Welcome to Canada's Most Patriotic City, where our flags fly high and Nanuk, the city polar bear, overlooks the Fourth Welland Canal. At the Lock 7 Viewing Complex you can watch the ships climb the mountain over the Twin Flight Locks and make their way into Lock 7, the highest and also last lift up the Welland Canal. The lock can hold ships up to a maximum of 225.5 metres long and 23.7 metres wide. That only leaves, literally, inches of space between the ship and the lock walls - a very tight squeeze! You can view this phenomenon from our outdoor viewing platform or the bleachers, where the ships pass just a metre away.

Inside the Complex, the friendly staff will delight you with the history of the canal and treat you to a free maple cream cookie and a complimentary copy of Tommy Trent of the Welland Canal. They can also answer any questions about Thorold, the Niagara Region and provide any needed directions.

For those interested, we offer the opportunity to take in a movie about the history of the Welland Canal. Our complex can accommodate a group of up to 50 people. If history is your niche, enjoy over 60 historical pictures located throughout our complex. You will be delighted to see that much of Thorold has changed little throughout the years.

The Complex has a small gift shop highlighting local artists and Kissing Rock souvenir items. If you are looking for unique jewelry or books about ships, we are sure you will be delighted with our selection. Be sure to browse for souvenirs of Thorold, the Welland Canal and Canada, as well as nautical themed merchandise. While you're here, why not take a photo with our life-sized cutout of a Mountie (our Canadian Mounted Police) or the polar bear statue, and have a kiss at the famous Kissing Rock.

Enjoy a tasty treat in our Kissing Rock Cafe© as you watch the ships passing by. We serve a wide range of snacks, including freshly baked pastries from our local bakeries.

The Lock 7 Viewing Complex holds events during the year, such as the Mountain Top Ceremony on the Canals opening day in March and the Best Decorated Ship Contest during the Christmas season. No matter what time of the year, Lock 7 is full of life!

From Toronto: QEW to Highway 406 south and exit Pine Street Left on Pine Street Right on Richmond Street at lights and follow around bend Second right on Portland Street and follow to the end Left on Chapel Street Right into Lock 7 Viewing Complex parking lot, on the corner From Niagara Falls or Fort Erie: QEW exit Thorold Stone Road West Left onThorold Stone Road and follow through the Thorold Tunnel that goes under the Welland Canal Right first exit, Pine Street Right on Pine Street Right on Richmond Street at lights and follow around bend Second right on Portland Street and follow to the end Left on Chapel Street Right into Lock 7 Viewing Complex parking lot, on the corner Or, from Niagara Falls or Fort Erie:: QEW exit Glendale Avenue Left on Glendale Avenue and follow over Glendale Avenue Vertical Lift Bridge http://www.historicbridges.org/truss/glendale/ Once over bridge take first left onto the Welland Canal Parkway Follow the parkway until the very end and turn right onto Chapel Street South Lock 7 Viewing Complex is the building on the corner to your right Driving the scenic route from Highway 20: Take Highway 406 North and exit Beaverdams Road Right on Beaverdams Road and continue until Pine Street Left on Pine Street Right on Richmond Street at lights and follow around bend Second right on Portland Street and follow to the end Left on Chapel Street Right into Lock 7 Viewing Complex parking lot, on the corner

Lock 7 Viewing Complex: Daily July, August
9:00 am - 7:30 pm September - June
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Closed over Christmas holidays Welland Canal: The Welland Canal is open for shipping late March - Christmas Week. It runs 24 hours a day. January - March it is drained and closed for maintanance.

Legend surrounds the Kissing Rock at the Lock 7 Viewing Complex. A handsome sailor could meet many pretty girls while in port, awaiting their ship's passage through the canal. In the early days of the Welland Canal, Charles Snelgrove was supposedly one such sailor, and story has it that before boarding ship, Charlie would bring his lady love to the Rock in Thorold for a goodbye kiss or two. This soon became common practice among sailors, and they took to chipping a piece off the rock, pocketing it for good luck, for a safe journey.

Nearby the Lock 7 Viewing Complex, you will find the Greater Niagara Circle Route Trail. It has over 150 km of paved trails for those who prefer an active day of walking, cycling or roller blading. The Welland Canal Trail portion runs along existing and earlier parts of the Canal. It begins at Lake Ontario in St. Catharines to the north, passes through Thorold and ends in the south at Lake Erie in Port Colborne. Why not park your car in our parking area and spend some time exploring the Niagara Escarpment, the waterfronts, and both rural and urban areas of our beautiful region?

http://www.biketrain.ca/cycling-in-niagara/69-welland-canals-trail - - "Bike Train - Welland Canals Trail" Brian D. Switzer's http://www.herkamur.ca/canal - - "Photos Along the Welland Canal" Canadian Encyclopedia -http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0008520 - - "The Welland Canal" http://www.thorold.com/siteengine/activepage.asp?PageID=10 - - "City of Thorold"Ontario Trails Council - http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trails-a-z/welland-canal-parkway-east-side-trail/ - - "Welland Canal Trail"http://www.thoroldtourism.ca/kissingrock2.htm - - "Thorold Kissing Rock" http://spartan.ac.brocku.ca/~emuller/mathtrail/wcmt/wcmtstart.html - - "Welland Canal Trail - Math Trail"

City of Thorold

• Cafe
• Free parking
• Gift Shop
• Kissing Rock
• Movie: History of the Welland Canal
• Viewing Platform
• Washrooms

Fully Accessible

Terry M. Dow
Director of Tourism Services
Thorold Tourism
50 Chapel Street South
Thorold, Ontario
L2V 2C6
Tel (905) 680-9477
Fax 905-680-2657
Toll free 1-888-680-9477
Email thoroldtourism@bellnet.ca
Website www.thoroldtourism.ca