St. Catherines - Burgoyne Bridge & Merritt Trail

Summer is always a great time in Toronto as our local Speed rail (GO train) can extend over 100 km from the downtown Hub at Union in all directions.

We took the Niagara Falls train to St. Catherine's on Saturday - it was an express train, missing a lot of the less busy stations so it took about 1.5 hrs - which if you know traffic in the 'GTA' that's a great clock time.

A short walk from the St. Catherines GO Train station you will come to the Burgoyne Bridge, originally built in 1915 and praised for its engineering, connected St. Paul Street West to downtown over Twelve Mile Creek Park valley. 

It was replaced by a new bridge in 2016, costing $99 million. The new bridge featured a distinctive arch but had safety concerns due to low railings and a gap between lanes, leading to frequent suicides.

In response, Niagara Region installed 10-foot high, rust-resistant aluminum barriers in 2020 to prevent further incidents. While these improvements enhanced safety, some criticized the demolition of the historic bridge, valuing its heritage significance over the new structure.

If you look down from the bridge you can see the Merritt Trail.  It runs alongside Highway 406, near the Burgoyne Bridge, following the path of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Welland Canals. It honors William Hamilton Merritt, who first proposed the Welland Canal. You'll find remnants of old canal locks and mills along the way.  It's not as peaceful as the Participark Trail due to its proximity to the highway.

The Garden City Skyway is a 40-meter-high section of the QEW between St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake that often closes during bad weather.

Starting from Bradley Street in south St. Catharines and ending at Martindale Pond Road in West St. Catharines, the Merritt Trail spans 11 kilometers, connecting with the Green Ribbon Trail and the Participark Trail. It's popular for walking, hiking, biking, and motorbiking.

                                                 

Unfortunately, being new to the area and had to time our walk around the train schedule back to Toronto as well as checking out an All You Can Eat restaurant in town (for my AYCEToronto blog of course!), we didn't do the entire trail today. 

Instead we started off 

from Gale Street following the Welland Canal and did a loop south to Richard Pier point and back around again following the creek.

We noticed a lot of litter in parts a long side the park trails in a few places as well as a few vagrants, but the town is pleasant and the people are pleasant.  Times are tough everywhere, especially in the smaller towns where work is in short supply and workers - even less.

We want to come back again once I have a better camera, and I promise I will take more pictures when we do the larger trail.

In the meantime... Happy Trails! :)

Westcliffe Falls - Hamilton

I have been down in Chedoke Valley (Radial Trail) a few times since last winter, but haven't seen Westcliffe Falls yet.  You can hear the water from up top (Scenic Drive/Paradise Rd) coming into the gorge, but you can’t actually see anything from up there.   


There wasn't much of a flow to her at this time of year, but it promises to never dry up!  Westcliffe is one of several waterfalls you’ll see if you take the Iroquoia trail off Chedoke Radial.    It’s a terraced, ribbon cascade that stands about 15 metres high and has a wide chest of about 3 metres.  

The easiest way to get to it, is to go down the steel stairway (about 300 steps) and walk up the dirt footpath located on the left embankment from Lower Westcliffe / Lower Cliffview.  You will see it up on your right side once you are over the top.  


I took the hard way down and instead of using the stairs, I dragged and skidded myself down the side of the embankment wall until I reached the bottom of the gorge.  After a few cuts, scrapes and bruises, using the staircase (which is what I was trying to avoid) seems like a better choice....and a safer one!

Although the terrain is very rugged and sparse, there are still some very scenic views down in the valley here.  One of which is the really neat tiered staircase that has been carved out by glaciers as well.  This area would be best viewed though in the spring/summer or perhaps early autumn. 

more notes:
See Lower Westcliffe (Cliffview Falls) / Lower West on this blog  -  is a 4 metre high and 3 metre wide classic cascade waterfall found just north of the Cliffview Falls.

 

Dreaming of Castle Days in Toronto? Casa Loma is a must see!

Casa Loma is open weekdays from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (last admission at 4:00 PM), but even if you’re just passing by, the castle’s stunning exterior is fair game for photos any time of day. We’re planning a return visit soon to capture the magic inside—especially the richly detailed rooms that tell stories of grandeur and heartbreak.

Before you go, be sure to check their website—ongoing renovations over the next few months mean some sections may be temporarily closed.

Some of my favorite spots? The atmospheric wine cellar, the hauntingly beautiful empty swimming pool, and the majestic riding stables. I can't wait to revisit these hidden corners of the castle.

Casa Loma isn't just a backdrop—it's a bittersweet chapter in Toronto’s past. Built as a romantic gift by Sir Henry Pellatt for his wife, the castle’s tale ends in tragedy, as riches faded and dreams slipped away. It’s a place where beauty and history collide.

I especially love the wine cellar, the swimming pool and the riding stables so much looking forward to revisiting soon!  There is a tragic history of Sir Henry Pellatt and the gift of the castle to his wife and the riches to rags story.  

 

What are your favorite spots?  Write in the comments I would love to know! 

for a free quieter alternative, visit the Spadina House Museum just steps away!

f You Go: Travel Tips for Visiting Casa Loma

• Location: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, just north of downtown near Spadina Road and Davenport.

• Hours: Open daily, typically 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (last entry around 4:30). Evening hours may apply for special events like escape rooms or seasonal light shows.

• Tickets: Available online or at the door; online purchase is recommended during peak tourist seasons. Combo passes with the Royal Ontario Museum or CityPASS can save money.

• Parking: Paid parking is available on-site, but spaces are limited. Street parking and nearby Green P lots are good backups. Public transit (TTC subway to Dupont Station, then a short uphill walk) is another option.

• Best Views/Photo Spots:

  • The exterior gardens and fountains in summer are stunning.

  • The tower lookout offers sweeping views of Toronto’s skyline.

  • Inside, don’t miss the grand staircase and conservatory with its stained-glass dome for gorgeous photo backdrops.

• Accessibility: Some areas are challenging due to the historic design, but elevators and ramps provide access to most key sections.

• Extras: Casa Loma frequently hosts themed events—like Halloween haunted nights or holiday lights—worth timing your visit around.

Greenwood Conservation Area

Greenwood Conservation Area located in Ajax has several trail points (White Pine walk, BirdWalk, The Orchard, Meadow Walk, Duffin's Lookout, and Oliver's Rest)

The most popular trail is the  Greenwood Conservation Loop.  It was pretty easy even though it spans 14.5 km and typically takes around 3 hours to complete. 

I've blogged Duffin's earlier so we've been here before so I didn't spend a lot of time taking pictures as the sun was setting the air was getting chillier as twilight came.

You will love this trail which is perfect for bird watching, hiking as well as road biking.  You'll most likely meet other enthusiasts along the way!

 The Duffin's trail is a 2.9 km loop trail that starts at he Greenwood Discovery Pavilion and loops around near a Leach Free dog walk area. 

Most of our time was spent on the "Greenwalk" where the high and ominous forests of Jack Pines lined the forest bed as far as the eye could see.