Listing Type
Parks, Gardens & Conservation Areas
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Short Hills Provincal Park - Pawpaw |
Left: ( Arbogastlw), right: niagara tropicals
General Information
Short Hills is 735-hectare, and is a day-use park. There are six-side trails along the Bruce Trail. This amazing park has both dense forests and open meadows, and also has meandering creeks and gentle hills that are perfect for strolling. The Park includes very lush Carolinian forest. There are several trails in the park. The Black Walnut Trail is open to hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders, while the Scarlet Tanager, Hemlock Valley, Terrace Creek and Paleozoic Trails are open to hikers only. As well you can hook up to the Bruce Trail.
Ecological
The forested valley contains a magnificent diversity of species, including the rare pawpaw and American sweet chestnut. Sassafras, black gum, black walnut and black oak are other Carolinian trees found here. Bird species include indigo bunting, scarlet tanager, and the great horned owl. There are many mammals in the forest such as white-tailed deer, coyote, and the meadow vole.
The Twelve Mile Creek is the only remaining cold water stream in the Niagara Region. The cold water stream is the reason the rare pawpaw trees are found in Short Hills Provincial Park. Pawpaw trees grow best in low, moist ground areas. The rare pawpaw trees are most recognizable by their 3cm flower which appears in May. It is a purplish brown colour with six petals. Pawpaw trees grow fairly large leaves. They are smaller trees only reaching heights of 10 meters and 12 cm in diameter.
Directions
There are three entrances into Short Hills Provincal Park they include Roland Rd., Wiley Rd., and Pelham Rd North.
Head East on QEW Niagara
Take exit 49 for ON 406 toward Thorold/Welland/Pt. Colborne
Merge onto King’s Hwy 406
Take the Beaverdams Rd exit towards County Rd-67
Turn right at Beaverdams Rd
Slight right to stay on Beaverdams Rd
Turn left at Merrittville Hwy
Take the 3re right onto Holland Rd
Continue to Roland Rd
Kings Hwy 406
Take the St. David’s Rd/ County Rd-71 exit
Merge onto St. Davids rd
Turn left at Merrittville Hwy
Take the 1st right onto Decew Rd
Turn Left at Cataract Rd
Turn right at Wiley Rd
Pelham St North Entrance
Kings Hwy 406
Take the St. David’s Rd/County Rd-71 exit
Merge onto St. David`s Rd
Turn Left at Merrittville Hwy
Take the 1st right onto Decew Rd
Continue onto 1st Louth St
Turn left at Pelham Rd
Take the 2nd left onto Pelham St North
Further Information
http://www.friendsofshorthillspark.ca/friendsframe.htm
Further Information on Carolinian Species can be found at:
http://www.carolinian.org/SpeciesHabitats.htm
This page was prepared by Megan Scott in December 2009
Ownership & Management
Ontario Parks Owner, Friends of Short HillsAddress
Short Hills Provincial ParkPelham Street North
St. Catharines, Ontario
Municipality Town of Pelham
Telephone
(905) 774-6642GPS Co-ordinates
Longitude -79.286356
Administration
Short Hills Provincial Park
PO Box 158
Dunnville, Ontario
N1A 2X5
Tel (905) 774-6642
Website http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/index.html
Trail linkages
Bruce Trail with smaller trails including: The Black Walnut Trail, The Scarlet Tanager, Hemlock Valley, Terrace Creek and Paleozoic Trail.
