Niagara Side Trails
Side Trails
- Apart from the main trail, there are several side trails which are worth exploring. Now there is a badge that you can earn once you have completed hiking all of our side trails.
Following is a brief description of each side trail. We have compiled suggested routes to complete the trail. Our log has a list of photos that you must take to earn this badge. You can download these documents to organize your hiking.
Niagara Side Trail Challenge Suggestions
Side Trail Descriptions
- General Brock Side Trail: (12.4km) Runs from the cairn at Queenston Heights Park to Niagara-on-the-Lake on the east side of the Niagara Parkway. It is a lovely walk following the historic Niagara River. Close to Niagara-on-the-Lake you will cross the Niagara Parkway and enter a wooded area taking you onto The Commons. The Commons, was a training camp for over 14,000 soldiers since the start of the great War in 1914. You will see Butler's Barracks to the right of the ending of the side trail.
- Alfred's Trot: (1.5km) Starts in Queenston Heights Park as the main trail enters the heavier wooded area. Named after Sir Isaac Brock's horse. It creates a 2.8km loop with the main trail.
- Upper Canada Heritage Trail: (1.1 km) Follows the old New York Central Railway bed (with a great dry stone wall) for most of its length. Look up on the edge of the escarpment and you will see the ruins of a lime kiln. It leaves the main trail at km 4.2, and within 1 km ends at York Rd, Regional Rd 81.
- Wetland Ridge Side Trail: (1.9km) Near Woodend, this trail travels through vineyards and reclaimed wetlands. Follow the path down towards Niagara College. The trail creates a 3.7km loop with the main Bruce Trail.
- Niagara College Side Trail: (540 m) This side trail passes through an 18 acre educational and demonstrated wetland area before connecting to the Wetland Ridge Side Trail.
- Margaret Kalogeropoulos Side Trail: (860m) Named in memory of long time volunteer who held several roles with the Niagara Bruce Trail Club, including President. In Woodend Conservation Area, this side trail creates a 2.9km loop with the main trail.
- Bert Lowe Side Trail: (12.4km) This trail follows the Welland Canal south, then turns northwest to follow the south shore of Lake Gibson to Decew House Park. Bert Lowe was one of the founding members of the Bruce Trail Conservancy and was instrumental in developing the Niagara section.
- The Twelve Trail: (5.2km) This side trail starts at km 26.8 km and follows the east bank of Twelve Mile Creek to connect the with yellow-blazed Merritt Trail.
- Morningstar Side Trail: (700m) Passes the popular Decew Falls and joins the main trail at km 32.8. Parking for 10 cars.
- Black Walnut Side Trail: (2.2km) This trail leaves the main trail at km 34.6 and heads west through a wet, low-lying area to the old Hog Back Rd. An alternate route through the northern part of Short Hills Provincial Park.
- Rockway Falls Side Trail: (970m) This side trail is split by the main trail at km 44.8. Heading north the side trail terminates at a small waterfall on Fifteen Mile Creek. Heading south the side trail ends at Rockway Community Centre parking lot.A short loop through Rockway Conservation Area.
- Louth Side Trail: (620m) A short loop through wooded Louth Conservation Area. Forms a loop with the main trail at both ends.
- Lower Falls Side Trail: (1.6km) Loops through wooded area passing a lower falls within Louth Conservation Area.
- Midway Side Trail: (215m) A shortcut through Louth Conservation connecting the main trail.
- Staff Ave Side Trail: (280m) A short side trail that meets the Louth side trail and the main trail. It joins the main trail at km 49.3.
- Jim Rainforth Side Trail: (910m) Named after a former President of the club. This trail combined with the main trail forms a 2km loop. Starts at km 53.2 and at km 52.1.
- Jordan Hollow Side Trail: (520m) Following the eastern upper valley of Twenty Mile Creek, this side trail leads to the main Bruce Trail.
- Upper Falls Side Trail: (1.7km return) A looping trail – Upper Falls Side Trail – has been blazed in Ball’s Falls Conservation Area. This side trail passes through Ball’s Falls pioneer village and follows Twenty Mile Creek to reach a viewing area at the Upper Falls before looping back through a picturesque forest.
- Angel Side Trail: (200m) Starts at Le Clos Jordanne Winery connecting with Beamsville Bench Side Trail. Parking for 6 cars.
- Mountainview Side Trail: (900m) Creates a southern loop option of 1.2km with the main Bruce Trail in Mountainview Conservation Area.
- Beamsville Bench: (360m) Connects Angel Side Trail and the main trail in Mountainview Conservation Area.
- Major Teyoninhokarawen/John Norton Side Trail - This side trail (530m) creates a 2.8KM loop with the main Bruce Trail and the Upper Canada Heritage Side Trail. It is named for Major Teyoninhokarawen John Norton, who played a prominent role in the War of 1812 leading Haudenosaunee fighters into battle against American invaders in which his use of this trail won the Battle of Queenston Heights.
- Margaret Reed Side Trail (360m) - Once part of a historic track leading to the Village of Campden, this new side trail found on the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority’s Cave Springs property provides access to the main Bruce Trail from a parking area with a capacity of 16 cars.
- Lock 24 First Welland Canal Side Trail (140m) - This side trail leads past a historic marker and to the remains of Lock 24.
- Rim of Africa - Bruce Trail Friendship Trail (5.3KM loop) Beginning at the parking area on Pelham Rd, this friendship trail follows the Black Walnut Side Trail and the main trail to form a 5.3km loop.
- This section of the Bruce Trail, located in the Short Hills Provincial Park, is twinned with a section of the Rim of Africa Trail in South Africa.The Rim of Africa is a unique mountain passage trail and conservation initiative at the southern edge of Africa in the Cape mountains. These mountains form the core of the Cape Floristic Region, the smallest of the six recognised floral kingdoms of the world, an area of extraordinarily high diversity and endemism, and home to more than 9 000 plant species, the greatest non-tropical concentration of higher plant species in the world. At its core the Rim of Africa initiative offers a hiking experience through a series of linked high mountain traverses, some involve easy path-hiking, while others are off-path and require confident mountain and hiking skills. The entire route is 52 days in duration and can be walked in a variety of ways. The Rim of Africa mission is to help preserve and protect the natural beauty of these mountains and the important ecosystem functions they offer communities living along the route. Rim of Africa is a mountain initiative with community, conservation and hiking at its heart.
https://worldtrailsnetwork.org/rim-of-africa-trail/