Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby offers some of the most magnificent views of the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario. You can hike above and below the escarpment with the opportunity to see two beautiful waterfalls. It’s one of the best places to hike in Ontario.
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This impressive conservation area was once the homestead of John and Anna Beamer, early settlers to the town of Grimsby. Many years ago, there was also a restaurant and a sawmill powered by the rushing waters of the creek. Today, Beamer Memorial Conservation Area includes 132 acres of escarpment land and mature wood lot.
Beamer Memorial Conservation Area is an important migratory bird watching site for hawks and other birds of prey. If you visit in the spring and during the right weather conditions, you’ll likely spot many raptors and hawks. There are even special events at the park for hawk watching.
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Beamer Memorial Conservation Area Map
Here is a map of Beamer Memorial Conservation Area, taken from the park entrance. From the main parking lot on Quarry Road (where I recommend that you park), you can hike on three trails: the Lookout Trail, the Bruce Trail, and the Bruce Trail Side Trail.
There are also two waterfalls at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area. You can see Upper Beamer Falls by the side of the road and Lower Beamer Falls while hiking below the escarpment.
Hiking at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area
From the main parking lot, walk into the park to begin your hike above the escarpment. Follow the Lookout Trail, which forms a loop and also connects with the main Bruce Trail. From the Lookout Trail, there are three stunning lookout points. Be sure to hike the entire loop trail and take the time to check out all three of them.
Next, I suggest continuing on the Bruce Trail, which overlaps with a small portion of the Lookout Trail. Then, keep hiking on the Bruce Trail Side Trail straight ahead until you reach the end of the path. At this point, you’ll be able to see Upper Beamer Falls. The best vantage point is right from the side of Ridge Road. Please take care to watch for traffic as this is a very busy road, and stay off the street itself.
Then, backtrack a little bit on the Bruce Trail until you reach the stairs going down the escarpment. Hike down the stairs while following the Bruce Trail. Enjoy picturesque views of the 40 Mile Creek Valley as you wander down the steps. Walk alongside the Forty Mile Creek while soaking up even more spectacular views at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area.
You can keep hiking on the Bruce Trail outside of the park if you’d like. If you keep hiking on the Bruce Trail in a southeasterly direction, you will eventually hit the Southern Terminus at Queenston Heights Park.
How to See the Waterfalls at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area
As I mentioned earlier, it’s really easy to spot Upper Beamer Falls from the end of the Bruce Trail Side Trail while hiking above the escarpment. Upper Beamer Falls is about six metres high and six metres wide. It’s a really beautiful waterfall, but Lower Beamer Falls is a bit larger and prettier.
Lower Beamer Falls is about six metres high and 11 metres wide. Getting to Lower Beamer Falls is a bit trickier. As a disclaimer, I haven’t yet hiked to Lower Beamer Falls myself, but I can describe how to reach the waterfall to you.
Once you reach the base of the escarpment, you will walk in the opposite direction of the Bruce Trail alongside Forty Mile Creek (in a southwesterly direction). This is not an official trail and there won’t be any trail blazes. Keep walking along the river on the rocks until you reach a dead end, which is the waterfall.
Take care if you decide to hike across the rocks. They might shift under your feet or become slippery when wet. It’s not the safest place to go hiking as it’s a bit of an adventure. We ended up abandoning our hiking trip to Lower Beamer Falls because it didn’t seem to be too safe at the time, but we will return in better weather to give it a shot next time.
Hawk Watching at the Park
Beamer Memorial Conservation Area is an official “Important Bird Area” in Ontario. During their spring migration, it’s possible to see many hawks flying over this park land. Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH) carries out their observation and data collection at Beamer at the central lookout in the spring.
If you love birdwatching, be sure to plan your visit from March 1st to May 15th between 10:00am and 3:00pm on warm, sunny days. More specifically, visit when the winds are ahead of a warm front. That’s when you’ll have the best chance of spotting hawks.
Plan Your Visit
It is free to visit and park your car at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area. There are restrooms at this conservation area, too. If you hike the Lookout Trail, the Bruce Trail, and the Bruce Trail Side Trail, it is approximately a 4 to 5km loop. But, if you decide to complete the trek to Lower Beamer Falls, you’ll add some extra kilometres.
Please note that the central observation deck is unavailable during migratory bird season because the park staff will be collecting data. This happens from February 28th to May 15th. The other lookout points are available.
Every Good Friday, Beamer Memorial Conservation Area hosts its annual “Hawk Talks”. There are displays and live bird demonstrations.
What to Bring on a Hike
A proper pair of hiking shoes is an absolute must. It’s also a good idea to bring sunscreen and lots of water, too. My water bottle of choice is the GRAYL Purifier because you can drink ANY water from any source, no matter what. Water from lakes, streams, rivers, public restrooms, you name it. It’s the world’s fastest portable purifier.
Don’t forget to pack some bug spray because there can be biting bugs depending on the time of year. Even if there aren’t any signs, it’s safe to assume that ticks are all over Ontario hiking trails. Protect yourself against ticks by reading our guide to avoiding ticks on the trails.
For amazing deals on hiking products like backpacks, boots, clothing, and gear, check out the Decathlon Canada shop!
More Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority Parks
Looking to explore more parks operated by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority? There are a lot of them! Here’s a complete listing of conservation areas to check out. I will write about more of them as I experience them for myself. You can also view all Niagara region hikes, including Short Hills Provincial Park and the Niagara Glen.
- Ball’s Falls Conservation Area
- Binbrook Conservation Area
- Long Beach Conservation Area
- Beamer Memorial Conservation Area
- Cave Springs Conservation Area
- EC Brown Conservation Area
- Gord Harry Conservation Trail
- Louth Conservation Area
- Morgan’s Point Conservation Area
- Mountainview Conservation Area
- Mud Lake Conservation Area
- Rockway Conservation Area
- St. Johns Conservation Area
- Stevensville Conservation Area
- Two Mile Creek Conservation Area
- Virgil Dams and Reservoirs Conservation Area
- Wainfleet Bog Conservation Area
- Wainfleet Wetlands
- Woodend Conservation Area
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