The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Lincoln

You view the falls from above as the trail approaches Sixteen Mile Creek. They can be quite powerful after a heavy rain, but the crescent wall of the waterfall is quite pretty even when the weather is relatively dry.

This easy packed dirt path takes you to the parking area of Louth Falls where there is a small gravel lot. The lot sometimes fills up during popular times and you can park along the road. The Bruce Trail, which parallels this one, does not lead to any parking area.

The Bruce Trail is over 890 kilometres long, and runs vertically across Ontario from Tobermory at the northern end of the Bruce Peninsula to Niagara Falls. This segment takes you through a couple small creek-fed valleys with views up to the small forested bluffs around the trail.

From this spot, you get beautiful, sweeping views across Niagara’s vineyard-covered benchlands toward Lake Ontario, and the Toronto skyline across the water in the distance, especially on a clear day. Situated high on the escarpment, it’s the perfect place to stop and appreciate the scale of your surroundings before continuing on the trail.

The Niagara Section of the Bruce Trail is the southernmost section of the 890-kilometre route, beginning at Queenston Heights along the Niagara River before following the Niagara Escarpment through a mix of forests, vineyards, ravines, and rocky outcrops. Along this stretch, you'll pass natural springs, sweeping views of Lake Ontario from the escarpment, and remnants of the area’s cave system steeped in local folklore. This section is especially picturesque, combining classic escarpment landscapes with vineyard and lakeshore views, especially from the upper ridge.

Cave Springs Conservation Area is a small yet beautiful natural space along the Niagara Escarpment, known for its mature Sugar Maple forest, limestone cliffs, and elevated views of Lake Ontario and the former shoreline of the ancient Lake Iroquois. This area is home to diverse wildlife, including deer, songbirds, and hawks, which you may spot flying overhead while you're here.

Fifteen Mile Creek runs through the Rockway Conservation Area near St. Catharines, and is the source of the impressive Rockway Falls. The creek feeds a striking “ramp” waterfall that plunges into a deep gorge, creating one of the area’s most dramatic natural features. Trails wind along the creek's gorge, offering hikers forested paths, scenic lookouts, and access to the waterfalls. The creek and conservation area it flows through, blend natural beauty with convenience, making it a popular destination for exploring the stunning landscapes.

Rockway Conservation Area, located along the Niagara Escarpment, offers up dramatic scenery and rich history. The site features two waterfalls plunging 19.5 and 12.2 meters, as well as trails that wind through mature forests of basswood, sugar maple, walnut, and sycamore. Hikers can explore the Fifteen Mile Creek valley, discover remnants of historic salt springs dating back to 1792, and enjoy new accessible trails and lookouts that make the escarpment views easier to reach.