Port Colborne

In Port Colborne you’ll find restaurants and shops to explore, a lovely shoreline promenade and the HH Knoll Lakeview Park, the city’s signature waterfront park.

With two beaches, the fascinating Welland Canal and Lift Bridge, and 24 km of wonderful Friendship Rail Trail, this is a wonderful destination for families and cyclists who prefer dedicated trails.

Port Colborne Historical & Marine Museum and Heritage Village runs historical walking tours that capture the excitement of Port Colborne’s and the Welland Canal’s early years.

There is a significant 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 Great Lakes 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.

Photo Clarence St lift bridge port colborne

Download Printable Map

Niagara River and Lake Erie

Trail Attributes

Approximately 15 km including:

Shared road, residential streets

24km of off-road trail from Fort Erie to Port Colborne along the Friendship Trail (family-friendly facility)

Walking tours offered by the Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum, 280 King Street, Box 572, Port Colborne

The Clarence Street Lift Bridge–one of 3 operational bridges on the Welland Canal

2 Beaches — Nickel Beach and Centennial -Cedar Bay Beach

Variety of restaurants and shops along King Street and Clarence Streets

Local Maps and Connections Staging Areas Amenities and Transit Helpful Links

Links to Local Maps

Regional Cycling Map and Guide (PDF) — 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.

Greater Niagara Circle Route (PDF)

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.)

Connections

Greater Niagara Circle Route

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.