The best walks and hikes around Pelham

Swayze Falls is a seasonal cascade that drops down into a deep, forested gorge. The falls are at their most impressive after spring snowmelt or periods of heavy rain, and this is one of the many beautiful places to visit in the park as you explore the scenic trail network.

Short Hills Provincial Park protects more than 700 hectares of forest, meadows, streams, and deep ravines along the Niagara Escarpment. There are over 20 kilometres of hiking trails, offering plenty of options to explore one of southern Ontario’s largest remaining natural areas. Along with a wide variety of birds, you might even spot white-tailed deer and wild turkeys while you’re here.

Nestled within Short Hills Provincial Park, Terrace Falls is a beautiful cascade that drops over layered dolostone and shale into a forested ravine below. Surrounded by mature Carolinian forest, it’s a peaceful spot to pause and enjoy the natural beauty of the escarpment.

The stone ruins of DeCew House are what’s left of the former home of John DeCew, an early settler, mill owner, and captain in the 2nd Lincoln Militia. During the War of 1812, the house served as the headquarters of Lieutenant James FitzGibbon, where Laura Secord famously delivered her warning of a planned American attack before the Battle of Beaver Dams. Today, the preserved limestone ruins stand as one of Niagara’s most significant War of 1812 landmarks.

The Bridge at Laura's Crossing, also known as the Laura Secord Heritage Trail Suspension Bridge, spans 20 metres across Twelve Mile Creek, and is part of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. This bridge marks the supposed location where Laura Secord is believed to have waded across the creek in 1813 during her trek to warn British troops of an American invasion. The bridge's design was modeled after eco-friendly New Zealand bridges, where the "Zero Instream Footprint" does not disrupt river habitats below.

You view the falls from above as the trail approaches Sixteen Mile Creek. They can be quite powerful after a heavy rain, but the crescent wall of the waterfall is quite pretty even when the weather is relatively dry.

This easy packed dirt path takes you to the parking area of Louth Falls where there is a small gravel lot. The lot sometimes fills up during popular times and you can park along the road. The Bruce Trail, which parallels this one, does not lead to any parking area.

The Bruce Trail is over 890 kilometres long, and runs vertically across Ontario from Tobermory at the northern end of the Bruce Peninsula to Niagara Falls. This segment takes you through a couple small creek-fed valleys with views up to the small forested bluffs around the trail.