Residents in the Greater Hamilton and Toronto areas can make a reservation with nature to visit, hike and experience the acclaimed Spencer Gorge Conservation Area.
“The visitor experience will be enhanced,” explains Gord Costie, director, Conservation Area Services at the Hamilton Conservation Authority of the automated reservation system. “Reserving is much more commonplace now at high tourist locations. There are thousands of visitors that would love to see the spectacular Spencer Gorge. But there have been too many people at one time. We’ve reduced the number of visitors coming into the area.”
From now until November, all visitors to the Spencer Gorge, which includes the Dundas Peak, Tew Falls and Webster Falls, must make advance online reservations.
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The reservation system is a project — currently installed to ensure that social distancing measures during the pandemic continue to be met — but also due to the immense popularity of the historic Spencer Gorge area owing to social media images.
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The Y-shaped Spencer Gorge is part of the Niagara Escarpment. It’s a distinctive geological formation carved by erosion and time and comprised of stacked, bowl-shaped basins with spectacular panoramas and forested depths.
Visitors are invited to hike and view the Spencer Gorge area in two-hour blocks of time on weekdays and weekends. Arrival times are staggered in 15-minute intervals to allow time for latecomers.
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Entry for each vehicle is $10.50 plus $5 per passenger. Children under 5 years of age are admitted free of charge. Reservation fees are $10. Now visitors will arrive knowing that a parking space is waiting for them. There is parking at Dundas Peak and at Webster Falls. Visitors are advised to plan their visit at least one day in advance. Visits can also be reserved up to a week in advance.
“No one leaves home today without making a camping reservation in advance,” says Costie, “We need our visitors to think the same way.”
The reservation mandate and fee also applies to Membership Passholders. Says Costie: “The fee is also consistent with how we offer our campsite reservations where everybody pays a reservation fee.” After November when the reservation program has ended, passholders will be able to access the area, first-come, first-serve, through the winter without a reservation fee.
Pedestrians are also welcome at the Gorge. However, they will still need to book ahead and make a reservation. No walk-up or drive-up entry will be admitted without an advance reservation.
When visitors log on to the HCA reservation page, a visitor management system helps them to select available dates and locations.
Visitors can choose the popular Dundas Peak with its 41-metre-ribbon of Tew Falls’ hike experience — Tew Falls is about 10 metres shy of the height of Niagara Falls.
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Or, they can choose the tiered Webster Falls’ hike experience. Once there, visitors will see eastern white cedars that grace the steep cliffs. Two of the cedars, on either side of Webster Falls, are over 500 years old.
Visitors can then note their preferred date, list the number in their party, pick a time slot and reserve a spot with their licence plate information. Visitors must also print and bring with them the confirmation showing the reservation booking date and time. To enter the conservation area, HCA Membership passholders must bring their pass.
