Niagara Roads

The Niagara Parkway is "the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world," Winston Churchill famously said—but don't let that limit you, if you're visiting the area and love driving. Niagara is prime touring country, with enough route options to keep you busy for a month of Sundays or more!

Niagara has numerous roads and back roads, each one lovelier than the last—or so you may conclude upon driving them! Follow your whim and travel winding roads through  rolling farmland, stopping along the way, perhaps, at an antique store, winery or quaint  café. Or, if you’d rather, plan your outing in advance by selecting a destination—say, the cozy boutiques of Ridgeville or Jordan Village—or by following your choice of signed routes.

The Greater Niagara Circle Route, a prime touring option, includes the Niagara Parkway, which flanks the mighty Niagara River from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Fort Erie. Living up to its “prettiest Sunday afternoon drive” status, the Parkway offers a wealth of delights, from parks, gardens and heritage sites to wineries, waterfronts and yes, the famous Niagara Falls in the city of the same name.

Also part of the Greater Niagara Circle Route are the Lake Erie North Shore Circle Route, Welland Canals Parkway Interim Route and Waterfront Trail.

The Lake Erie South Shore Circle Route, which traverses the southern tip of the Niagara peninsula, encompasses the beachside communities of Fort Erie, Port Colborne and Wainfleet. Enjoy the moment and soak up the ambiance as you discover parks, beaches and marinas galore.

For a drive that blends marine and engineering themes, follow the Welland Canals Parkway Interim Route from Port Colborne, through Welland and Thorold, to the Welland Canals Centre in St. Catharines. The Welland Canal, one of Canada’s engineering marvels, allows massive freighters to “climb the mountain” by passing through canal locks at various locations including Port Colborne, Thorold and St. Catharines. The Welland Canals Centre, where, alternatively, you could begin your tour, offers fascinating indoor exhibits as well as an outdoor observation deck.

Completing the Greater Niagara Circle Route is the Waterfront Trust Trail, a beautiful drive that connects Metro Toronto and the rest of the Lake Ontario shoreline to Niagara. If you travelled north on the Welland Canals Parkway Interim Route, ending in St. Catharines, you can link up to the Waterfront Trail from there.

Other sneak peeks

•    Niagara Wine Route ~ An enchanting network of roads that allows you to celebrate the soul of wine—and its body! Take advantage of tours and tasting opportunities at wineries large and small, stretching west to east from the majestic Niagara Escarpment to idyllic Niagara-on-the-Lake.
•    Niagara Culinary Trail ~ Another option for themed touring, this time with luscious Niagara-grown produce and outstanding, made-in-Niagara artisan products to entice. Use the Niagara Culinary Trail Map and Directory to plan your course based on the farms, markets and other stops you want to make.
•    Antiques and Artists Route ~ A signed route from the Queen Elizabeth Highway to Niagara-on-the-Lake, where, in and around town, you can watch artists and craftspeople at work and discover memorabilia and collectors’ treasures of all description
•    Niagara’s Underground Railroad~ A chance to understand a little of what 19th-century black slaves may have experienced as they fled north to safety via the famous Underground Railroad. Your journey begins at the “The Crossing” along the Niagara River near Fort Erie and ends at the B.M.E. Church in St. Catharines. (Follow the "running man" signs en route.)
•    Greater Niagara Circle Route Trails System ~ One of numerous excellent cycling opportunities in Niagara—just in case you enjoy biking, too! Featuring more than 140 kms of mostly off-road, paved trails, the system encompasses the Welland Canals Trail, which passes alongside parts of the existing and previous Welland Canals; the Friendship Trail, which follows an abandoned rail line between Port Colborne and Fort Erie; the Niagara River Recreational Trail, which wends its way along the Niagara River between Fort Erie and Niagara-on-the-Lake; and the Waterfront Trail, which runs roughly parallel to Lakeshore Road between Niagara-on-the-Lake and St. Catharines. You can also hike or rollerblade this route, along with many others throughout the region. Enjoy!

Special events sampling

•    January, June and September ~ Niagara Wine Festival
•    June ~ Welland Rose Festival
•    July ~ Friendship Festival, Fort Erie
•    August ~ Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival, Port Colborne
•    November ~ Winter Festival of Lights, Niagara Falls

Websites to assist you further

•    Wineries of Ontario at www.winecountryontario.ca for a wine route map and related information
•    Niagara Culinary Trail at www.niagaraculinarytrail.com for a directory and map allowing you to source the healthiest, freshest, farm-grown produce in the region
•    Niagara’s Freedom Trail at www.freedomtrail.ca for an interactive map, slideshow, personal biography collection and other windows into black history in Niagara