Niagara Glen Nature Reserve

A Rare Carolinian Forest Nature Reserve On The Floor Of The Niagara Gorge, With Giant Boulders, Trails To The River, Rock Climbing, Rare Plants And Views Of The Whirlpool Rapids. A Quiet Wild Contrast With The Nearby Falls, Reached By Steep Trails · Niagara Falls, Ontario

Niagara Glen Nature Reserve lies on the floor of the Niagara Gorge about 6 km downstream of the Falls, reached from the Niagara Parkway by a stairway that drops down the gorge wall (confirm distance). Giant boulders, thrown down when the Falls retreated upstream over thousands of years, are scattered through a rare Carolinian forest of sassafras, tulip tree, chinquapin oak and other southern species. Trails wind among the rocks, down to the edge of the roaring Niagara River and along the whirlpool rapids, where the green water churns in waves. Niagara Parks runs the reserve and a small nature centre at the top (confirm season). Visitors come to hike, to look for rare plants and to climb boulders, and all find a quiet, wild world within a short drive of the crowds. The climb back up is long, so plan two hours or more and wear sturdy shoes. Entry to the reserve is free, though parking is paid (confirm).

Niagara Glen Nature Reserve, in the Niagara Gorge about 6 km downstream of the Falls on the Niagara Parkway, reached by a stairway down the gorge wall; coordinates approximate, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

The reserve is generally open every day from dawn to dusk, with parking at the top and a staffed nature centre in the warm season (confirm hours and dates). Trails are walkable in winter, though ice and mud make the stairs and rocky paths hazardous, and some sections may close after storms or rockfalls. Late spring brings wildflowers and bird migration, and autumn brings colour in the Carolinian forest. Flow in the river does not change much by season, but access and footing do, so check conditions before a visit.

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