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Niagara Gorge & Whirlpool (13 or 14 KM) (9/2/2023)

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The Basics:
Event Type:Hike
Event Location: Niagara Falls VIA Rail Station - 4267 Bridge St, Niagara Falls
Date(s) & Time:Sat, Sep 2 2023  11:45 AM
Registration Cut Off: Sat, Sep 2 2023 6:25:00 AM
Event Duration:less than 4.5 hours
Difficulty Rating:D3: Moderate
Event Coordinator(s): Fletcher
You must be logged in to get the Event Coordinator contact information.
Member Cost:Voluntary Donation Only (See Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 18 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:24
Minimum Group Size:1
Number Registered So Far: 24 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:

So this is my first adventure taking members of the TOC into the Niagara Gorge and near the Whirlpool.

Today's hike will start and finish at the Niagara Falls Via/GO station.
I'll try to be back in time for the 4:05 PM train back to Toronto.

    I pre-hiked this route back in 2020 and is kinda weird.
  • For 9 KM, its super duper easy on flat paved trails.
  • Then there's a more moderate 4 or 5 KM section on dirt trails, which includes some caverns and caves, which are really cool, but can be very rocky and slippery.
  • If I have time, I'll take us down to the Whirlpool beach, which would bring this hike to 14 KM.

Please bring a lunch and at least 1-2 Litres of water.
I'll stop at the picnic area for the Niagara Glen Nature Centre for lunch, located about 8 KM into the hike.

If you cannot walk the entire distance please do not sign up for this hike.

    EVENT STATS
  • Distance: 13 or 14 KM depending on timing
  • Terrain: Paved park paths, single track dirt trails with very rocky and off balance sections.
  • Trail vs Pavement: 4 or 5 km vs 9 km
  • Elevation Range: 75 meters
  • Challenging Climbs of Note: 4 climbs of 25 meters and 1-2 climbs of at least 50 meters depending on timing
  • Largest Climb: 55 meter climb up a loooong staircase
  • Washrooms: There's a washroom located at the Niagara Glen Nature Centre, located about 4.5 KM & 8 KM into the hike. into the hike.
  • Highlights: 'Niagara River Whirlpool', 'Cool rock formations', 'Lookout '

PRECAUTIONS AGAINST TICKS

  • Wear long pants.
  • Tuck your shirt into your pants, and pull your socks over your pant legs. Wear light coloured clothing to spot ticks more easily.
  • Use bug spray containing DEET or Icaridin on your skin and clothing.
  • Avoid tall grass.

    Check yourself for ticks immediately after the event, you can ask me for help for removal.
    When you get home, shower and do a full body check, if you find a tick, remove it with tweezers.
    If a tick is attached to your skin for less than 24 hours, your chance of getting Lyme disease is negligible.

    For more information, see Ticks


    • Required Items to Bring:
    • hiking boots or hiking shoes
    • 2L of water
    • snacks and lunch
    • weather appropriate clothing
    		Recommended Items to Bring:
    Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
  • A smile
  • First Aid Kit
  • Whistle
  • Bug Spray
  • Sunscreen

    • How to Get There:
    Event Directions:

    We'll meet at the front of the Niagara Falls VIA rail station. I've timed this hike, so that we can meet after the GO train has arrived, plus any minor delays.

    If you take the 9:03 AM train from Union Station, you should be able to reach by the start time.

    To pay for the GO Train, I recommend pre-purchasing either a weekend pass or a day pass from GO transit as instead of a $17 trip each way, its $10 round trip for the weekend day pass.
    Passes can be bought up to 7 days prior to trip.
    'HERE'S THE LINK TO PURCHASE. '

    Look for me in the BLUE Toronto Outdoor Club shirt at the entrance to the station.

    For those of you driving, Niagara Falls VIA Rail station is located at 4267 Bridge St, which is about a 2 hour drive from Toronto.

    MAP

    PICTURE OF MEETING LOCATION


    Notes:

    Please ensure that you check the 'TTC service updates website' for any potential closures.

    Please arrive on time, I will turn off my cell phone once the hike begins.


    - We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines at all times while participating in TOC events.
    - Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.
    - Questions about equipment or rentals? Send them to safety@torontooutdoorclub.com.
    - Notice any errors or problems in the information on this page? Please notify our Content Editor(s), Stacy, at content@torontooutdoorclub.com.


     
    Voluntary Donation: ( What is this?)
    Suggested donation amount for this event is: $2.00/Person.

    Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
    Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!