Woodend Conservation Area: Fantastic Hiking in the Niagara Region

Woodend Conservation Area

Woodend Conservation Area is one of the best places to go hiking in Niagara Falls. Technically, Woodend Conservation Area is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake. On a map, it’s wedged right in the middle of Niagara Falls and St. Catharines, so it’s a great option for hiking if you’re anywhere close to the Niagara Region.

Posts may be sponsored. Post contains affiliate links. I may be compensated if you make a purchase using my link.

The main trail at Woodend Conservation Area is part of the Bruce Trail, which is one of the best trail systems in Ontario. So, you know that you’re in for an amazing trek!

My first time hiking at Woodend Conservation Area was on a previous Bruce Trail adventure. I hiked a stretch of the Bruce Trail between Niagara Falls and St. Catharines, which included Woodend. We crossed the QEW, ventured through the Screaming Tunnel, hiked through wine country and past the shoe tree, and descended into the beautiful forest at Woodend.

Read more about this Bruce Trail hike in my series over on my sister site, Justin Plus Lauren. [All Bruce Trail hikes are listed here].

Woodend Conservation Area Niagara Falls

I returned to Woodend Conservation Area to hike it for a second time recently on a day trip to the Niagara region. I hiked at two different spots: Woodend Conservation Area and St. John’s Conservation Area. On a return trip later that week, I visited the Niagara Glen. All of these amazing hiking trails are within a short driving distance from Niagara Falls and St. Catharines.

Become an Ontario Hiking Supporter!

Join the Ontario Hiking Patreon and you’ll become a VIP member of the Ontario Hiking community! You’ll receive ad-free, downloadable hiking guides with new guides added weekly. Plus, there are many more perks! Become an Ontario Hiking Supporter today!

Ontario Hiking Patreon

Woodend Conservation Area Hiking Trails

Woodend Conservation Area Hiking Trails

The land at Woodend Conservation Area was once owned by the United Empire Loyalist family of Peter Lampman. Back in 1779, he established a homestead and farmed the land at the top of a hill called St. Anthony’s Nose. During the War of 1812, the land was used as an observation point for both armies. Several battles of the War of 1812 happened surrounding this land, so it was a main strategic point.

Woodend Conservation Area Hiking Trails

In 1974, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Area took ownership of the land and called it Woodend Conservation Area. The first conservation education centre was built in 1979, and was made possible by the support of the Richard Ivey Foundation, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the province of Ontario.

Woodend Conservation Area Hiking Trails

It’s the prime example of a Carolinian forest with species of trees like Black Cherry, Black Oak and Sugar Maple. Woodend Conservation Area is part of the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere. The Bruce Trail, the oldest and longest marked hiking trail in Canada, is the main hiking trail at Woodend Conservation Area.

The Bruce Trail

The Bruce Trail Niagara
The Bruce Trail Niagara

For the most part, you’ll follow the well marked white blazes of the Bruce Trail throughout your hike. You’ll walk through dense forests and along the edge of the escarpment. There are many interesting rock formations on the way. This loop trail is about 3.5km in length. You can use the Woodend Side Trail to loop back to where you started.

The Bruce Trail Niagara
The Bruce Trail Niagara

Partway through your hike, you’ll come across a clearing and the DSBN Walker Living Campus. This is an education centre that provides full day nature programs to students from K-12. Some of these courses include outdoor survival skills, orienteering, pond studies, team building classes, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing in the winter. The DSBN (District School Board of Niagara) Walker Living Campus is the transformation of an older, run down education centre into a vibrant and innovative space for students to learn about the great outdoors.

Walker Living Campus
Walker Living Campus
Boardwalk on the  Bruce Trail

After walking past the Walker Living Campus, I continued the hike across a short wooden boardwalk. All in all, the hike isn’t terribly challenging, and there are some short uphill and downhill sections of the path. I spent a little under an hour hiking at Woodend Conservation Area. This trail is great for families and people of all ages, as well as beginner hikers. It’s a dog-friendly hiking trail, too, provided that you keep your dog on a leash.

Woodend Side Trail

Woodend Side Trail

The Woodend Side Trail is a very short trail that functions as a short cut back to the start of the Bruce Trail at Woodend Conservation Area. You don’t necessarily need to hike on the Woodend Side Trail at this conservation area. If you choose to take the Woodend Side Trail, follow the signs and the blue blazes until you reach the white blazes of the Bruce Trail once again.

Woodend Side Trail
Woodend Side Trail

You’ll also notice that this section of the trail is part of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail, a 32km hiking trail in Niagara region. Laura Secord is a hero of the War of 1812. She walked for 32km out of American occupied territory to warn the British of an impending attack. The Laura Secord Legacy Trail follows approximately the journey that she traveled back in the day. It starts at the Laura Secord Homestead in Queenston and ends at the Decew House Heritage Park in Thorold.

Laura Secord Legacy Trail

Wetland Ridge Side Trail

The Wetland Ridge Side Trail is an out and back trail in the far southwest side of the park. It’s 1.1km one way. You can reach the Wetland Ridge Side Trail off the main Bruce Trail, and it’s relatively close to the main parking lot off Taylor Road. It heads down the escarpment near a reclaimed wetland, so it’s pretty aptly named if you ask me.

There are some interpretive signs along the trail, as well as some benches for wildlife viewing opportunities. The trail ends at the Niagara College greenhouse. At that point, you’ll need to turn around and make your way back up the escarpment to where you originally started.

Plan Your Visit

Woodend Conservation Area

There are a few places to park your car for free at Woodend Conservation Area, and it is free to visit without any admission charges. I parked by car at the main entrance off Taylor Road, and there was plenty of space for cars. There aren’t any facilities at this Niagara park and there aren’t any restrooms.

Woodend Conservation Area Map

Here’s a Woodend Conservation Area map so you can find exactly where to find these hiking trails. You won’t need any kind of a hiking trail map while you’re there. It is very straight forward. Follow the white blazes at Woodend Conservation Area to stay on the trail, which is part of the Bruce Trail. If you’d like a little short cut back to the start of the trail, you can follow the blue blazes for the Woodend Side Trail.

More Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority Parks

Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority Park

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

Where to Stay in Niagara Falls

Are you looking for where to stay in Niagara Falls? There are so many amazing Niagara hotels and Airbnb accommodations so you can be close to the city or close to the trails.

As for personal recommendations, Marriott on the Falls is always such a treat with spectacular views of the world famous waterfall. For a fabulous property in Niagara-on-the-Lake, I suggest staying at the Pillar and Post right in town. It has a beautiful spa and outdoor hot tub that’s open all year long.

Here’s a handy booking tool where you can see all of the Booking.com accommodations and Airbnbs in one place. It’s easy to compare prices and find the best rate for your trip to Niagara Falls.

Follow Ontario Hiking on Social Media!
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Newsletter | Join the Community

Join the Ontario Hiking Facebook Group

You are also welcome to join our Ontario Hiking Facebook Group – it’s a great way to ask questions about hiking in Ontario, share your Ontario hikes, and get inspired!

Ontario Hiking Facebook Group

Check out the Ontario Hiking Shop!

Inspired by adventures and nature. Ontario hiking and Bruce Trail apparel & accessories, designed by me.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.