The Welland Canal trail starts at the mouth of Lake Ontario in St.Catherines and travels 39.9 km towards Port Colborne connecting with Lake Erie. This trail is perfect for beginners as well as advanced hikers, as the path is on even ground with occasional hills scattered throughout the hike. The trail follows a fairly linear path so getting disoriented is highly unlikely. The main attraction of this trail is the massive cargo ships that traverse the canal only feets away from the walk way. This trail is moderately trafficked area, complimented with serene vistas as calming streams.
The Welland Canal is a popular biking area as the majority of the path is paved with occasional gravel patches. Hikers will encounter calm streams branching off of the canal where one can rest and admire the view. Some of the branching streams are popular for fishing with populations of Pike, Muskies, Bass, and Perch. There are some people that swim in the channels off the main canal however it is not recommended because the water is not the cleanest. Finally at the marked point of interest you will find the Lock 7 Viewing Centre. Here you can park you car and visit the centre where you will find friendly staff and an exhibit of artifacts related to the history of Thorold.
The Welland Canal we know today happens to be the fourth of its time. The construction of the first canal was launched by William Hamilton Merritt on November, 24th 1824 and completed on November 29th 1929. The upgrade of the canals was required as waterways needed to get bigger with the increased size of cargo ships. This contributed to both the Canadian and American economic growth. Providing a water way for ships is not the only purpose the Welland Canal has, as it maintains a consistent flow of water to local mills, power plants, and connections to lakes.
-Provides cargo ships connection from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie.
-Provides consistent water flow to local businesses, industrial building.
-Provides water to river, streams, and connections to lakes.
Under the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada.
| Open at all times: | Open 24 hours of the day |
| Length: | 39.9 km |
| Difficulty: | Beginner/Advanced |
| Walking: | Accessible |
| Jogging: | Accessible |
| Cycling: | Accessible |
| Walking Time: | Varies |
| Jogging Time: | Varies |
| Cycling: | Varies |
| Surface Features: | Flat paved ground/ Some hills |
-Bike Accessible
-Not ideal terrain for wheelchairs
Accessible
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