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Parks, Gardens & Conservation Areas
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Rockway Conservation Area |
Rockway Conservation Area has some of the most breathtaking views in Niagara. On a clear day, standing atop the gorge, visitors to the park are able to see across Lake Ontario to Toronto. There is a small parking area located on Ninth Street. An alternate entrance to the park can be found at the Rockway Community Centre.
Rockway is located along the Fifteen Mile Creek and is between the City of St. Catharines and Town of Lincoln. The area contains 126 hectares of Carolinian Forest and includes two large waterfalls, unique flora and fauna, the fifteen Mile Creek and a salt spring. Rockway gives visitor’s access to the Bruce Trail and the Rockway Falls Side Trail. In addition, Rockway Conservation Area is largely secluded so visitors can expect privacy during their visit.
The creek running through Rockway Conservation Area as seen from a side trail. Visitors are able to get close enough to touch the water here. (Photo: Samantha Stea)
- Hiking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Bruce Trail
- Snow Shoeing
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TripClip Audio File |
Click to play or download the Rockway Conservation Area TripClip (mp3 format).
This destination is also part of the TripClip tour entitled Niagara's Diverse Conservation Areas.
Year Round
8am-8pm daily
From Toronto:
1. Head south on Bay Street towards Albert Street
2. Turn right to stay on Bay Street
3. Turn right onto Lake Shore Boulevard West
4. Slight Right towards the Gardiner Expressway West
5. Take the Gardiner Expressway West ramp
6. Merge onto the Gardiner Expressway West
7. Continue onto the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW)
8. Merge onto the Queen Elizabeth Way
9. Keep left to continue on the Queen Elizabeth Way, following signs for Niagara/East Hamilton/Fort Erie
10. Take exit 55 towards Regional Road 26/ Jordan Road
11. Turn left (west) onto Bayview Boulevard
12. Take the first right (south) onto Jordan Road/Regional Road 26
13. Turn left (west) onto King Street
14. Turn right (south) onto Ninth Street
Destination will be on the left.
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 51 for Seventh Street/Regional Road 34
5. Turn left (south) onto Seventh Street Louth
6. Turn right (west) onto Fourth Avenue/Regional Road 77
7. Take the first left (south) onto Ninth Street
Destination will be on the left.
The salt spring in Rockway Conservation Area has been used since 1792. The salt from this spring is known to be of the best quantity and quality in Ontario.
Rockway Conservation Area contains two waterfalls. The first and largest waterfall has a 19.5 meter drop and the second smaller waterfall has a 12.2 meter drop. As the water flows downstream, rapids begin to form. During times of low water levels it is possible to get close to the rock formations that lie beneath the falls.
The area also contains many unique dolostone and shale rock formations, both natural and manmade. These formations are possible because of Rockways location along an erosional notch of Silurian bedrock on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment.
Rockway Conservation Area is home to many mature trees such as the Basswoods, Sugar Maples, Black Walnuts, Sycamores, and is considered Carolinian Forest. Rockway also supports a variety of wildlife. The Fifteen Mile Creek makes it an ideal habitat for birds, amphibians and mammals.
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA). (2013). Our conservation areas: Your natural playground. Retrieved from http://www.npca.ca/conservation-areas/
Toronto Hiking. (2012). Rockway falls. Retrieved from
http://www.torontohiking.com/tohi/rockway-falls.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rQBT0vqi2nQ
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