The Niagara Glen Trail & Nature Centre
This surreal trail provides a uniquely beautiful, moderate hiking experience just steps away from the Niagara Horseshoe Falls.
The Niagara Glen Trail is a short loop that tours the Niagara Glen Nature Centre. Although it can be completed in an hour, the rugged prehistoric rock and steep elevation will make it worth your while. And the spectacular, unique landscapes will keep you around for much longer.
The loop descends into the Niagara Gorge and through a lush pocket of the Carolinian Forest, ambling along the pastel turquoise of the Niagara River Whirlpool. The numerous outcroppings make it a popular destination for young rock climbers looking for a low-risk place to get important experience, but there is plenty of trail for hikers to love.
To get there, you can pay for parking at the reserve’s parking lot, but it fills up quickly before lunch. I drove a bit further to the Niagara Falls Power Generating Plant Lookout to beat the fees and get a bit more distance out of my walk.
The Niagara Glen Trail
Length: 2.6 km
Elevation: 103 m
Type: Loop
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Moderate
View the map on AllTrails.
Why I Loved Hiking the Niagara Glen Nature Centre
Varied and unique landscapes to photograph and enjoy.
The Niagara River Whirlpool is a lovely place to stop for lunch.
The jagged rock provides a low-risk place for hikers and climbers to get practice.
The trail is much more difficult than you would expect for an hour-long trek.
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Key Hiking Gear
This is a hot trail, so as usual, bring a moisture-wicking base layer.
My Adidas Terrex Agravic hiking shoes were perfect for the rocky trail.
The Real Main Attraction of Niagara Falls
There’s a lot for hikers and photographers to love in Niagara Falls. There is a trail that runs behind the horseshoe falls, the Bruce Trail takes its first steps along the Niagara Escarpment just north of the glen, and the parkway running along the length of the Niagara River is a worthy afternoon too. So when I say this is the most gorgeous spot in the area, it’s a big statement.
I’d wanted to do this trail for a long time; I was more interested in having a typical Niagara Falls experience during my first visit to the area. But after a year of gawking at photos of this place online, I jumped into my car on a whim one morning and made the drive from Ottawa. I wasn’t disappointed.
Don’t underestimate this hike. It’s short, but the climbs are steep and the terrain can be quite unforgiving if you aren’t wearing the right equipment. I passed two people on the trail who were having an ordeal of it, likely because they were expecting an easy walk in the park. This isn’t that. But I recommend it to anyone looking for a short, scenic hike that still drums up a sweat.