The Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby offers some spectacular waterfalls for you to enjoy and creates some perfect photo opportunities. One of these waterfalls is the 20ft Lower Falls. It is also the perfect place to go hawk watching in the spring, due to the strong updrafts of warmer air of the escarpment. It is famous for its migration of raptors.

The Lower Beamer Falls which is along the Forty Mile Creek Valley, is 20 ft high and 10-40 feet wide and takes a ramp and plunge formation in a natural setting. It can be viewed by following the trail from the parking lot into the woods, down into the escarpment and walk upstream.

Caution: There are no hand-rails around the side of the gorge therefore you must be careful. The gorge has a steep drop and therefore an accidental fall could result in a serious injury or death. The area around the falls may be slippery and wet therefore take care when walking around.

Open Year-Round 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

From Toronto:

QEW exit 71, Grimsby (Christie Street)

South on Christie Street towards Escarpment. At downtown traffic lights, Christie Street becomes Mountain Street

Mountain Street South to top of the Escarpment

Right (west) on Ridge Road West and keep right to stay on this road

Right (north) on Quarry Road and drive until you see a sign for Beamer Memorial Conservation Area

From Buffalo:

QEW exit 71, Grimsby (Christie Street)

South on Christie Street towards Escarpment. At downtown traffic lights, Christie Street becomes Mountain Street

Mountain Street South to top of the Escarpment

Right (west) on Ridge Road West and keep right to stay on this road

Right (north) on Quarry Road and drive until you see a sign for Beamer Memorial Conservation Area

There are three parking areas: one on right side of the road before you cross the bridge over the creek –where you can see both falls easily and get up close to Upper Falls. The Official parking area is across from the bridge. A trail leads down into gorge to get good view of lower falls. For the third parking lot, continue on Quarry Road for 100 metres to the entrance of Beamer Memorial Conservation Area on your right.

The waterfalls formed after the creation of the Niagara Escarpment 450 million years ago. Sediments from a tropical sea bed compressed into the rocks limstone and shale. Through progressive glacial action, water flow and the elements the shale began to weather causing dramatic land formations. Beamer Falls was created after glacial ice sheets advanced and retreated carving a deep channel into sedimentary rock.

Approximately 13,000 years ago spring melt water from the glacier eroded the channel causing the deep gorge and therefore the Lower Beamer Falls to develop.

Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in which Lower Beamer Falls is located is made up of 53 hectres of escarpment land and mature wood lot. Between March 1 and May 1 each year birds of prey such as hawks, eagles and falcons migrate to the area. This is due to the area's topography, which allows for perfect raptor gliding: Strong warm updrafts develop off of Lake Ontario and impact the escarpment cliffs. These are combined with Ethermals from nearby wind farms. Bald Eagles and Turkey Vultures are often spotted each year.

As well as this, the area around the waterfall is home to a number of reptiles, amphibians and small mammals.

There is plenty to do within the park once you have viewed the waterfalls. Hikers, walkers and joggers can follow the Bruce Trail, or the Lookout Trail, which provide many viewing platforms to take in the stunning views of the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario. Make a day of it and bring a picnic to eat at the picnic area.

If you visit during the spring, do not forget your binoculars and watch for birds of prey such as hawks, eagles and falcons that migrate in the area.

Town of Grimsby is at the foot of the Escarpment 300 feet below.

Accessible Niagara lists Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in their Outdoor activities/sports page.

Go Waterfalling Lower Beamer Falls

Online Niagara Beamer Conservation

Ontario Trails Beamer Memorial Conservation Area Trail

Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch

Toronto Hiking Louth, Balls, Beamer & Thirty Mile Creek Falls

Waterfalls of Ontario Lower Beamer Falls

This page was prepared by Rachel Marsh in December 2009.