OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Want to take a leisurely roll through acres of woodlands, look across Lake Ontario to Toronto, hang over a huge stream bed, poke around a lake or fish in a trout stream with platforms for wheelchairs extended out over the water, then take a look at the places listed below. There are even custom designed outdoor guided tours geared specifically to your level of activity. - See Niagara Nature Tours.

For more than we have here log on to the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority Web site at:
www.conservation-niagara.on.ca

Fishing: Both Chippawa Creek Conservation Area and St. John's (see below) have fishing platforms built out over the water suitable for people in wheelchairs or scooters to use. The pond at St. John's is stocked with trout and Dil's Lake at Chippawa Creek is stocked with bass. Trout season usually runs the last Saturday in April until Sept. 30 and bass season begins at the end of June and runs until Nov. 30.
A person with a disability does not need a fishing licence as long as they have a valid Ontario disability parking permit or a birth certificate and it is apparent that they are intellectually, physiologically, neurologically or developmentally impaired...the latter to the point where they need help fishing and may not understand the act of fishing.
The limit for a conservation area is two fish in your possession at one time.

Chippawa Creek Conservation Area - Wellandport, ON, Tel: (905)386-6387 gatehouse - hours: dawn to dusk but there is open camping - season: Victoria Day weekend to Labour Day weekend. After that, the area is open for walking, etc. but washrooms are closed.
Parking: When the park is open there is plenty of loose parking in the park or by the gate house office. When the park is closed there is parking on either side of the entrance or on the main road.
Admission: Day use $3.25 for adults; $2.25 senior and students; $10 per car, whichever is less; camping rates vary - please call (905)788-3138 or ask at office.
From the QEW take exit 57 and travel south to Highway 20. Turn right on Highway 20 (west) and go to Bismark. Approaching Bismark you'll see a big Chippawa Creek Conservation area sign; this is a four way stop; turn left onto Reg. Rd. 27 and go south to Wellandport. In Wellandport you cross the bridge over the river, take the first right just past the diner by the garage and turn right between the school and church onto Reg. Rd. 45 to the park. Three hundred and sixty-six acres of woods, field, and campgrounds surrounded by the Welland River with man-made, 35 acre, Dils Lake in the centre of it are there for your enjoyment. It's truly a lovely place.
I'm a real tree hugger and my husband and I visit this lovely area in the off season at least twice a year. I have no problem getting around on my scooter. There are canoes and paddle boats for rent during the camping season. Day camping as well as long-term lots for seasonal trailer camping is available. The trail around Dils Lake is accessible especially if you use an electric scoote or chair. Nesting Canada geese are usually on the trail and all manner of birds, butterflies, insects, trees, water lilies and wild vegetation can be investigated. And, if you like, you can take a circular route through the woods where the dappled sun filtering through the tall high trees makes you feel glad you're alive. Fishing is permitted (in season) off the platforms that go out into the lake or the shore or from canoe. There is also a boat ramp with access to the Welland River also known as the Chippawa. Canoes and paddle boats are rented out in the summer to be used on Dils Lake.
There are accessible washrooms not to far from the park entrance and over in the camping section of the park and running water and electrical hookups in the camping areas.
When the area is not open to campers it is usually open to people who simply want to walk or roll the area. We've never been turned back by anyone in all the years we've been visiting this area and loving it. Operated by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (905)788-3135

St. Johns Conservation Area
To find this area get on Pelham Street in Fonthill and go north. The road will get very windy, you are in the St. John's Valley of the Short Hill Region of Niagara. Watch for a yield sign and go straight at the yield and look for the St. John Conservation Area sign.
Parking: There is plenty of parking and an accessible washroom - some paths can be muddy but the area is lovely when dry.
Admission: free
Hours: dawn to dusk - the gate is open every day during trout fishing season and from the end of April to the end of September. From October to April the park is open weekends, weather permitting - the snow is not plowed.
This park is in a lovely part of the Short Hills near Fonthill. There is a path that goes around a deep lake with mineral deposits at the bottom that make the pond a sparkling turquoise. Another trail goes around a man-made trout pond that is stocked annually and has fishing platforms out onto it for wheelchair users and even more trails into the woods of this 69 acre property.
Operated by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (905)788-3135

Ball's Falls Conservation Area - Tel: (905)562-5235 Dates: Apr 1 to Nov 29 annually
Hours: The gatekeeper is there 8 to 4 but the park can be used dawn to dusk
Admission: $3.25 for adults; $2.25 for seniors and students or $10 per car; Historical tours $3 per person and you don't pay the entry fee. It's one or the other.
More than 200 acres featuring water that eventually plummets over the lovely Ball's Falls. The area features historical buildings including a church, the historic Ball Home, blacksmith's forge, settler's cabin, gristmill and barn. A lime kiln might be of interest to potters and others. There are tours on weekends and the area is good for family picnics. Several large craft shows are held here every year. (See Art and Craft Shows - Ball's Falls Thanksgiving )
Accessible washrooms.
Operated by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (905)788-3135

Beamer Memorial Conservation Area - No telephone contact and no admission fee.
During the hawk season and the annual Hawk Watch (Good Friday) the gates are open.
March 1 to May 1 is the main season for this area when it's open seven days a week as it is a prime hawk watching location. During Victoria Day to Labour Day the site is open weekends only, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for access to the main parking lot but you can park in the outer lot and walk or roll in. During the winter you can also park in the outer lot and walk in.
The area features132 acres of woods, field and trails overlooking the town of Grimsby. The paths are packed, crushed stone.
The washrooms are not accessible. Go before you go.
The area is on Quarry Road off Ridge Road. Get off the QEW at Christie Street, Exit 57, in Grimsby and go south on Christie until it becomes Mountain Road and goes up the escarpment. When you reach the top of the escarpment go right on Ridge Road until you see Quarry Road and then turn right into the park. Operated by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (905)788-3135

Niagara Nature Tours - Vineland - (905)562-3746 info@niagaranaturetours.ca or website at www.niagaranaturetours.ca. Run by Carla Carlson, a well-known local naturalist, this eco-tourism business focuses on the beauty of nature and prides itself on accessible experiences and adventures in Niagara. Call or e-mail Carla to find out what is going on that is accessible. There’s always something!

Shorthills Provincial Park
Pelham Road from St. Catharines
Roland Road from Fonthill or St. Catharines and
Wylie Road off Cataract Rd. in Thorold
Accessible entrance is off Roland Road
Hours: dawn until 10 p.m. daily
Admission: Free
Contact: Friends of Shorthills Park - Attn: George Dewar (905)892-1031
P.O. Box 236,
Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0
You are asked not to pick anything or cut trees. Take pictures but that's it and don't leave anything.
Garbage pails at entrances for items to be discarded so they won't be left in the park.
Parking: There are parking lots at each of the entrances but accessible parking is at Roland Road. Surface of the parking lot is compacted stone dust, very easy to roll on.
This lovely park features: wild turkey, white-tailed deer, racoon, squirrels, rabbits, muskrat, beaver, blue birds, cardinals, red-tailed hawks, woodpeckers, goldfinches, chickadees and many other varieties of birds and small mammals.
The main varieties of trees are sugar maple, black walnut, beech, hickory, basswood, sassafras, dogwood, tulip tree and oaks.
In spring the woods are a haze of light green leaves and underfoot you'll find red and white trillium, white, pink and mauve hepatica and yellow and brown trout lilies as well as stately white Jack-in-the-Pulpits. In fall everything is swathed in purple and yellow as the wild aster, teasels and goldenrod bloom.
This lovely park features more than 1700 acres(6700 plus hectares ) of woods and field and is operated by Ontario Parks. It is a natural areas park for day use.
There is an accessible pathway one kilometre, or 6/10 of a mile that goes through old farm area that has been replanted with white pine and comes to a vista overlooking the park at the TransCanada Pipeline right away and then goes to Swayze Falls which is part of the Twelve Mile Creek watershed. Swayze Falls is a relatively young feature formed about 12,500 years ago when the Niagara Peninsula became free of the grip of a continental glacier. The waterfall originated about 100 metres east of where it is now and has retreated to this site through erosion. It is also known to many visitors as Dry Falls because runoff only occurs after a rainstorm or when the snow melts in the spring. The rest of the time there's just a dribble. It's about 90 feet high.
The old oak tree you'll see designated on your roll it about the same height as Swayze Falls and is about 200 years old and its girth is about 12 feet. The canopy is about 35 to 40 feet in all directions.
This section of the park is being returned from farmer's field to Carolinian Forest mostly by the planting of seedlings.
Accessible washroom at Pelham and Roland Road entrances but trails are not accessible at Pelham Road. If you use a wheelchair, go to the Roland Road entrance and enjoy!

White Meadow Farms
2519 Effingham St.,
St. Catharines, ON Tel: (905)682-0642
The corner of Effingham St. and Roland Road
www.whitemeadowfarms.com; e-mail:info@whitemeadowfarms.com
White Meadows is a third generation, 500 acre family farm located on the Niagara Escarpment, just on the outskirts of St. Catharines, operated by Murray and Ann Bering.
During the year, the folks at White Meadows Farms bring you, first in February and March, the Sugar Bush Feast in the Pancake House. During the weekends the all day breakfast is served cafeteria style from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., and in mid-March daily. The breakfast features pancakes, sausages, White Meadows maple syrup, scrambled eggs, home fries, maple baked beans and maple desserts to die for. There are sugar bush tours and demonstration available on March weekends. Processing area can be viewed throughout the season .
The Pancake house is open again weekends in October.
The Pancake House has a wheelchair accessible washroom and there is free designated parking for people with disabilities.
During the summer a small petting farm is open daily.
The Maple Store is open year round and features 100% maple syrup, maple candy, maple butter, maple ice cream, maple sugar and gift baskets to take home. Store hours are Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
During the summer, tours and demonstrations can be arranged if groups call ahead. Staff at White Meadows Farms can offer ideas or suggestions to make your group tour special.
This farm is just around the corner and adjacent to Shorthills Provincial Park. There you can take your scooter or wheelchair on a leisurely stroll along the wheelchair accessible trail through the woods.
Just down the road in North Pelham is the Comfort Maple, the oldest living Sugar Maple tree in Canada. The park site is mantained by the Niagara Conservation Authority
www.conservation-niagara.on.ca/comfortmaple.htm and has some park benches as well as an historical plaque telling some of the history of the 500 year old tree.

Niagara Herb Farm - 1177 York Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake; (905)262-5690; www.niagaraherbfarm.com
Mainly accessible. Hours: Jan. closed; Feb. - Mar., Oct. - Dec.: Sat. 10-4; Sun. 12-4; Apr. - Sept. Wed. - Sat. 10-5, Sun. 12-4; Gardens open June, July and August, gift shop, culinary, dyer, fragrant and medicinal herbs.

Happy Rolph Bird Sanctuary and Children's Petting Farm - Reed Road, north off Lakeshore Road in St. Catharines near the Welland Ship Canal; Hours: April 30 to Mid. Oct. 10 a.m. to dusk; accessible parking; a lovely quiet place to take your children; goats, ponies, sheep, pigs, cows, rabbits, ducks. Large sheltered pond inlet that's home for Charles and Diana, the resident trumpet swans, and thousands of migratory birds. Playground, picnic area, accessible portable washrooms. Nature park operator lives on site.

Heartland Forest - Only five minutes from Niagara Falls, Heartland Forest is a peaceful haven for weary tourists and locals alike. Situated on 93 acres of environmentally protected Carolinian forest, Heartland has accessible trails throughout, a huge wheelchair and scooter accessible washroom that will allow an attendant in as well and a classroom. There is also a large, accessible treehouse in the woods finished in 2007 by a bevy of volunteers. Many varieties of birds incuding wild turkeys, small animals, a large variety of fungi (when the timing and temperatures/humidity are right), hard and softwood trees, and a variety of insects live in the woods and fields and in the many vernal pools beneath the leafy canopy. The forest is particularly beautiful in spring and autumn.
Located on Kalar Road between Brown Line and Creek Road in Niagara Falls, Heartland Forest is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and it is free. There is plenty of accessible parking and dogs on leash are permitted but not allowed to run free.
An educational program has been developed for the grade school level student that teaches stewardship and conservation of wetlands and flora and fauna. For more information on that and Heartland in general go to: www.forestdiscovery.ca and www.heartlandforest.org or call 905-356-7384.