5 Reasons to Hike the Niagara Glen This Summer | Niagara Region

Want to fit in one more hike this fall? Look no further than visiting the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve, Ontario, where we enjoyed winding stairways that led to 4 kilometres of paths, winding through pristine pockets of Carolinian Forest. Want to know more?

Read on to learn about #EcotourMag Team’s top 5 reasons for hiking the Niagara Glen!

Reason 1: See the Niagara River Rapids

To add onto the breadth of incredible snapshots Ben took in our Niagara View by Bike experience, the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve Hiking path offered our team even more opportunities to capture the incredible mystique of the Niagara River.

The river stretches across your hike, along the ‘River Path’, as you can see in the above map, and until you reach this path, there are several lookouts that allow you to view the rushing flow of aqua-blue water from heights above ground level.

Reason 2: Hike Along Challenging Trails

First things first, if you’re hiking through the Niagara Glen, know that there are elevation changes of over 60-metres, and this hike is definitely not wheel-chair friendly, but more appropriate for the moderately skilled adventurer.

Ben, Yegana, and I held a helping hand for each other to get across steep and rugged terrain. We experienced a load of laughter and fun, as we hiked over large rocks, small pebbles, and avoided rugged branches that reached upwards towards our feet.

Reason 3: Witness the Awe-Inspiring Boulders

For over 30-years, the Niagara Glen has become a popular bouldering area among enthusiasts, though you should know, a permit is required from the Butterfly Conservatory to participate in this popular outdoor sport.

Since we were on a self-guided tour, without a permit, we didn’t boulder, but we did meander around the grandiose world of larger-than-life stone formations, which provided us with countless amusing photo opportunities.

Reason 4: Discover Native Species to Niagara

As we hiked further into the Glen, we saw the Niagara River upclose, which is surrounded by native species found south of the Great Lakes, like Red Mulberry, Beach-Oak Sugar Maple, Spicebush, Sassafras, Sycamore, and Black Walnut, to name a few of them.

Yegana and I found a large rock where Ben snapped our picture, overlooking the clay soil of the Niagara River corridor, a legacy as old as the Ice Age. Over 18, 000 years ago, it is hard to imagine that the same ground was covered by ice 2-3 kilometres thick, before it melted to create the basins of the Great Lakes.

Reason 5: Experience Independent Outdoor Learning

If you’re looking for an educative outdoor experience, The Niagara Glen Nature Centre offers exhibits and programming to help visitors learn about the biological and physical components of the Niagara Glen environment.

For example, The Niagara Glen Nature Exchange exhibit awards visitors points based on the rarity, quality, and condition of ‘nature items’ they find on the trail, whether it’s a pinecone or a 200 million-year old fossil! As a result, the Nature Exchange encourages independent research and learning for visitors of all ages.

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About the Niagara Glen

The Niagara Glen is located in the Niagara Gorge, with pathways winding through the Carolinian Forest, past geological formations, wild flora, and fauna.

The Niagara Glen overlooks the rapid waters of the Niagara River and the Niagara River Whirlpool. Read more about the Niagara Glen here.

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