TOURING THE TWELVE: TRACING THE 12 MILE CREEK WATERSHED

Twelve Mile Creek has has changed dramatically over the years due to human impacts and utilitarian uses, yet it still plays an irreplaceable role in maintaining the ecological integrity of the Greenbelt.

The Creek and its valley are natural habitat for fish and wildlife. In this ambitious two-part tour, you will see its fragile headwaters, which shelter the last remaining natural trout streams in Niagara, and the forested lands, agricultural fields, vineyards, suburbs, busy cityscapes, and industrial areas which border the creek. You'll end up at Martindale Pond in Port Dalhousie, the site of the world-renowned annual Royal Canadian Henley Regatta.

Auto or cycling tour, with pedestrian stops
Location: Thorold and St. Catharines
Duration: 
Part I: Headwaters to Downtown St. Catharines - 3.5 hours
Part II: Downtown St. Catharines to Port Dalhousie - 2 hours

Click HERE for tour details
  

PATHWAYS THROUGH HISTORY

This walking tour follows ancient aboriginal pathways (now part of the Bruce Trail) along the edge of the Niagara Escarpment in south St. Catharines, and visits several historic sites adjacent to these trails (DeCew House, Morningstar Mill, and the Decew Falls Power Station, one of Canada's first hydroelectric generating stations established in 1898, which diverts water from Lake Erie and the Welland Canal over the edge of the escarpment in huge land-based penstocks.

Walking tour with pedestrian stops
Location: Thorold and St. Catharines 
Duration: 60 minutes, plus stops at Points of Interest

EXPLORING BALL'S FALLS

This is a self-guided historical tour and hike featuring heritage buildings and natural features at Ball's Falls Conservation Area in Jordan. The tour features a scavenger hunt aimed at kids and their families, and focusses on simple identification of wild trees and plant life in the Balls Falls Conservation Area, as well as the diversity inherent in certain agricultural products (like apple varieties at local Farm Markets).

NIAGARA GREENBELT CANALS TOUR

This comprehensive tour of Niagara's rich canal history takes tourists to the historical waterways which border the Greenbelt and which helped shape the history, land use, and heritage of the Niagara Greenbelt region. It starts at Port Dalhousie and includes stops at old and modern locks, the Lock Tender`s Shanty, the fascinating Lock 3 Museum, and the unique pedestrian ferry crossing at Port Robinson.

Bicycle or auto-based tour with pedestrian stops
Location: St. Catharines, Thorold, and Pelham 

BIRDING IN THE NIAGARA GREENBELT

This suite of Greenbelt destinations is aimed specifically at birders, both veteran and newbie, featuring routes within the Niagara Greenbelt which offer good birding prospects. They may be followed individually, or joined up into a comprehensive birding marathon.

The tour provides birder-specific interpretive information like habitat descriptions, natural history accounts, maps, photos, and imagery to aid in finding and identifying species of interest. The tour also includes pragmatic points of interest like where to go for a good early breakfast (critical for birders), trail maps, and overnight accommodations in B&Bs or hotels that are in close proximity to the desired birding sites.

Birding in the Niagara Greenbelt
Itinerary forthcoming
 

GREENBELT GOODIES

Destinations where you can find pies, cakes, sweets, bread and candy with that special Niagara Greenbelt appeal.

Choose from the list of delicious destinations provided, or check out the individual Point of Interest pages to find a bakery or sweets shop close to you.

Click HERE for details