interactive Map

A comprehensive map showing attractions and amenities along the 56 km Niagara River Recreational Trail (signed as both Trans Canada Trail and Waterfront Trail as well.)

Self-Guided Bike Trips

The Region and it’s partners have developed an Online Library of Scenic Bike Routes, featuring hundreds of pre-selected routes, each one containing a map and turn-by-turn directions in PDF printable format. Check out this amazing resource!

Connections

Niagara River Recreation Trail intersects with the Waterfront Trail at Fort George

  • Greater Niagara Circle Route (www.regional.niagara.on.ca)

Gordon Harry Conservation Trail–13 km rail trail connects directly to the Wainfleet Wetlands Conservation Area, and passes near Long Beach, Morgan’s Point and Wainfleet Bog Conservation Areas.  Parking is available at the Station Road and Quarry Road entrances. This is also part of the Trans Canada Trail system.

The Greenbelt Route: This 475km cycling route connects businesses, farms and communities from the scenic Twenty Valley wine region in Niagara to the stunning vistas of Northumberland from Queenston to Roseneath near Rice Lake. The Greenbelt Route terminus and connection with the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail can be found in Queenston, just north of Queenston Heights, a short distance from the Laura Secord Homestead.

The Lake Ontario Watershed Network: The growing Lake Ontario Watershed Network links many communities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Northumberland County and the Niagara region via the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, Greenbelt Route and a growing number of signed connectors and signature loops. In Niagara there are a number of signed connections between the Greenbelt Route, and Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, forming four distinct (and overlapping) signature loops: The 38km Short-Dalhousie Shakeup linking Short Hills Provincial Park to St. Catharines and the beaches of Port Dalhousie; the 30km Garden City Glide, connecting St. Catharines to Port Weller and Port Dalhousie via 12 Mile Creek and the Welland Canal; the 49km Wine Country Roundabout circling much of the lower Niagara wine region; and the 140km Greater Niagara Circle Route connecting Port Weller, Niagara on the Lake, Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Welland, Thorhold and St. Catharines.

Staging Areas

  • Fort George National Historic Site,  50 Queen’s Parade Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0
  • McFarland Park, 15927 Niagara Parkway, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
  • Queenston Heights Park, 14184 Niagara Parkway, Queenston ON
  • Peace Bridge, Fort Erie
  • Old Fort Erie– 350 Lakeshore Road, Fort Erie ON
  • HH Knoll Lakeview Park, Port Colborne–Elm Street and Sugarloaf Street.
  • Long Beach Conservation Area — 12965 Lakeshore Rd. Wainfleet

Amenities

  • Accommodations, Campground
  • Accommodations, Roofed
  • Beaches
  • Groceries
  • Hospital
  • LCBO (Includes Breweries and Wineries)
  • Marinas
  • Museums
  • Outfitters
  • Restaurants
  • Shopping Areas
  • Tourist Information
  • Washrooms
  • WIFI
  • Winter Maintenance

Transit

Greyhound Station – at GO Station
Greyhound busses are not equipped with bicycle racks.
www.greyhound.ca
Ontario Bike Train–offered by GO Transit between Niagara and Toronto.
http://www.biketrain.ca/toronto-niagara
http://www.gotransit.com/public/en/travelling/seasonal.aspx

Helpful Links

  • Niagara Cycle Tourism Centre
    http://www.niagaracyclingtourism.com/
  • Niagara Parks Commission
    www.niagaraparks.com
  • Town of Fort Erie
    www.forterie.ca
  • Town of Port Colborne
    portcolborne.ca
  • Township of Wainfleet
    www.wainfleet.ca
  • Regional Tourism Organization
    Visitniagaracanada.com
  • Tourism Niagara:
    www.tourismniagara.com
    offers comprehensive information on attractions and accommodations for visitors.
  • Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee:
    www.rnbc.info
    for information about cycling throughout Niagara, including easy to use pre-designed loop rides.
  • Regional Municipality of Niagara
    www.niagararegion.ca
  • Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
    www.npca.ca
  • Ontario By Bike
    http://ontariobybike.ca/
 

Protecting. Connecting. Celebrating. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

The Waterfront Regeneration Trust is a registered charity. Charitable Registration Number: 86767 9821 RR0001
Ontario Trail of Distinction

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Waterfront Regeneration Trust

4195 Dundas St. West - Suite 327
Toronto, Ontario M8X 1Y4
(416) 943-8080
[email protected]

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