Canal Valley - Merritt Trail



[Umar Syed].
 


A bridge connecting the relaxing area to numerous trails.
 


Merrit trail leading to an eating and relaxing area, where people can enjoy nature.
 


 

General Information

This location consists of a huge trail known as Merritt trail where visitors can walk or bike through natural landscape and observe many trees and plants. At the end of the trail is an area with big rocks, where visitors can enjoy meals and have a nice picnic underneath the shade provided by long trees. The location gets it's name from the Canal valley located in the middle. This location consists of numerous secret trails that allow visitors to venture off to unknown destinations, such as nearby parks or small ponds in the middle of a forest.

Hours of Operation

Open 24 hours

Directions

From Toronto:
Take the Gardiner Expressway W ramp and merge onto QEW/ON 403 W. Take the exit ON-406 S toward Thorold/ Welland/ Port Colborne. Take the Westchester Avenue exit. Slight left onto Westchester Ave and follow. The parking lot for the destination should be on the right hand side.

From Niagara:

Take the QEW Highway towards Hamilton/ Toronto. Take the Niagara street exit and merge onto Dieppe road. Take a left onto Welland Avenue and after 100 m take another left onto Dunkirk Road. Take a right onto Grantham Avenue South and then take a right onto Eastchester Avenue. Take a left onto Westchester Crescent. The parking for the location should be on the left hand side.

Historical

The Canal Valley is a naturally occuring valley that travels through the central core of the city. The creek and the surrounding lands are historically significant to the city of St. Catharines. It was here that the First and Second WElland Canals were built. Remnants of the canal are still visible in between the Merritt trail. The remnants that are found are the walls of the locks fro the second canal. The Merritt trail was built to commemorate the industrial heritage and route of the First, Second and Third Welland Canals.

Ecological

This location inhibits many naturaly conserved areas. The trails all around the park provide great opportunities to experience nature. The trails lead to many different locations, such as parks, ponds and provide fascinating inside routes that make people feel they are in a forest. For people who are fascinated by insects and butterflies, this location is a habitat to many different species of insects.

Admission Fee

$0

Accessibility

Not wheelchair accessible

Address

166 Westchester Crescent
St. Catharines, Ontario
L2P 2T3

GPS Co-ordinates

Latitude: 43.157954
Longitude: -79.229735
UTM easting: 643922.7343902858
UTM northing: 4779876.636549492

Map

Trail length: 11 km

Walking time: 3-5 hours

Jogging time: 2-4 hours

Cycling time: 1-2 hours

Difficulty level: 1

Surface features: Rocks, mud, soil.


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