Roadside Attractions - Comfort Maple Tree

Driving Tour

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If you are interested in seeing this attraction close up, click below for detailed instructions to its location! As you're driving, look out for a long, gravel driveway. Once you drive down it to the end, you can park in the small parking lot and enjoy the site!

Directions to the Site!

The Oldest and Finest Maple Tree in Canada

This tree can be fairly easy to miss on a road trip, because only the signs are noticeable from the road rather than the tree itself. Unlike some other roadside attractions, this one is a little more unique because it isn't a statue or advertising gimmick. The Comfort Maple Tree is believed to be the oldest and finest maple tree in Canada.

The Comfort Maple Tree

Here you can see cables holding some of the branches together

After some lightning damage, the tree was repaired. This image shows some of the work that was done to try to preserve the tree

Here you can see more reparations after the lighting hit the tree

It stands at about 24.2 metres tall, and its trunk has a circumference of about 6 metres. In 1975, the Ontario Forestry Association estimated that the tree was about 400 to 500 years old, then later designated a heritage tree under the Ontario Heritage Act in June 2000 (NPCA). Originally in an area of hardwood forest, this tree's size and shape suggest the forest was cleared when the tree was still young, likely for agricultural purposes. The 0.2-hectare area was part of the land purchased by the Comfort family in 1816 and was later entrusted to the NPCA to conserve this 'old growth' tree for its historical and biological significance. As explained by a sign on site, the tree's name comes from the Comfort family, who has owned the land it is on since 1816.

Finding this Site

When travelling along busy Victoria Avenue in Pelham, there is a sign that reads 'Comfort Maple Conservation Area' near the intersection of Metler Road. Follow that sign and turn east on Metler Road. After driving for 3.7 km, you will see a little sign hanging from a wooden post on the right side of the road that has a blue 'C' symbol on it and an arrow underneath it pointing towards the tree. It can be quite tricky finding the way, so take it slow. The tree is a very interesting sight once it's found.

The street view below shows the tree as seen from Metler Road. The Comfort Maple is the tree in the middle of the screen in the background.

Although many people would think it somewhat odd to travel to rural Pelham just to see a tree, the Comfort Maple's venerable age and iconic status makes the trip worthwhile. It is also a beautiful spot to have a picnic and discover a little bit of the natural history of the Niagara region.

The beautiful tree's leaves beginning to turn yellow in the fall

The area surrounding the tree

Resources and Sources of Information

Npca. "Comfort Maple." Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, https://npca.ca/parks-recreation/conservation-areas/comfort-maple.

636 Metler Road
Niagara Fenwick, Ontario
Canada

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