The Niagara Circle Route: Connecting Niagara

If you like to bike, hike, run or walk I have the perfect activity for you! Check out the unique Greater Niagara Circle RouteGreater Niagara Circle Route and experience Niagara in a new, exciting way.

The Circle Trail, Robin Hood Mill Port Colborne

The Greater Circle Route Trails System connects all of Niagara and is over 140 km of mostly off-road, paved trails suitable for walking, cycling or rollerblading. The paved trail is mostly three meters wide and passes through urban centres, downtowns, the Niagara Escarpment, waterfronts and agricultural areas.

The Circle Route consists of the following trails:
- Welland Canal Parkway Trail
- Fort Erie Friendship Trail
- Niagara River Recreation Trail 
- Waterfront Trail
- Trans Canada Trail

My favourite part of the trail (which I rediscovered when I moved home) is in Port Colborne near the old Robin Hood Mill. This part of the trail opens up into a beautiful wooded area with an old metal bridge that crosses the weir in the little town. This spot also offers a great view of the old Mill (which is a fantastic photo opportunity too!)

The Circle Route is one of the many aspects of Niagara that makes it so unique. It is rare to see a region that makes such an effort to join its communities together like this and because Niagara is so large I think it is an amazing feat. So if you want to explore a little more of Niagara, grab your friends and your camera and spend a day discovering the Niagara Circle Trail.


 

The Morningstar Mill - A Visit Back in Time

With the worst of the winter weather behind us it's time to start thinking about spring and everything the Niagara region has to offer during this season. One of my favourite places to visit during the nice weather is the Morningstar Mill in St. Catharines.


The Morninstar Mill, St. Catharines

The Morningstar Mill Park, Interpretive Centre and Museum is located at 2714 Decew Rd. beside Decew Falls, a popular hiking trail in Niagara. The site is made up of a number of buildings: the gristmill (more commonly known as the Morningstar Mill) the turbine shed, the millers house, the icehouse, sawmill and the barn.

Visiting the Morningstar Mill and homstead is like stepping back in time to the ninteenth century. Originally named Mountain Mills, the mill was built of local stone in 1872 on the site of a former blacksmith and carpentry shop. Water was diverted from Beaverdams Creek to power the mill. In 1883 the mill was purchased by Wilson Morningstar and in 1895 it was destroyed by a fire however, it was rebuilt and operated until 1993.

Seeing a piece of history so well preserved in Niagara is truly something special. History and nature lovers alike will love the Morningstar Mill as it promised to fill your day with adventure and excitement.

The Morningstar Mill is something that Niagara natives, like myself, can easily take for granted. Until recently I didn't appreciate or realize how unique it is for a region to have so many preserved historical sites like this. So take a trip through time at the Morningstar Mill and finish off your day with a hike through Decew Falls or the famouse Bruce Trail!

Experiencing the Comfort Maple

This past summer my sister Lauren and I decided we wanted to get outside and "do something." We had hiked the well-known trails around our home and were looking for something new.


Lauren at the base of the Comfort Maple

At the insistence of one of our co-workers we decided to check out the oldest sugar maple tree in Canada, the Comfort Maple. Located in Pelham, the 530 year old tree towers about 80 feet in the air and has a circumference of 6 meters. In short, it's massive.



Finding the Comfort Maple Conservation Area proved to be a challenge for Lauren and me. We drove up and down the country roads of Pelham, desperately looking for some kind of sign to direct us. Finally we found the dirt road (I was convinced it was somebody's driveway) that led us to the tree.

At first I had the enthusiastic reaction of "oh great, we're going to see a tree," but once I was standing at the base of it I realized how cool it really was.

I have never felt as small as I did when I was standing at the base of the Comfort Maple. Visiting this spot helped me realize that Niagara has some amazing natural sights that help make it the special place that it is.

If you enjoy visiting the Comfort Maple tree and want to experience other great nature spots in Niagara check out this blog Leaving Footprints  about Niagara hiking trails.

Directions to the Comfort Maple

 

Rediscover Niagara: The Journey

Hi. I’m Courtney and I’m from the Niagara Region.

After growing up in Niagara (and more specifically, the small town of Port Colborne) the 17 year old me was ready for new sights, new sounds and new adventures, so I packed my bags, said goodbye to this one-horse town and started fresh 2 hours north of here. That’s right folks, I was off to university.

While I was busy making friends, pulling all-nighters and partaking in the occasional party, four years passed quickly and before I knew it I was getting ready to move back to the Niagara Region.  At first I was pretty bummed to be going back to the place I so eagerly left only 4 years ago. However, I accepted my fate and moved back to my hometown, expecting every minute to become paralyzed with boredom but instead something magical happened; I rediscovered Niagara.

From small restaurants hidden along the lakeshore, to unknown landmarks and sights I quickly realized that the Niagara Region is truly one of a kind and has a lot to offer.

Today I’m setting off on another journey and this time I don’t have to move 2 hours away to do it! Join me as I explore the sights and sounds of the Niagara region in order to discover the places that make it so unique. Join me as I Rediscover Niagara.