Once covered by a shallow, warm sea between 450 – 300 million years ago, what is now the Wainfleet Wetlands Conservation Area was the site of a clay and limestone quarry from the late 19th century until the 1960’s. Fossils of the plants and animals that lived in the Paleozoic sea can be seen in the exposed limestone of the Onondaga Formation, in the quarry walls and rock tableland.
Purchased by the NPCA in 1978, today the quarries and clay pits have naturalized and are home for fish, birds, waterfowl, turtles, snakes and plants. Unique alvar communities of rock loving plants also thrive here in the shallow soils, in addition to the site woodlots and meadows.
We would also direct you to read our DISCLAIMER and our TRAIL USERS CODE.
Region(s): Niagara Region
Nearby towns and cities: Port Colborne
WAINFLEET WETLANDS CONSERVATION AREA characteristics
Length: 1.4 km.Difficulty: Moderate (Trail classifications)
Trail surface: Natural
Trail use: Hiking and Cross-country skiing
Accessibility Notes: Accessibility not known.
Fees: None reported.
Flora & Fauna:
This wetland is unique as it attracts a large variety of bird species. Over 50 different species of birds has been sighted at the Wainfleet Wetlands. Yellow warblers are the most common, and wading and shorebirds are plentiful. Some of the birds which you are likely to see include great blue herons, egrets, gulls, terns, and sandpipers
Amenities: None reported.
Contact:
info@npca.ca
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority Welland, ON L3C 3W2 Phone: 905-788-3135
Find it: 10501 Quarry Rd, Port Colborne, ON.
GPS Coordinates (main trailhead):
Latitude: 42.8861620
Longitude: -79.3050920