A great place to go and rock climb while enjoying what nature has to offer. Over the years, there has been significantly more foot traffic, and as a result, more noise pollution and waste items have been popping up. I think that with more focus on an "all things in, all things out" approach, this area would be better for both bouldering enthusiast in addition nature fanatics alike! read more

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Another vacation win- they have something here I have never seen- a nature trading post! You can trade rocks, crystals, fossils and such for their inventory or participate in a point based scavenger hunt, taking photos throughout the park, and redeem points for something in their inventory. I ma a huge rock hound, crystal nut- not just because my name is Crystal, I've loved picking up shiny rocks since I was a small child. Quartz and mica are two I remember finding often as a child. Here- they had a huge inventory of various raw and polished stones, fossils, animal bones and such. And that was just in the Nature Exchange! The park is wonderful too, plenty of trails to lead you down by the river, wonderful trees, great overlook viewpoints throughout. As part of the Niagra Parks system, they have bike trails too. We stopped here twice, once to explore and once for me to pop back in with my photos and pick out a raw piece of turquoise! A birthday win for me! Shout out to the young lady who talked to me in the morning, she wasn't there when I returned- and I am pretty sure the 2 young men thought I was crazy (I am), but they were all very helpful for this big kid out playing in nature! read more

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It costs $5/hour to park here, so plan accordingly! The Niagara Glen Nature Reserve was calm and pretty, despite how cloudy it was this past Sunday afternoon. I would recommend taking a picture of the hiking routes map beforehand so you can figure out where you're going when you're actually hiking. The trails aren't always marked super clearly (my friends and I went off trail pretty frequently). Unfortunately, the Whirlpool trail (the one we wanted to hike, about 5 km long) was closed when we went on 8/20. So we ended up taking another trail back and ending our hiking plans early. We also saw a group of people bouldering here. Overall, it was pretty scenic and a great experience. The trails are paved well and I never felt unsafe or in danger, except for when we saw a small snake. Yes, there are snakes. read more

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they Niagara, Glynn, it's a unique forest, called the Carolinian forest. It is characterized by a great diversity of plants, especially broadleaf trees associated with warm climate. The park has parking, picnic tables, some shade from trees, and some structures and mini hiking trails that all the very short are quite interesting. In order to get to the trails, though you need to go down a stairway that is quite high, so I think you would need to be in fairly good shape to do that. read more

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The Niagara Glen Nature Reserve is a worthwhile visit if you're in the area. The trails are extensive and easy to navigate. After entering the park, there is a map showing the various loop trails. I recommend either downloading the map onto your phone ahead of time or taking a picture of the map. You'll want to know how far along you are so that you can make it back to your car before your paid hourly parking expires. After the map is an enclosed metal staircase headed down to the Cliffside trail. I highly recommend wearing proper hiking shoes because parts of the trail are rocky. I spent a little over an hour hiking the Eddy trail to the River trail, returning on the Cliffside trail. The trails are well marked with colors and symbols representing each trail. This is where having a map is useful. The park offers epic views of the Niagara River. Along the trails that hug the river, you can clearly see people hiking on the US side. There is a large parking lot in front of the Nature Reserve. It costs $2.50/hr and is cheaper than parking by the Botanical Gardens, which costs $3.00/hr. I saw parking enforcement patrolling in the area, so I don't recommend risking coming back late. read more

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It was a Beautiful and easy hike. Glad we got the opportunity to explore. We were able to see the vivid colors of fall. Water was super clear. We also saw people bouldering, which was pretty cool. Parking lot was huge. read more

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A very scenic trail and I would rate the hike as moderate. Stunning views of Niagara river, a variety of trails and absolutely gorgeous path. While hiking you will see boulder climbers practicing and rock enthusiasts studying rocks. Ample space for large picnics, this place is abuzz with visitors on a good weather day. We spent roughly 2 hours and broke a good sweat choosing the toughest hike. It was worth our time and we thoroughly enjoyed the views and nature reserve itself read more

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Perfect place to hike down the gorge. It's peaceful and and easy trek down. Just remember, you have to hike back up and climb up the stairs. There are trail markers to guide you down and back up. Watch for smooth stepping stones and check your footing. Wear hiking shoes and sit for a while to listen to the rapids. Great experience! read more

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Amazing hiking trail overlooking the natural whirlpool. Trails are well marked and trail map is so specific. No will never get lost. Once you are near the water, it feels so relaxing and refreshing hearing the water flows and birds are chirping. We brought sandwhich and had a quick lunch overlooking the water views. The trail is moderate hike. You can bring dogs on leash. Parking fee is $1.25/hr or $10.00/day. Come early on week-ends to get a parking spot. You can also take the bus from Niagara Falls. Lots of picnic table around the area. It's great for family, kids,group of friends. read more

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After being with the big crowds at the Horn Blower Cruise, this hike in the forest of Niagara Glen is a welcomed retreat. All trail starts by going down the see-through metal stairwell which is scary because I am afraid of heights. Once on the trail, it is an easy stroll to Fish Trail Cove. En route, we saw many young adults carrying cushion mats for falling from rock climbing. The Fish Trail Cove is very popular and safe for little ones. Then we continued onto Whirlpool Trail which seems to go on and on. Along the way, we passed through many openings to the river edge, there were many sightings of Whirlpool Jets splashing in the rapids, we exchanged hand waves with the boat people. To my amazement, as we look beyond, we could see people hiking on the other side of the river, the USA side. It was like seeing a mirror image of ourselves. Finally, we turned around when we reached the bottom of the Whirlpool Aero Tram. It took us 3 hours for this in and out hike which included many picture/lookout stops. I recommend bringing 1 liter of water per person. read more

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I've been wanting to go to this trail since the beginning of the summer, but I knew the crowds would be big because of covid closures. I thought it would be a good idea to go now since schools have started, but boy was I wrong! Crowds were just as big maybe because of the beautiful fall colours. The parking was packed, but very affordable at $1.25/hr or max $10 a day. There's a few things to do here from the rope adventure course to a boat tour down in the Glen. Anyways, I was here mainly for the hiking trail. It is of moderate difficulty and starts with one grated staircase to get down to the trail. I'd be careful if you are planning to bring your dog because my lab was afraid of going down those stairs (especially back up) because the holes were catching on to his paws and he's usually not afraid of things. There's a big map in the beginning, but signage was excellent inside the trail. Lots of people carrying cushions on the trail to do bouldering, but you need a permit. The path itself was a good workout. Lots of up and downs and rock like stairs so be sure to bring a good pair of shoes! The only difficult trail is the Whirlpool which may or may not be closed because it can flash flood. We didn't go this time around because a fellow hiker we passed by advised that it might be slippery and a little dangerous if we bring our dogs along with us. So next time! Can I just say...the view of this place is absolutely breathtaking. I have never seen water this blue (since going to Tobermory) and the air was so refreshing. Across the other side, you can actually see people in America hiking too which was pretty cool. I'm for sure going to be back. read more

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I've been coming here since I was a teenager and it doesn't get much better than this when it comes to interesting hiking trails. The different stone stairs, the huge boulders, the various color coded trails, the whirlpool rapids, it's all breathtaking. Hiking here really makes you appreciate Niagara, the Rapids, and nature itself. Even if it's super hot out, the shade along these trails is nice and cool. Make sure you allow at least two to three hours and pack water and a snack. Finish your hike before sunset. There are washrooms in the building right before you go down the metal stairs to start your hike. read more

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Really great hiking trails and can easily spend the whole day. Rocky and nice mix of escarpment and hiking trails. The shoreline trail (can't remember the actual name) winds in and out of the edge of the river and the view is great! read more

Nice park for a picnic. Also a starting point of a nice hiking trail among the Niagara river. Definitely better experience than the whole Niagara Falls! Bring some good shoes, snack and bottle of water and you will have a great time here with your family or friends. There is an option to take the bus from Niagara falls or from Niagara on the lake which might be even better option as the trail ends few kms away from the starting point. read more

Just beautiful! The views here are stunning, and there is a lot to see. To access the gorge, you head down a set of stairs - overall, the elevation change if you head down to the river is 60 m/200 ft . You can go left or right when you get to the bottom. There are a number of little trails that intersect with one another, so you can choose the length of your trip easily -- just remember you have to go back up to get out. We opted to go right and followed the trail down to the river. There were some great natural views - forest, little critters, large boulders (and folks who go bouldering), and the like. We stopped at Cripps Eddy, which was really neat. It was intriguing to watch the water go in and out, like we were standing on a beach in front of the ocean, when we were near the Niagara River. It's also neat to walk along the river, which one of the trails lets you do. Up top, there are picnic tables, washrooms, and a shop, and you can get a general view down over the river and forest. Parking is available here, but it does fill up - we went early and had no problems, but it was full by the time we left. Very neat place! read more

Great place to have a picnic. Has public washrooms too. There are some nice scenic views to take pictures of the river and cliffs but too far away to get the falls. Lots of nature here too. There is even a nature trail you can take down near the water's edge to look at all the local flora and fauna. read more

Always looking for new places to go hiking. Found this place and had to catch it out. Certainly glad I did!!! The trails are challenging and will give you a work out. Make sure you have water, energy bars and a decent pair of hiking footwear because you will need them!!! read more

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Free family fun. Very well executed trails with great views. They include a free photo scavenger hunt with a selection of prizes (see my photos for more details). My teenage boys loved it. Trail takes about 2.5 hours to complete. Highly recommended. Good amount of paid parking ($1.25 per hour). Guided tours are available. read more

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I'm a frequent visitor to this spot. I absolutely love it here. If you enjoy bouldering, you should definitely get your permit. The permit I think started in 2013, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. If you have a dog, you should bring them! I find it animal friendly, just remember to poop and scoop! Niagara has so much to offer other than the night life in the city. Please check this area out, you will not be disappointed. read more

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We came here for a hike right beside the river. Came in Oct when the falls leaves were changing colors the view was spectacular. Got to a rock bed lake area for an even better view of mother nature's handy work. This may have been just as good as Niagara Falls. Infamous Floral Clock & Whirlpool is nearby here. read more

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The Niagara Glen Nature Area is a wonderful escape from the pay attractions and long lines of the main Niagara Falls area. There are restroom facilities at the visitor's center and maps available for purchase. You can support the park by buying the map or save yourself $3 by taking a picture of the trail map by the stairway at the beginning of the trail. You can also download the pdf onto your mobile device as well. You can make the hike as easy or difficult as you'd like as there are a few trails to choose from. I brought along my 5 year old. We started at the staircase at the Wintergreen Cliff, went south (a right) on White, made a left to stay on White down some steep stone steps. At the next intersection we made a left on Red followed by a right on a blue/teal trail to the Blue River path where we made a left. There are some side paths along the Blue where you can get really close to the edge but with a 5 year old I decided to avoid them. We stopped for a snack break at an opening to a mostly unobstructed view of the rapids where we saw a few whirlpool boats zip by. We saw a few hikers across the river on the American side. The trail there looks much closer to the waters edge and it eventually leads to an open rock area in front of the whirlpool. After our short break we continued along the blue and made a left on the Purple trail back up the cliff to the White that led us back to the staircase to the parking lot. That specific hike we did was just under a mile with a total elevation gain of 200ft. If you have an appreciation for nature and would like a moderate hike I would highly recommend this. read more

Niagara Glen Nature Reserve - Parks Near Me - Niagara Falls, Ontario

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Short walk on the Eddy Trail to a spot perfect for wading. Was a perfect destination for a hot summer day. Beautiful!

We are from the Chicago area and traveled to Niagara Falls for a family vacation. I have teenagers and while the Falls are amazing, the touristy crush of the immediate attractions become a bit much. We looked around for natural spaces and found Niagara Glen Nature Reserve and it was wonderful. The hike through the gorge was physical but moderate and the sights were beautiful. Huge boulders, narrow paths, rich foliage, and the rushing, raging Niagara River down below. A few spectacular vista points overlooking the water made me feel connected to nature, even with the circus of the town just a few miles up the road. The trails are well marked, clean and overall well-maintained. We saw a family approaching the gorge with 2 baby strollers and begin to descend. Not recommended, this is real hiking and you won't make it far with strollers. A beautiful diversion from the chaos of the immediate area around the falls and a peek at another part of this amazing river. read more

Absolutely loooooove this trail. I highly recommend coming here. We were only able to spend a little over an hour here, but it was still very enjoyable. When we come back to Niagara, we will definitely come back and explore some more. Trails can be a little dangerous for children. read more

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Fun area to explore. Definitely should have at least tennis shoes on but hiking shoes would be a bit better.

We went on a free tour of the niagara river with Brock. He was very insightful and knew so much information about the area. We learned about a lot of historical things as well as how the land formed etc. The hike was 1 hr 15 mins and was quite a nice hike and a good work out. Make sure to take plenty of water. Beautiful views and great picture opportunities along the way. Enjoy! Great place to picnic also as they have park benches, trash cans, restrooms, etc. Bike paths also and some bike trails too. (we were vacationing here) read more

This is a beautiful way to see nature so close to the city, great for families with kids or adults that want to be in nature. The various hiking trails that can get you right down next to the Niagara River are mixed difficulty, but none are extremely hard. The only thing that I didn't like was the trail markings weren't always clear at intersections. The Nature Center staff said that the signage would be standardized next year, but I got misplaced a few times (never lost). Speaking of the staff at the Nature Center, they are terrific - friendly, most were very knowledgeable and all were helpful. I had some great chats with Zack, a heck of a nice guy who really knows the trails and flora and fauna here, including the bouldering (climbing on boulders in the Glen). While hiking, I found two couples bouldering while I walked, but there are (literally) tons of great boulders to climb, many even if you're not a climber. The Nature Center, besides selling hiking- and bouldering-related touristy stuff, has some great displays of wild animal photos, pelts, etc. They also have a game where kids can earn points for finding and identifying nature items in the Glen. Then they can use those points to bring home some nice small nature items, mostly polished rocks from the area and pinned butterflies. I spent 2 days hiking the trails here, about 4 hours each, bringing a lunch and water with me. That might seem slow but the first day I did some "extended" walks on old trail along the Niagara River which took me outside the Glen, all the way back to the aerocar tram! read more

Nice little hikes mild-mod difficulty. Take ur time and find some great spots to dunk ur feet in the water. We took bikes up the niagara parkway and this was right on it. read more

Beautiful place! Would highly recommend as the views are great and the walk is lovely. However, trails are not clearly marked and really easy to get lost. Also getting back up is quite the trek! Wear comfy shoes and have a gps or some way of tracking how to get back up. read more