Reviews of Niagara Glen Nature Centre (Tourist Attraction)

Vince Lip

This is really a must see if you are in the area. Is about a 2 hours hike (leisurely. Walk) for a complete loop.

Patsy Wong

Down the metal staircase, It’s not a trail for family with kids and seniors. Bad maintenance, signs are not clear and disappeared. We were struggled to find the orange and purple trails while we were giving up to finish the blue one along the river. I saw couple families had the same situations as us. And that’s why many people turned around and made the narrow path over crowded. Polices and EMS were here this afternoon and someone must be hurt. I hope he/she is fine. All uneven rocky stairs with slippery mosses. Very tiring because you have to think where to put you feet in every step. Scenery is not impressive down there. It’s more beautiful along Niagara Parkway.

Karen Mork

Great for a walk by the river. Head down the stairs left of the building and parking lot you can enjoy the area for free. If you go to the gorge area instead there is admission so this is a good alternative. I recommend you take a picture of the trails map lol. Everyone joked about "dying here" bcs when it started getting darker it was really hard to navigate haha.

Fenina Sy

Good hike. ???? If you want to get tired while walking, this is a good place for you. You will also get a chance to see the rapid water a bit closer.

Ashlyn

Was a nice hike. Trails can be longer, but the ones we took took us around 3 hours to complete. Gorgeous views of the water. Some opt to swim in the summer from what I’ve heard, but it’s definitely not safe based on the rapids further out. There’s signs everywhere notifying you not to. One train was a pretty narrow path, and took us past a waterfall. I slipped, so definitely be careful when walking, and wear appropriate shoes. Other then that, we had a great time, and took some nice nature pictures.

CHRIS BALL

This park is 5 to 10 minutes only away from the falls. We have been coming here for years because of the great descent down to Niagara river through old forest and ancient rock formations. Lately you have to pay ($10) for parking but it’s well worth it. There is a tourist centre with shops and educational programs for the kids. The picnic area is well kept, there are BBQs, you bring your own charcoal. The washrooms are modern and clean. The view onto Niagara River is amazing with the USA on the opposite escarpment. You can also see the whirlpool from there. Once you get down to the river there is a constant stream of river boats in both directions carrying tourists. Looks a bit dangerous to me, not for the faint hearted!

Joni Since

A fantastic and a perfect spot to take in the views that our lovely Niagara has to offer. You could easily spend a full day here. The trails are well-kept, there are enough of experts to offer advice, and going back up was simple thanks to well-marked UP signs. We only hiked approximately half of the path, which is densely packed with loops around the centre.

Nathalie Mark-Yam

This place is a hidden gem in Niagara Falls for an amazing hike with views of the rapid waters of Niagara River and the geological rock formations with people bouldering from it. The centre is free to enter just pay for parking ($2.50hr). Get there early for parking as it fills up quickly. Washrooms are located at the entrance. Recommend that you use this before your journey as there is nothing when you get down there. Take a photo of the map before heading down the stairs. The stairs are the entrance and exit to the park. The map shows all the trails and trails are easily marked with symbols and ascending numbers. Wear good footwear as the paths are uneven and rocky. We did the Eddy Trail, all of River Trail, Cobblestone Trail back to Cliffside Trail to exit. That was 3 hours with stops for photos along the way. There are picnic tables free to use on site after your hike.

Jayabharathi Kalamegam

Excellent hikes, parking is little expensive. $2.50 per hour $20 all day. But views are incredible along with falls colours and roaring riverside

Carl Giguere

Gorgeous. Lots of trails with some a bit more exciting, not just boring walks.

Arrchana Pradeepan

This place is beautiful! You can hike down to the water. The trail itself is quite shady. Bring comfortable running/hiking shoes and dress appropriately because the trail down is rocky. My parents who are 60 & 56 were able to make it down so it's manageable.

jaia konik

This is a yearly must hike for me! I just learned there are pockets of trees here which could be up to 700yrs old! The scenery looks tropical, the trails are well marked and can be taken for any length of time. Go down 6 flights of stairs at the parking lot and if you are brave enough to traverse the entire Whirlpool Trail, which is marked as closed due to flooding, you get to experience about 2 hours of advanced hiking/climbing terrain and a grand finale up the wooden staircase. Today I navigated the inner Terrace and Fish trails. Internet is spotty so be sure to snap a photo of the map at the beginning. This place is one of the last great old growth stands in southern Ontario and it's beautiful! Don't go near the water, the Niagara River is turbulent and people die. Stay on the trails and you'll have an awesome time with your family discovering fossils, bouldering rocks, rock stairs, rock tunnels and geocaches! Scenery is breathtaking and refreshing but it tends to get super busy on holidays and weekends. Parking is limited, you pay $20 for an annual lot pass.

Candy Chan

An extremely beautiful trail within the Niagara region with varying levels of difficulty. There are also plentiful bouldering spots as cliffs are a common sight. Be aware that there is an elevation of approximately 250m and jagged edges and rocky hills. Great for views of the fall foliage!

Christos C

Excellent short hike, about 1.5 to 3 hours depending on your route and how many times you stop. I'd recommend taking a snack, water and wear hiking shoes/boots. Good grip is a good idea as the trails have lots of rocks, boulders. Especially if it is raining. Great place for bouldering. Gets pretty busy for parking but be patient the trail is quite short.

Nidsy A

We discovered this gem of a trail by chance and it was an amazing experience. The trail is filled with lush green flora and offers breathtaking views throughout the trail. We can literally hear the water gushing and smell the leaves. There's a separate place for fishing too and there's a park near the entrance with many benches. We can eat there and go for a nice trek! Be ready to walk for long though and watch out for the steep paths bordering the lake. Not recommended for kids owing to the rocky and slippery terrain.

Letitia C

We hiked the whirlpool trail and then tried to continue on as per the guide in All Trails app. The trail was not well marked beyond the whirlpool and we ended up on quite and adventure involing climbing rock faces and ropes with kids 10, 12 and 16 and two 45 year old moms. Afterwards we read if you see the car wreck you're off the path and go back. Well we saw the car wreck. This is a challenging trail but we had a lot of fun doing it. The majesty of the Niagara River is just breathtaking. So powerful. I have visited Niagara Falls many times in my life at the top but never have been so close to the river. It was such an amazing experience. Wear good hikers for this hike. Preferably with ankle support. Trail head facilities have bathrooms and picnic areas. There are a lot of stairs to get to the hiking area.

Louise

A gorgeous area to explore! This was my 1st time visiting this spot. Paid parking lot at the top. $5 for 2hrs. If you're normally a less active person - like me - be prepared for the metal stairs leading down (tougher climbing back up ????) as well as stone steps. I'd also recommend good footwear. The fall leaves made the rocks slick to walk on in spots.

Intelligence Quotient

the views are absolutely beautiful, but the trails are tricky; be sure to bring hiking shoes and water so y'all don't slip

Alexander

An amazing place to hike with lots of trails each with their own unique offering and challenges. Truly a must visit and hike. With lots of elevation changes and rocky terrain it is a great challenge with beautiful scenery. One of my favourite places to go.

Afrin K

Visited in Fall last year, beautiful colors from the top! Parking was tough because it was really busy so had to walk down from the Butterfly conservatory parking. We didn't get to go downstairs to the rocks area, but seemed very crowded since stairs to go down are narrow and social distancing couldn't be followed properly. Will definitely visit soon and explore more of this area but worth visiting!

Deepak Sharma

Niagara Glen Trail is located 10 minutes drive from Niagara falls viewpoint. Parking is $2.5 per hour or $20 annual pass. Trail was moderate difficultly level as it’s rocky and goes down to the river and then back up around 10 floors(including 6 floors for the stairs), short(3 KM) and beautiful but if you are going just to see the Niagara falls I would say: Avoid going to the falls if you have already been there, it’s too crowded. Do this trail you will have a good workout. Also bring water and hiking shoes if possible.

Glen E. Grant

The conservation trail walk was the best thing I did all day. Parking was challenging thou I ended up at the Butterfly Conservatory and trekked back. Did the orange trail down to the Niagara River where enjoyed refreshing moments while watching the power boats navigate the gorge. Trails are well maintained, guides are plentiful to offer advise and getting back up was easy thankfully to well marked UP signs. Absolute bucket list joy.

Melissa Waterman

After all of these years, I finally made it to Niagara Glen. I must say it was a day well spent. There is so much beauty all around the trails. Your journey begins with the steel staircase. The views are gorgeous! It's even breathtaking when you hike up to the Niagara Whirlpool. The turquoise waters and roaring rapids are so hypnotizing. The trails are very rugged and there are some steep areas. Be prepared to get in an intense workout. It's best to go early in the morning to beat the crowd, and to get a parking space. The paystation takes credit cards only. If you are looking for an adventure Niagara Glen is the place to be!

Nadiia Mykhailiuk

Absolutely gorgeous place!!! Beautiful nature, scenic views of the Niagara river! This place has many different amazing hiking trails. It’s quite busy on the weekends but on the weekdays you can enjoy this incredible place. If you like rock climbing, the Niagara Glen Nature Centre is perfect place for your training. So grab your lunch and proper hiking shoes and enjoy your day there. I always have a great time and many pictures

Eden

A must explore if your visiting Niagara Falls, ????????'s soil! This place is so magical, therapeutic, and majestic. Oh did I mention beautiful?! It's one of my favourite hiking trails in Ontario. You can pretty much spend your entire day here, just make sure it's a warm sunny day with food + drinks. No swimming allowed! But you can: ✅ Hike ✅Rock climb ✅Yoga, Meditate, Read your ???? ✅Picnic ✅Fishing ✅Master your photography skills ✅ Watch Beavers ✅Explore, explore, explore!! ✅And enjoy your time! Young children are allowed yet on your own risks! I have seen families with their 6 months baby with straps on ???? I highly suggest to come as early as possible to avoid crowds as there are some trails that are super tight to walk through. Parking is about $2.50 per 60min or $40.00 annually to many Niagara Parking Parks. Explore the Fish Trail first if this is your first time. Trails are moderate with some inclines.

Pingy Lee

That flight of staircase you gotta take before the hike tho???????????????? Did the fish trail at the Niagara Glen; got lost and followed the ammonite trail for a long while???? went back and found the right trail because I wanted to get close to the water!!! Felt like dying at the end from the hike, but I love the colours, the breeze, so it was well woooorth it. It was not for a novice hiker like me tho, but I was with someone who know the trails good, so I was in good hand???? pretty good open space for people to have picnic, walks, plays, and washrooms are readily available by the center????

Ashuni Patel

This whole trail is mindblowing and the varying levels of difficulty make it ideal for people of all ages. Wear sturdy shoes and carry water if you’re going on a hot day. They have a bike rack if you do decide to bike there.

Murad Hussain

Never knew this path existed, been to Niagara Falls for over 20 years. First time discovering it in 2021. Great walk if you don't mind climbing up and down a few flights of stairs

金玫Barrie 华人地产经纪 Mei Jin

Fantastic view. We have a lots of fun while walking on natural and rocky paths. The paths are covered with colourful leaves.

Saurabh Dixit

Awesome Trek Path - you can choose from many options with mix of trails. Fun

Araash Chothia

Amazing waterfront hike, and a great place to enjoy the scenery that our beautiful Niagara has to offer us. It wasn’t that busy on a Sunday afternoon and we were chatting it up with a lot of the hikers which come here often and some people were even climbing the faces of a lot of the boulders. I would definitely come here again to walk the trails that I didn’t walk on because when I left I felt like I could still hike more.

maryam sadeghian

Thats a great place to watch Niagara river and beautiful Niagara Escarpment. and if you like rock climbing here is for you. there is washroom and parking tickets are $2 for half hour so its better to buy a annual pass for $20 ????

saima kabir

Located on niagraparkway this beautiful hiking place has free entrance seven days a week.the parking depends on hours one spend there I paid $15for 12:00 to 6:30pm. This is very safe and well marked hike. It is long and scenic especially the river and whirlpool trais. All trails are also marked with numbers if the number increases it means you are moving forward .All trails are interconnected we did river trail first. The best way is to take the picture of the map with u which is displayed at the entrance of the hike. The starting point are stairs that go down to the trail. Undoubtedly good place to spend time.

Tamon Gittens

Been here 3 times, first time in the winter. The whirlpool trail was closed due to conditions, but the other trails were open and the scenery looked great with the snow. A number of rock climbers were out bouldering, even in the cold. Nice place with walk/hike when in Niagara

Jeremy Davidson

A great place to hike for free just ten minutes driving from the falls. Parking is only $2.50 an hour. Made the mistake of bringing a stroller and had to return it and held my 6 month old for the hike as it is rather rugged and enjoyable!

Chris Campbell

Great hiking trails along the Niagara river. Bathrooms onsite and a small shop for snacks and souvenirs. There is a metal staircase that you must use to get down to the trails so if you’re afraid of heights it could be an issue.

Jane Lee

Beautiful and challenging place to hike, lots of trails so bring a map :)

Alex Kogan

Amazing walk along the Niagara river! We walked about 6.5km with kids age 4 and 9 - no problem! Mostly shielded from the sun and winds. You can get down to the water and dip your toes - and enjoy the green and blue around.

Roman Bolshich

A good place to hike near the Falls. There are number of trails you can take, depends on how much time you like to spend there. It took us with two kids about two hours to hike most of the trails. The place doesn't fit for people with disabilities or children which are not used to hike.

Cassia Palmer- James

Beautiful trail, decently well marked. (Purple trail) Some area where alittle confusion might happen but overall really great experience.

Ananth Koovappady

The Niagara region is, undoubtedly, one of the most endowed regions in the world. With one of the wonders of the world (the Horsehoe Falls), several bodies of water surrounding it and the vast greenery it is a quiet way for one to relax amongst nature. The Niagara Glen Nature Center and Trail is one such gem in the region. Created in the 1980s, this well designed green space offers a great site for family picnics. Not to mention the wonderful trail. Surrounded by flowing water of the Niagara River and a wall of trees this trail provides one the perfect work out while being among nature. The only advice I would give is to arrive early if you want parking. The lot gets full very fast and one has to wait quite along time to get one. A great place for a family outing on a weekend.

Andrius Gudelis

One of the best hiking trails I've ever visited. It felt as if I was in a fairytale: giant boulders, natural Carolinian forest and roaring waters of Niagara River. Surreal experience.

Shorty Goofy

Great place to go! Visited last week for the first time and it did not disappoint. Parking is paid by the hour and there are washrooms that are clean. I suggest a visit to the washroom before heading down to the trails. For those that haven’t been there before just a heads up you have to wear hiking shoes or shoes with good grip seeing as the paths are not always smooth. Take water so you can stay hydrated and remember the way down is easy but the way up is always a challenge. Take it slow! Look closely on the trees or huge rocks they will have little signs with icons indicating which trail you are on. We took the shells trail then ventured off on the fish trail.

Selena Dhillon

So happy to find a spot like this just an hour from the city. It can take up to a couple of hours to explore all the trails (or less if you do a shorter one) which are marked and easy to find your way through. Hiking/walking down to the river is a must ~ the turquoise water is stunning and therapeutic to listen to. The trail is relatively flat but can be rocky so a good pair of comfortable shoes with grip are best. Parking is available ($2.50 per hour) which is accessible via the parking meter for a ticket or an app if it’s compatible with your smartphone.

Mike B

This easily has to be one of my favorite hiking trails in Ontario now! Once you step down into the gorge its a different world, definitely worth visiting. Mind you, the parking lot does fill up very quickly (like on a long weekend).

Tania Humphrey

Beautiful hike, be prepared for a good hike. Lots of water, we always pack a light lunch and have a picnic along the way. Wear proper shoes as flip flops will slip on some of the rocks. Remember to bring out what ever garbage you bring in. Let's keep this place Beautiful ????

Monique Hoeflaak

Best hiking in the area, right by the Niagara River. Lots of natural stone steps, trees, caves and beautiful views of the rushing River.

Chris

This is a great trail, with lots alternate paths. The trail is rocky and challenging. We only covered about half of the trail which has alot of loops close to the center. We are going to cover the whole trail which goes to the Niagara whirlpool.

Anne-Marie Menezes

Beautiful reserve with a variety of trails that are easy to navigate. The hiking itself is difficult enough to get your heart rate up but not overly challenging.

karimulla mohammad (KoolKlick)

Good adventurous trail through rocks steep mountains Niagara water flow side by side throughout the hiking trail , liked very much ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Robin Rankin

We absolutely loved our walk through Niagara Glen. Walk is slippery when wet. Solid shoes are a must. Walk starts and ends with a 90 step metal staircase.

Christina Wang

Great hiking trails by the water! There are multiple trails for hiking lovers, all are at moderate level, except for the whirlpool trail which is difficult. The trails are quite rugged, with lots of rocks and roots, so be sure to wear proper hiking boots. We hiked for 1.5 hours, and walked about 60% of the trails so each are quite short. Also, make sure you go on a relatively dry day, as the rocks can get very slippery after the rain. Highly recommend!!

Dhillon Harry

Love the different trails and paths you can take, the first set of steps are cool but if ur afraid of heights it might be difficult, be sure to wear comfortable shoes or something with good grip, as it gets late mosquitoes love you, the view is beautiful. I love how it is so rocky and adventurous. Parking is pretty cheap, $2.50 an hr and it took about 2 hours to tour.

Sherry Zhang

We come to Niagara Glen Nature Center and down to the Gorge many times a year. This is one of our favorite place to hiking.

Edward

Amazing views of the river from the top. Hiking trail is more for moderate to experienced people. Rough and stony path with lots of up and downhill. Don't forget to stop and enjoy the views

Darcy Atkinson

One of the best places to go for a hike in southern Ontario. We absolutely love it here, a little challenging in places, so be aware, but overall just a wonderful place to spend an afternoon with friends or family. We try and make it down at least once a year and have never been too disappointed. Every season deserves a visit. Never too busy, except a few times we've ran into large groups that hog the trail, but nothing that would even take a star off of the review.

Komul Bedi

I came here for the first time about a year ago in the summer to go for a nice hike with my then new husband and we absolutely loved it. The views were stunning and the hike itself was just such an adventure. It's not an easy trek by any means (so please be warned), but it was so different than anything we have ever done before, and each turn brought a new aspect of mother nature forward. There are gorgeous trees, lush foliage, crazy steps to climb up and down, large boulders, and of course the Niagara river which contains shockingly crystal clear turquoise blue water churning away next to you. We knew right away we would definitely be back and immediately told all of our friends and family what a great spot this was to check out. There are multiple trails at varying difficulties and lengths, designated by different colors and symbols, and the entrance map really helps to clarify what route you may want to take and which trails connect where. It was really easy for us to figure out our preferred path. There is a massive set of stairs to climb down to start the trail (and then back up when you return), so again, please be warned that this is not a straightforward flat trail to walk through and is more strenuous overall than not. We recently returned with a group of our cousins in the fall and again were left in awe at the beauty of it all. It was quite cold but unlike our last visit, this time, we were able to see clearly through the trees, and the fall colours were stunning. We had some family from England visiting us and they too were just shocked and were so thankful we dragged them out in the early morning to do this. Photos and videos don't do justice to how gorgeous this trail is in every season apparently. We will be back again and again to enjoy this gem of a nature walk!

M M

Beautiful views on the trail. Just loved it. In terms of hiking it depends which side you start from. If you start from right you will end up climbing very high elevation via tough rocks and steps. It goes on like that for more than a kilometre. If you start from left, you will be going down through those tough rocks but coming back up via much less difficult elevation!!

fatima amin

Had an -uhhmaazing experience of a lifetime!! Was nt sure to do the upperwhirlpool trail or this one, so ended up this one for its reviews. Getting down was easy but pretty tricky, it begins from the staircase which is behind the nature centre. The staircase leads to a steep trail through the rocky part. So the way up had me gasping for my breath but that wasnt the case with everyone! Those views of river for which i hiked down were actually viewable from top, along the river recreational trail, by crossing the safety logs. Once down tried to get my feet into water and slipped on a rock, just got bruised, because of algae, it was very veryy slippery so my advise donttt do that!!

SHAUNA COURTNEY

Fun moderate hike, also fun watching hikers bouldering, mostly well marked trails but 1 was not marked & we had to retrace our steps & pick another trail