GENERAL INFORMATION

Photo Gallery

Up close of a spotted knapp weed at Louth Conservation Area. Its bright purple colour makes it standout from the surrounding green vegetation. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Trail running through Louth Conservation Area. This portion of the trail is well kept and wide for visitors use. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Closest intersection to Louth Conservation Area. Ninth Street and Ellis Ave. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Entrance to Louth Conservation Area. Large rock formations like these can be seen throughout the area. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Direction sign for Staff Estates Winery down the road from entrance of Louth Conservation Area. Louth Conservation Area is less than 1 km up the road from this point. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

A break in the trees overlooking an open field beside Louth Conservation Area. In mid-autumn deer can be spotted here. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

A toad hiding in the fallen branches. Its colour allows it to blend in very well with its surroundings. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

The creek at Louth running gently towards the sudden drop of the waterfall. The drop is a few meters high.  (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Information for visitors about trail use. Visitors can use trails at their own risk, and horseback riding is not allowed. A few paces in, the trails are already dense with forest. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Small waterfall at Louth Conservation Area. The water has carved a path through the hard rocks. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Rocks underfoot at Louth Conservation Area covered in moss. Visitors should be cautious while traversing these areas. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

The Creek with low water level running through Louth Conservation Area, allowing the rocks to be seen. From here the bottom of the creek is roughly 2.5 meters below. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Bruce Trail Indicator legend on a tree in Louth Conservation Area. This sign explains what all the tree markings mean. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Bruce Trail indicators on a tree at Louth Conservation Area. These are here to help visitors find their way and stay on track. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Rock formations in Louth Conservation Area. The forest grows around the rocks, often encasing them in vegetation. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Up close of a spotted knapp weed at Louth Conservation Area. Its bright purple colour makes it standout from the surrounding green vegetation. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Trail running through Louth Conservation Area. This portion of the trail is well kept and wide for visitors use. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Closest intersection to Louth Conservation Area. Ninth Street and Ellis Ave. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Entrance to Louth Conservation Area. Large rock formations like these can be seen throughout the area. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Direction sign for Staff Estates Winery down the road from entrance of Louth Conservation Area. Louth Conservation Area is less than 1 km up the road from this point. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

A break in the trees overlooking an open field beside Louth Conservation Area. In mid-autumn deer can be spotted here. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

A toad hiding in the fallen branches. Its colour allows it to blend in very well with its surroundings. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

The creek at Louth running gently towards the sudden drop of the waterfall. The drop is a few meters high.  (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Information for visitors about trail use. Visitors can use trails at their own risk, and horseback riding is not allowed. A few paces in, the trails are already dense with forest. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Small waterfall at Louth Conservation Area. The water has carved a path through the hard rocks. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Rocks underfoot at Louth Conservation Area covered in moss. Visitors should be cautious while traversing these areas. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

The Creek with low water level running through Louth Conservation Area, allowing the rocks to be seen. From here the bottom of the creek is roughly 2.5 meters below. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Bruce Trail Indicator legend on a tree in Louth Conservation Area. This sign explains what all the tree markings mean. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Bruce Trail indicators on a tree at Louth Conservation Area. These are here to help visitors find their way and stay on track. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Rock formations in Louth Conservation Area. The forest grows around the rocks, often encasing them in vegetation. (Photo: Samantha Stea)

Recreational Activities

Click to play or download the Louth Conservation Area TripClip (mp3 format).
This destination is also part of the TripClip tour entitled Niagara's Diverse Conservation Areas.
 

Hours of Operation

Year Round

DIRECTIONS

1.      Head south on Bay Street towards Albert Street

13. Turn left (west) onto King Street

14. Take first right (south) onto 17th Street

15. Turn left (west) onto Staff Avenue

 Destination will be on the right.

From Niagara:

1. Head north on Stanley Avenue toward spring Street

2. Turn left onto ON-420 West

3. Keep left at fork, following signs for Queen Elizabeth Way/Hamilton/Toronto and merge onto Queen Elizabeth Way

4. Take exit 55 toward Jordan Road/Regional Road 26

5. Turn left onto North Service Road (signs for Regional Road 26)

6. Take the first left (south) onto Jordan Road/Regional Road 26

7. Turn left (east) onto King Street

8. Take the first right (south) onto 17 Street

9. Turn left (east) onto Staff Avenue

 Destination will be on the right.

Historical

In 1973 the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority purchased the segment of land known as the Louth Conservation Area. Since then, a portion of the Niagara Escarpment has been preserved by the Louth Conservation Area. Louth also contains many historic rock formations. 

ECOLOGICAL

There are two waterfalls you can see during your hike throughout Louth Conservation Area. The first waterfall is known as the upper falls and plummets 3.66 meters. The second waterfall is known as the lower falls. The lower falls are much larger and plummet 7.92 meters. These waterfalls are made possible because of their location on the Niagara Escarpment. The waterfalls are located where 16 Mile Creek tumbles over the limestone of the Niagara Escarpment. This unique landscape has developed within the deciduous forest as exposed limestone is eroded chemically by weak acids in precipitation. The shallow trenches you can see along your hike most likely began as joints in the bedrock, which were enlarged by chemical erosion over-time.

There is also a variety of wildlife in the Louth Conservation Area. In the fall months there have been multiple white-tailed deer sightings, as well as migratory bird sightings.

Further Information

Exploring Niagara. (2013). Louth conservation area. Retrieved from
http://www.exploringniagara.com/places_to_explore/conservation_areas/louth.html

Go Waterfalling. (2009). Louth falls. Retrieved from http://www.gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/louth.shtml

Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA). (2013). Our conservation areas: Your natural playground. Retrieved from

Toronto Hiking. (2012). Louth falls. Retrieved from http://www.torontohiking.com/tohi/louth-falls.html