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* 2013 map version [shows Niagara College as waystation, instead of Outlet Collection at Niagara for Stages 2 and 3] |
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ABOUT THE TRAIL
Considerable research was undertaken to identify the route Laura Secord took on that fateful June day in 1813 from the Secord Homestead in Niagara-on-the-Lake to DeCew House in Thorold, where she delivered her famous message. We have drafted a modern-day approximation of the route that can be negotiated safely by hikers of average abilities. The five-stage route follows everything from ancient forested Indian trails to modern city sidewalks. You can hike the entire route, or break it up into shorter segments.
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Above: The Laura Secord Legacy Trail travels 32 km from Queenston to Thorold. Click map image for a larger version. Click 'Google Earth' link below to download the Google Earth KML file to view or 'fly' the trail. |
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Distance: 7.25 km - Average Walking Time: 2 hr. 15 min.
Stage 1 starts at the historic Laura Secord Homestead in picturesque Queenston, and travels along secluded Dee Road, across the Niagara Parkway, and through tranquil vineyards featuring wonderful views of the Escarpment and Brock's Monument.
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A walk south through woods, fields, and orchards takes you to the edge of the old Iroquois Trail (part of York Road, today), which leads to the the long-abandoned Central Rail line, now a shady forest pathway that rises gradually up the Escarpment south of York Road.
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The Central Rail line intersects with kilometre 4.3 of the fabled Bruce Trail, which hugs the edge of the Escarpment above the Village of St. David's to Stamford Townline Road. Stage 1 then continues south on the wide shoulder of Four Mile Creek Road and picks up the Bruce Trail on the west side of the road, following it to the end of Stage 1 at Fireman’s Park.
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Note: This version of the Stage 2 map |
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The trail continues along tranquil Warner Road and into the forest at Wood End Conservation Area (below left), where it merges with Niagara College's Wetland Ridge Trail, a side loop of the Bruce Trail also known as the Paul Naray [Silurian] Side Trail (West) (below right).
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The Stage 2 route follows the Wetland Ridge Trail west down the escarpment for about 30 m, doubling back in a northeasterly direction in the woodland ecotone close to the edge of the Niagara College vineyards (below left). This section of trail traverses a patch of glacial till (talus slope) at the base of the Escarpment, which is geologically interesting but which makes walking somewhat difficult (below right). For the less adventurous, a grassy alternative to the glacial till follows the edge of the Niagara College experimental vineyards. |
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After 400m, the Wetland Ridge Trail emerges into the open alongside the eastern edge of the Niagara College vineyards (below left), just west of the twin lagoons (below right).
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Next, proceed north to the car park access road, and then west across the Niagara College carpark and past the Transit Loop in front of the main college building (red arrow, right). From there, follow the pathway north then west through the grove of trees to the sidewalk along Taylor Road, then cross Glendale Avenue to the northwest corner of Glendale Avenue and Taylor Road. |
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Note: This version of the Stage 3 map |
Distance: 9 km - Average Walking Time: 2 hrs.
Stage 3 of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail begins at the Outlet Collection at Niagara mall. It is the most urbanized section of the walk, taking you through urban parks and along city sidewalks. Much has changed since the day Laura Secord passed through the small settlement of Shipman's Corners. This stage of the walk provides you with a fascinating overview of how industry, transport, population growth and economic development have caused the landscape to evolve in the past 200 years.
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From the Outlet Collection at Niagara mal, you have two choices: 1) follow the sidewalk along Taylor Road to bypass the mall, or 2) follow the Laura Secrod Legacy Trail signage and walk through the mall. It is indeed a bit unusual for a walking trail to cross directly through a shopping mall, but the Laura Secord Legacy Trail is no ordinary trail! The circuit through the mall provides an opportunity to stop, rest, use the washroom facilities, and perhaps grab a bite at the food court before continuing through the complex.
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Folllow the trail signs through the mall and along the access road just south of Leons Furniture to Homer Road (named after the all-but-forgotten Village of Homer that Laura Secord walked through on her trek). Turn right (north) on Homer Road, carefully cross Homer Road at the intersection of Taylor Road, then follow Taylor Road west. Taylor Road will curve north and approach the Garden Valley Skyway at the York Road traffic lights. Turn left at the intersection of York Road (which soon becomes Queenston Street), and walk over the Homer Bridge across the Fourth Welland Canal (formerly Ten Mile Creek).
You'll follow urban sidewalks along Queenston Street (the old Iroquois Trail) past tranquil Victoria Lawn Cemetery, then head west on Eastchester Road to Centennial Gardens. The parklands of Centennial Gardens surround the valley where the First Welland Canal was located.
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The paths and roadways of Centennial Gardens provide a welcome - and very historic - green oasis in the heart of St. Catharines. You will pass the plaque honouring another hero of the War of 1812, Captain Richard 'Dick' Pierpoint - a former slave who became one of the first free back settlers in the region, serving with Butler's Rangers and founding the celebrated Coloured Corps who aided the British in the War of 1812.
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Further down the path, you will be able to discern the edge of Dick's Creek, a watercourse named in Pierpoint's Honour. Nearby are the totem gardens and the oddly picturesque architectural debris of the demolished Carnegie Library, displayed in a haphazard but stangely attractive garden setting near the edge of the park.
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You will ascend the stairway to Gale Crescent, cross Geneva Street, and travel south on Race Street to the intersection with the Merritt Trail at the foot of St. Paul Crescent, where you will cross over busy Highway 406 on a pedestrian footbridge (below left) and enter the valley of Twelve Mile Creek (below right).
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Next, you will follow the edge of Twelve Mile Creek and cross over to the west bank on the St. Paul Crescent truss bridge (left), wending your way up the hill to the manicured grounds of historic Rodman Hall (right). Stage 3 ends at the front door of this noble edifice, now a public art gallery administered by Brock University.
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Distance: 4.28 km - Average Walking Time: 1.5 hrs.
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At Rodman Hall, you will make your way to the pergola in the Walker Botanical Gardens on the top of the hill overlooking Twelve Mile Creek.
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Next, follow the staircase down the bank through the Walker Botanical Gardens and past the outdoor amphitheatre below Rodman Hall.
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At the the base of the Rodman Hall property, the path will emerge on the main Laura Secord Legacy Trail, which follows Twelve Mile Creek. You will turn right....
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...and walk south on the Laura Secord Legacy Trail under the CN Rail bridge which passes over Twelve Mile Creek.
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Continue along the main trail, passing below the Western Hill bluffs on your right. At one point you will pass the intersection with the West Park Side Trail (which hairpins up the bluffs to your right).
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As you approach the intersection with Glendale Avenue, you will see the pedestrian bridge and the traffic overpass spanning the Twelve Mile Creek.
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Just past the point where the pedestrian bridge at Glendale Avenue connects to the parking lot on the east bank...
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...you will continue straight ahead (south) along the bank of the creek and under the Glendale Avenue overpass.
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There is an network of interlinked bike trails south of the Glendale Avenue intersection. Stay on the branch which follows the bank of the Twelve Mile Creek. |
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Further south, you will climb a rise which overlooks the Elk Street Flats, just north of Rotary Park.
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The trail then veers right and climbs up the bluffs from the Twelve Mile Creek valley towards Rotary Park, then...
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...passes through the Rotary Pines North trail link, and finally...
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...emerges on the north side of Rotary International Friendship Park.
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Distance: 4.43 km - Average Walking Time: 1.5 hrs.
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Descend the Rotary Pines South trail...
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...into the valley of the Twelve Mile Creek. In late fall, winter, and early spring, you will have a good view of the DeCew Power Generating Station on the opposite (east) side of the creek.
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Descend through the woods to the bottom of the Twelve Mile Creek valley...
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...and emerge at the bottom of Tailrace Road, near the gate to the DeCew Power Generating Station.
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Follow the fencline of the DeCew Power Generating Station into the woods.
Enter Short Hills Park and follow the old access roadbed that was used to build the first DeCew Power Generating Station in 1898. |
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Enter Short Hills Park and follow the old access roadbed along Twelve Mile Creek and over the hogsback to the Bridge at Laura’s Crossing. Cross the bridge into Laura’s Meadow.
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| (Photo forthcoming) |
Climb up the Niagara Escarpment out of the valley of The Twelve, first to the Bench and then to the Nose above Beaverdams Creek, to rejoin the Bruce Trail on the Escarpment Flatlands. The trail skirts DeCew’s Field, where Laura met native warriors who brought her to the end of her journey. |
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From Morningstar Mill, go up to the top of the Lake Moody berm, and follow the Bruce Trail to Laura's final destination at DeCew House, Thorold. |
(Photo forthcoming) |
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Congratulations on your successful completion of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail!
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