Niagara Gorge Wooden Stairs Ontario

There is a single long hiking trail which follows the west wall of the gorge from the base of the wooden stairs at the whirlpool.

There are a few great waterfalls along the trail - which is rated as DIFFICULT with steep inclines and narrow paths between sheer rock faces on one side and steep drop-offs to deadly rapids below on the other.

This hike is hardly for beginners but can be done in Tevas or barefoot.

The solitude is 50-50 on this trail as overhead there is a cable car with lots of tourists, and you will often find hikers on the trail.

The trail is about 1km long and ends up at the old rescue helipad right at the base of some of the massive, and impressive rapids of the Niagara River and whirlpool.

In winter there is a lot of ice and snow down in the gorge, and the waterfalls freeze over. The Niagara Parks Commission strictly forbids ice and rock climbing in the gorge, but there are chalk marks in many areas in summer, and often-times you will see ice climbers in the winter in certain areas.

Climbers consider the gorge one of the best areas in the Niagara Region to climb, although it is advertised as prohibited.

Scattered along the dozens of hiking trails in the Canadian side of the Niagara Gorge are small crevasses and shallow caves to explore. The area is famous for Carolinian ferns and other warm-weather flora

Experienced mountain bikers will find this trail challenging as it is narrow, often has hikers on it and has lots of heights and valleies