Nature Activities for Families in Niagara Falls
My grandparents used to live near Niagara Falls and we loved visiting all year round. We often drove down touristy Clifton Hill for the sheer spectacle of it. We went up the Skylon Tower, took a tour behind the falls, and watched a movie about the falls in 4D. (Spoiler alert: the 4th dimension is a squirt gun pointed at your face from the back of the seat in front of you.)
Far better than any of these tourist attractions are the nature activities for families in Niagara Falls. The falls themselves are definitely worth a visit but the region has even more to offer.
Biking
One of our favourite activities when we visited our grandparents was biking along the Niagara Recreational Trail. There are 53 km of paved bike paths, separated from the road, and perfect for young families.
Choose a stretch of the trail either north or south of the falls. If you’re with kids, the main viewing area at the falls can be very difficult to bike through due to crowds of people.
The paved paths are flat and easy for beginning bike riders and they are wide enough for pulling a bike trailer. There are small bridges, a playground or two, and beautiful scenery along the Niagara River. There are also free parking lots along the river if you drive a little further away from downtown Niagara Falls.
Hiking
For older kids, the hike down to the whirlpool at the Niagara Glen is beautiful in the fall when the leaves change colour. Prepare for lots of stairs! My high energy 5-year-old could handle it. I’m not positive that I wouldn’t be carrying my 3-year-old at least partway up the hundreds of stairs, so we’ll save it for when they’re a little older.
Dufferin Islands is a park with bridges and trails through a series of tiny islands. Young children will love watching the geese and ducks in the small streams and ponds. Go early to find parking. Swimming is also available for those who are not afraid of algae.
If you’ve never been to Niagara Falls before, check out some of the hiking, cycling, and nature activities in the area.
Here’s a great place to start if you’re hoping to see the natural side of Niagara Falls: https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit-niagara-parks/nature-activities/
What are your favourite nature activities for families in Niagara Falls?
Read on about the day I took our two boys biking on a day trip to Niagara Falls.
