Walking the Trails of the Niagara Region

Walking the tr ails of Niagar a of Niagar a

EXPLORE THE RIVER: Spectacular views available away from the Falls in three short walks.

A butterfl y draws nectar and helps pollinate a native bee balm plant at Stella Niagara. Beth Genco

A meadow fi led with native wildfl owers is a great place for meditation at Stella Niagara. Beth Genco

BY JOE GENCO

Sometimes the best places to visit are the quiet ones, off the beaten path, away from the crowded spaces. Here are three short, easy Niagara County hikes.

STELLA NIAGARA

Th is is a short, easy walk

Stella Niagara Nature Preserve is located at 4214 Lower River Road, in Lewiston. Th e Western New York Land Conservancy purchased the 29-acre preserve which was once part of a religious retreat owned by the Sisters of St. Francis. It remains a spiritual place.

Th e property has a wide range of fun habitat to explore. Park at the community center across the street and walk downhill on the winding paths.

At the top, just to the south, is a butterfl y garden fi lled with native plants and pollinators in their natural environments.

Th e meadow winds down to the river through space fi lled with shrubs like ninebark and spicebush.

Along the north side of the property are vernal pools with cattails and turtles and, on a lucky day, wood ducks. On a summer day, damsel and dragonfl ies will fl it about. You might see yellow warblers, a phoebe or a blue green fl ycatchers.

Down by the water is an area protected from the current as a spawning zone for smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rockbass.

It’s a great place for a picnic. Be careful to the left under the willow trees because there maybe be some poison ivy.

Keep an eye on the sky as well because that might be your best chance to see a bald eagle.

DEVILS HOLE TO WHIRLPOOL

Th is is a longer, tougher walk with lots of stairs, not for the weak of heart.

A short drive south along the Niagara River leads to

A hike along the Niagara Gorge offers majestic view of Niagara Falls, like this one that can be had next to the old suspension bridge base next to the Whirlpool Bridge. James Neiss

another glorious place for a walk, the Niagara Gorge Trail.

Many visitors, and indeed many residents, never get the chance to experience one of the most spectacular sites ever. Park at Devils Hole. Walk down the stairs.

Pause at the big boulder and cave and contemplate the massacre of British soldiers here by Senecas in 1763.

The real joy is to walk along the trail at the base of the stairs and feel the power of the river.

Admire the cedar trees along the way. They may not look spectacular but they represent the most recent old growth forest discovered in North America.

As you head south, the river widens at the whirlpool which is spectacular to see but not as special as what lies just ahead:

The rapids just south of the whirlpool represent among the tallest standing waves in the world. You can stand on the shore and see them actually tower over you.

Alternatively, if you’d like a slightly easier walk, park at Whirlpool State Park and take those stairs down and turn left at the bottom to see those spectacular rapids.

SOUTH FROM ARTPARK

This is an easier, shorter walk.

In Lewiston use the Portage Road entrance to Artpark. Bear left between the two parking lots.

An easy path along the river will take you under the LewistonQueenston Bridge.

The entire way is filled with spectacular views of the Niagara River. At different times of the year, the shore will be filled with spawning trout from Lake Ontario.

It is also a great place to view the fall colors thanks to the spectacular corridor and reflections on the water.