Left: Stone steps leading along the Bruce Trail at Mountainview. Top right: An American Toad, Bufo americanus, relaxing along-side the trail. Bottom right: Yellow jewel-weed (Impatiens pallida), a local wild-flower. Photos: Beth Brown.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Mountainview Conservation Area is a great place to go if visitors are interested in hiking and geologically significant areas. Located within the small town of Beamsville, Mountainview Conservation Area is on the same street as popular wineries like Angels Gate, Hidden Bench, Fielding, and Organized Crime Winery. Mountainview is comprised of Carolinian forest and spans approximately 25 hectares. Moreover, the site encompasses the Bruce Trail and the Niagara Escarpment. In this particular area of the Niagara Escarpment, visitors can reach various lookout points to see the Iroquois plains and Lake Ontario.
The area is geologically significant since it exposes many bedrock fractures, dolostone rock, and eroded talus slopes. Mountainview Conservation Area is suitable for hiking, snow-shoeing, bird-watching, and wildlife-viewing. Although the area is abundant with deer and other native wildlife, hunting is not permitted. Visitors are encouraged to explore other parts of Beamsville during the drive to Mountainview. Some of the local places to visit include the Beamsville Bakery, Old Post Bakery, the Kilt and Clover, and the many different wineries throughout Beamsville.
Recreational Uses
- Hiking
- Wildlife-Viewing
- Bird-Watching
- Snow-Shoeing
Photo Gallery
A yellow wild-flower at Mountainview Conservation Area. Mountainview has many wild-flowers and wild-berries. (Photo: Beth Brown)
These are wild-berries, which are abundant throughout Mountainview Conservation Area. Visitors can bring a basket and pick berries along their hike. (Photo: Beth Brown)
This flower-shop booth is located directly across the street from Mountainview. Visitors can purchase fresh flowers from this family that grows flowers in their greenhouse. (Photo: Beth Brown)
This is the sign for Angels Gate Winery. It is a popular winery located on the same street as Mountainview Conservation Area. (Photo: Beth Brown)
This is an American Toad. They are common at Mountainview Conservation Area, among other amphibians like the Eastern Red Spotted Newt. (Photo: Beth Brown)
This is part of the Bruce Trail within Mountainview Conservation Area. The white marks on the trees let visitors know they are following the Bruce Trail. (Photo: Beth Brown)
This is the entrance sign for Mountainview Conservation Area. Free Parking is located behind the sign. (Photo: Beth Brown)
These stone steps line the trail heading up-hill within Mountainview. They make it easier for visitors to walk up-hill. (Photo: Beth Brown)
This is a vineyard that belong to Fielding Estate Winery. Fielding is located a little-ways up the street from Mountainview Conservation Area. (Photo: Beth Brown)
It this a fallen old-growth tree within Mountainview. This tree collapsed after a wind-storm. The trails are managed by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, who will cut the fallen trees apart if they block any trails. (Photo: Beth Brown)
This is a view of the upper forest from a lower trail. The lush green scenery is very peaceful and relaxing. (Photo: Beth Brown)
A yellow wild-flower at Mountainview Conservation Area. Mountainview has many wild-flowers and wild-berries. (Photo: Beth Brown)
These are wild-berries, which are abundant throughout Mountainview Conservation Area. Visitors can bring a basket and pick berries along their hike. (Photo: Beth Brown)
This flower-shop booth is located directly across the street from Mountainview. Visitors can purchase fresh flowers from this family that grows flowers in their greenhouse. (Photo: Beth Brown)
This is the sign for Angels Gate Winery. It is a popular winery located on the same street as Mountainview Conservation Area. (Photo: Beth Brown)
This is an American Toad. They are common at Mountainview Conservation Area, among other amphibians like the Eastern Red Spotted Newt. (Photo: Beth Brown)
This is part of the Bruce Trail within Mountainview Conservation Area. The white marks on the trees let visitors know they are following the Bruce Trail. (Photo: Beth Brown)
This is the entrance sign for Mountainview Conservation Area. Free Parking is located behind the sign. (Photo: Beth Brown)
These stone steps line the trail heading up-hill within Mountainview. They make it easier for visitors to walk up-hill. (Photo: Beth Brown)
This is a vineyard that belong to Fielding Estate Winery. Fielding is located a little-ways up the street from Mountainview Conservation Area. (Photo: Beth Brown)
It this a fallen old-growth tree within Mountainview. This tree collapsed after a wind-storm. The trails are managed by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, who will cut the fallen trees apart if they block any trails. (Photo: Beth Brown)
This is a view of the upper forest from a lower trail. The lush green scenery is very peaceful and relaxing. (Photo: Beth Brown)
5. Keep left to continue on Queen Elizabeth Way, follow signs for Niagara/East Hamilton/Fort Erie
6. Take exit 68 toward County Road 14/Bartlett Avenue
7. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for South Service Road East
8. Turn left (East) onto South Service Road
9. Take the 1st right (South) onto Durham Road
10. Turn right (West) at Greenlane
11. Turn left (East) onto King Street
12. Turn right (South) onto Mountainview Road - Destination will be on the right
From Niagara:
1. Take highway 420 West
2. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Queen Elizabeth Way/Hamilton/Toronto and merge onto Queen Elizabeth Way
3. Take exit 64 for Ontario Street toward County Road 18/Beamsville
4. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Regional Road 18 South/Ontario Street South
5. Turn left (South) onto Ontario Street/Regional Road 18
6. Turn right (West) onto King Street
7. Turn left (South) onto Mountainview Road - Destination will be on the right
Historical
Mountainview Conservation Area is great place to visit if visitors are interested in geologically significant areas. This part of the Niagara Escarpment is geologically significant because it exposes many bedrock fractures, dolostone rock, and eroded talus slopes. Dolostone rock is similar to limestone rock, which contains magnesium and is very durable. Other rock layers in this area consist of soft shales and sandstones. This part of the Niagara Escarpment contains some of the best exposures of rocks and fossils from the Silurian and Ordovician Periods. These fossils and rock layers can be anywhere from 405 to 500 million years old.
About 500 million years ago, this area was part of a shallow, warm sea. The rim of this prehistoric sea is now what we call the Niagara Escarpment, which takes the shape of a giant horseshoe. Rivers that flowed into this prehistoric sea carried sand, silt, and clay, that was later deposited as thick layers of sediment. At the same time, lime-rich organic material from the abundant sea life was also accumulating. Over millions of years these materials became compressed into massive layers of sedimentary rocks and ancient reef structures that are now visible along the Niagara Escarpment. Today, tourists hiking along the Niagara Escarpment throughout these geologically significant areas might get to see fossil remains in many of the rocks that are slowly exposed by erosion. These fossil remains will illustrate the various life forms that once inhabited the area.
ECOLOGICAL
Mountainview Conservation Area is largely made-up of Carolinian forest. The Bruce Trail runs through the conservation area, which passes over exposed dolostone rock and bedrock fractures along the Niagara Escarpment. White-tailed deer and other native wildlife are common in this area. Escarpment cliffs and surrounding forests offer a view for watching owls and other migrating birds and mammals. Many high look-out points also offer a view of Lake Ontario and the Iroquois Plain. No hunting is permitted at this location.
Further Information
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA). (2013). Our conservation areas: Your natural playground. Retrieved from http://www.npca.ca/conservation-areas/
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