Niagara Falls’ Best Hiking Spots

Autumn is here, and it’s the perfect time for hiking. The temperatures drop to be comfortably nippy, and the trees explode in vibrant reds and oranges. Before our trails get covered in snow for winter, come experience the beauty of the forests of Niagara Falls in autumn. As if you need any more convincing, here’s a list of the most amazing trails Niagara has to offer.

The Bruce Trail

This is one of Niagara’s oldest and best established trails. The Bruce Trail runs the length of the Niagara Escarpment, a mind-boggling 553 miles (890 kilometers), but it offers some of the best views of the land around the falls. Although it can take more than a month to hike the whole length of the trail, the portions of the trail around Niagara Falls make for excellent easy or moderate day hiking or even camping if you can stand to spend a day away from your comfortable Niagara hotel.

Whirlpool Rapids Trail

This hike can be grueling, but if you enjoy adventure on your hikes, this hike promises an amazing reward. This trail takes you through Whirlpool State Park where you’ll be able to see the dangerous and thrilling rushing rapids of the Niagara River. The hike takes roughly three hours to complete, and you’ll be losing quite a bit of altitude rather quickly and doing some bouldering, so a high fitness level is a must.

Great Gorge Scenic Overlook Trail

This hike is a part of the greater Niagara Gorge Trail system, but this one is potentially the most visually rewarding. The trail will take you along the Niagara River, give you a glimpse of the Niagara power plant, and show you the vast beauty of the Niagara Escarpment and Gorge. This hike will only take about an hour, and basically a person of any fitness level will find it easy to complete.

Devil’s Hole Rapids and Giant Rock Trails

In the ominous-sounding Devil’s Hole State Park, this trail leads you down rocky steps to the roaring Niagara River. You’ll pass by the simply named Giant Rock and catch views of the infamous Whirlpool Rapids. The trail is about 2.5 miles, and the park recommends you not bring along any hikers younger than eight years old.

Terrace Path

In the stunning Niagara Glen, this trail takes you all the way into the heart of the Niagara wilderness to experience the peacefulness of the autumn woods. You’ll be ascending and descending the Wilson Terrace, making a shortcut from the longer River Path by going almost straight north to south. During your walk in the forest, you’ll see some interesting landmarks, like the Glen’s Bouldering Wall, the Leaning Rock, and the Mammoth Pothole.

River Path

Speaking of the River Path, this trail will take you all along the Niagara River during its journey through the Niagara Glen Reserve. There are plenty of other worthwhile trails that intersect the River Path, like the Eddy Path, the Cliffside Path, and the Cobblestone Path, so if you feel like exploring, you’ll have plenty of opportunity. On the River Path, you’ll get breathtaking views of the rushing river, so you can feel the power of the Niagara up close.

Marcy’s Woods

The north shore of Lake Erie contains one of Canada’s most unique biodiversities, Marcy’s Woods. A protected private nature reserve, Marcy’s Woods is 285 acres of intact Carolinian forest that offers spectacular scenery, and is the habitat of many plants, animals, birds and reptile species, several of which are endangered.

Through the private ownership of Marcy’s Woods by the Dino DiCienzo family, the natural resources of Marcy’s Woods including the sensitive wetlands, sand dunes, flora and fauna will be protected, restored and managed.

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