Easy hikes and walks around Lincoln

Upper Ball's Falls is the first of two beautiful cascades along this stretch of Twenty Mile Creek. You'll have a great view of the waterfall as it tumbles over the limestone cliffs. This waterfall is not as dramatic as the lower falls, and it requires a bit more of a walk so you'll have a better chance of solitude here. However, the waterfall can dwindle down to a trickle during the driest part of the year.

Ball's Falls Conservation Area was set up to preserve and protect the history of the village that had become a ghost town. In addition to the historic buildings the park also includes Upper and Lower Ball's Falls which you can access with short trails from the parking area.

From here you'll have an excellent view over Lower Ball's Falls. The nature of the area varies greatly throughout the year so you can visit at different times to see lush greenery, colourful leaves, or ice clinging to the cliff sides.

Jaycee Gardens Park traces the path of the historic third Welland Canal, although the canal was filled in when the park was created you can still see the stone remnants of one of the locks on the west end of the park. Offering walking trails, open green space, and beautiful views of Martindale Pond. Visitors can enjoy picnics, horticultural displays, and even book the park for gatherings or wedding photos.

Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie is a beloved destination that combines sandy beaches, trails, and family-friendly amenities with one of Canada’s most charming historic treasures, the Lakeside Park Carousel. Hand-carved between 1898 and 1905 by Charles I.D. Looff, the carousel features 68 beautifully restored animals and still delights riders for just 5 cents per ride, a tradition that has endured for well over 100 years. The park also offers picnic areas, playgrounds, volleyball courts, and connections to the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail, making it a perfect spot for both relaxation and recreation.

Fifteen Mile Creek runs through the Rockway Conservation Area near St. Catharines, and is the source of the impressive Rockway Falls. The creek feeds a striking “ramp” waterfall that plunges into a deep gorge, creating one of the area’s most dramatic natural features. Trails wind along the creek's gorge, offering hikers forested paths, scenic lookouts, and access to the waterfalls. The creek and conservation area it flows through, blend natural beauty with convenience, making it a popular destination for exploring the stunning landscapes.

Rockway Conservation Area, located along the Niagara Escarpment, offers up dramatic scenery and rich history. The site features two waterfalls plunging 19.5 and 12.2 meters, as well as trails that wind through mature forests of basswood, sugar maple, walnut, and sycamore. Hikers can explore the Fifteen Mile Creek valley, discover remnants of historic salt springs dating back to 1792, and enjoy new accessible trails and lookouts that make the escarpment views easier to reach.

Lower Rockway Falls is accessible via the Rockway Conservation Trail and makes for a great destination when visiting the area. You can hike it as an out and back or as part of a longer hike on the nearby Bruce Trail.