Left: Twelve Mile Creek in autumn (Richard Wouthuis)
Top right: Lower DeCew Falls (David Andrews); Bottom right: Rowing on Martindale Pond (Dave Bauer) 

 

General Information

Touring the 12 Mile Creek passes through important Laura Secord-themed stops along the 12 Mile Creek and into St. Catharines, whose development would not have been were it not for this creek and the Welland Canal developments that followed it.

 

The tour takes you from above the escarpment to historic sites of DeCew House, DeCew's field, and the scenic DeCew waterfall, and finishes below the escarpment at Dick's Creek, a tributary of the 12 Mile Creek. On the way you will see the new bridge that is approximately where Laura made one of her crossings to get to DeCew house, you will see Rodman Hall and have the opportunity to hike along the Laura Secord Legacy Trail, and you will stop in at the origin of Shipman's Corners, which later became St. Catharines.

 

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Point C: DeCew's Field and Laura's Discovery of the Native Encampment

Audio Coming Soon

 

Click to play or download DeCew's Field and Laura's Discovery of the Native Encampment TripClip (mp3 format).

 

Directions to next point:

 

Return to the parking lot at Morningstar Mill. Turn right onto As you descend the Escarpment, Decew Road will turn into First Street Louth. Continue onto First Street Louth until you reach the intersection with Pelham Road. Turn right onto Pelham Road.

 

In about 250 metres you will see an entrance to a street on your right. Turn right onto Power Glen. You have reached your destination.

 

 

Point D: Power Glen

Click to play or download Power Glen (mp3 format).

 

Directions to next point:

Continue on Power Glen toward Pelham Road. Turn right onto Pelham Road and continue 350 metres. Rotary Park is on your right side.

 

 

Point E: Rotary Park

Click to play or download Rotary Park (mp3 format).

You should have a fairly clear and visible view of DeCew Power Generating Stations I and II from the lookout points within the park. You can also connect with the Laura Secord Legacy Trail.

 

Optional: DeCew Power Generating Station I

Click to play or download DeCew Falls Power Generating Station I (mp3 format).

 

Optional: DeCew Power Generating Station II

Click to play or download DeCew Falls Power Generating Station II (mp3 format).

 

Should you choose to connect to the Laura Secord Legacy Trail you can also get to the approximate location of Laura's Crossing, where she walked across the 12 Mile Creek in order to ascend the Escarpment and arrive at DeCew House. The Friends of the Laura Secord have built a bridge in the location, which is about 1 km south of Rotary Park along the Legacy Trail.

 

Optional: Laura's Crossing

Click to play or download Laura's Crossing (mp3 format).

 

Directions to next point:

 

Turn right out of the parking lot and continue north on Pelham Road. Stay on Pelham Road for about 2 kilometres. Then turn right onto St Paul Crescent. The destination, Rodman Hall,  near the Participark/Laura Secord Legacy Trail will be on your right side.

 

 

Point F: Rodman Hall and Participark/Laura Secord Legacy Trail
 

Click to play or download Rodman Hall (mp3 format).

 

At Rodman Hall, you can walk around the grounds and make your way to the Participark Trail. Make your way to the pergola in the Walker Botanical Gardens on the top of the hill overlooking Twelve Mile Creek. Then follow the staircase down the bank through the Walker Botanical Gardens and past the outdoor ampitheatre below Rodman Hall. At the base of the Rodman Hall grounds, you will see a path emerge.

 

You can turn right to follow the Legacy Trail towards the Niagara Escarpment and enjoy the trail for whatever distance you desire... OR

 

Directions to next point:

 

(By foot)

You can turn left and walk towards the next destination by following the trail until you reach a bridge. Turn right after you cross the bridge and stay left, ascending for a pedestrian bridge. As you ascend the bridge, you will see an inlet to your right. This is Dick's Creek. You will also pass by another portion of Dick's Creek in Centennial Park, your final point.

 

Optional: Dick's Creek

Go across the bridge and walk Straight through St. Paul Crescent. When you get to Westchester, turn left. Look for the corner of St. Paul Street and Westchester for the St. Catharines rockpile and your next Point, the Founding of St. Catharines.

 

(By car)

Take a sharp left (an almost 180 degree turn) onto Hainer Street. Turn right onto Henrietta Street, and then a quick right onto St. Paul Street West. Cross the bridge. When you get to the intersection with Westchester and Ontario you will need to look for parking. There is a City lot on the other side of the intersection on St. Paul Street, immediately on the right side. From there you can cross the street to your next destination.

 

 

Point G: Shipman's Corners

Click to play or download Shipman's Corners(mp3 format).

 

There are amenities in the Downtown St. Catharines, including many restaurants and Montebello Park, planned by the prolific Fredrick Law Olmstead (planner of Central Park), about six blocks north on Ontario Street.

 

Directions to Next Destination:

 

Exit the parking lot onto St. Paul St then make a quick left turn onto Westchester Avenue/Regional Rd 91. Continue to follow Westchester Avenue/Regional Rd 91 for 1.5 km.

 

Turn left onto Oakdale Avenue. Drive for 300 m, then enter the parking lot on your left, just past the Eastchester Avenue intersection. Here you will find Centennial Gardens and a number of walking trails including the Laura Secord Legacy Trail and the Merritt Trail. 

 

 

Point H: Centennial Park (Richard Pierpoint Plaque and Dick's Creek)

 

Beside the parking lot you will find the Richard Pierpoint Plaque.

 

Click to play or download Richard Pierpoint Plaque(mp3 format).

 

If you walk throughout the park you will pass by the location of Dick's Creek within Centennial Park.

Click to play or download Dick's Creek(mp3 format).

 

 

 

 

 

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