Listing Type
Parks, Gardens & Conservation Areas
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Beamer Memorial Conservation Area |
Left: Enjoying the views from the edge of the Escarpment; Right: the Falls in full flow.
Renowned as the best vantage point in Ontario to observe the annual spring hawk migration, Beamer Memorial Conservation Area lookouts afford some of the most breathtaking and panoramic views of the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario. In the spring watch for bald eagles, turkey vultures and other birds of prey soaring overhead. Stroll the scenic Lookout Trail and soak up the scenery from one of the many viewing platforms; you may even see the mist from Niagara Falls, way off to the east!
Bird watch or wander through this beautiful, upland hardwood forest festooned with native flowers in the spring. Along some of the trails look for witchhazel shrubs flowering in the autumn! Take breath-taking pictures of the Niagara Escarpment, Lake Ontario, and the upper and lower falls of the Forty Mile Creek Valley along established hiking trails. You will find access to the Bruce Trail from here.
The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch raptor counters invite you to join them here annually from March 1 through May 15 to see the birds migrating overhead and to learn about these magnificent birds of prey.
Bring your binoculars on Good Friday for the annual Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch Open House which has educational talks presented by Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch members and a children's programme hosted by Niagara Nature Tours. Local field naturalist clubs have displays and handouts. There may be birdhouses and related paraphernalia for sale depending upon who has displays. Make a donation at the gate and put your name in for a draw.
Photo Gallery
Hours of Operation
Open Year-Round 8:00 am - 8:00 pmDirections
Please drive carefully - Ridge Road is a narrow, winding two lane country road with many intersections.From East or West via the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW):
- Take exit 71, Grimsby (Christie Street) south toward the Escarpment. Christie Street becomes Mountain Street at the downtown traffic lights
- Mountain Street (Regional Road 12) south, UP TO THE TOP OF THE ESCARPMENT. Just at the crest of the escarpment you will see St. Mary's Ukrainian Church on the left.
- Right (west) on Ridge Road* for 2.4 km
- Right (north) on Quarry Road. Travel 100 metres to the entrance to Beamer Memorial Conservation Area, on your right.
Historical
Beamer Memorial Conservation Area was once home to a flour mill, of which the only remnants are an old water dam and the mill's grinding wheel. Beamer provides the perfect location for both history and nature enthusiasts. From the Nelles Heritage Driving Tour it says, "Just at the end of Gibson Street, on the right by the foot bridge, is a millstone (1793) from one of the mills that Rober Nelles operated with his son, Henry. In 1806, it is recorded that Robert owned a sawmill and a gristmill on the Forty Mile Creek."Further Information
Beamer Falls Bed and Breakfast at Falconridge Farm: http://www.beamerfalls.ca/
Important Bird Areas of Canada: http://www.bsc-eoc.org/iba/site.jsp?siteID=ON023
Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Information Centre, Natural Areas Report: Beamer Memorial Conservation Area: http://npca.ca/water-management/water-planning/documents/natural-inventory-areas-report/NAI-Vol-2.pdf
Nelles Heritage Driving Tour brochure published by the Grimsby Heritage Advisory Committee (GHAC), is available as a brochure, or online at http://www.town.grimsby.on.ca/Driving-Tours
Niagara Gems. Niagara This Week. July 4, 2008. http://media.niagarathisweek.com/acrobat/eb/bd/88dfd602462eb4992cd23619c72b.pdf
Touring Niagara's Wine Country by Linda Bramble http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Touring-Niagaras-Wine-Country-Linda-Bramble/9781550287073-item.html
Ownership & Management
Niagara Penninsula Conservation AuthorityFacilities
53 Hectares 132 AcresCinderblock Washrooms open seasonally
Day Use Area for picnics, hiking and birdwatching with a tall observation tower, and scenic lookouts with park benches.
Accessibility
Accessible Cinderblock Washrooms open seasonally Nature trails for wheelchairs leading through a woodland to one accessible observation platform.Address
Beamer Memorial Conservation AreaQuarry Road
Grimsby, Ontario
Telephone
(905) 788-3135GPS Co-ordinates
Latitude 43.188073380599
Longitude -79.572099395818
UTM easting 616031
UTM northing 4782690
Longitude -79.572099395818
UTM easting 616031
UTM northing 4782690
Administration
Diane L. Bois
Administrative Assistant, Operations
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
250 Thorold Road West
3rd Floor
Welland, Ontario
L3C 3W2
Tel (905) 788-3135
Fax (905) 788-1121
Email dbois@conservation-niagara.on.ca
Website http://www.npca.ca/
Administrative Assistant, Operations
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
250 Thorold Road West
3rd Floor
Welland, Ontario
L3C 3W2
Tel (905) 788-3135
Fax (905) 788-1121
Email dbois@conservation-niagara.on.ca
Website http://www.npca.ca/
© 2009, 2010, 2011. Unless otherwise indicated, all information contained on this website is the copyright property of Brock University and Tourism Niagara. All other information is the copyright property of its respective owner(s).
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