The Niagara River Recreation Trail is not really a rail trail (though there was once a rail line here), but I include it in this web site
because it serves the same purposes, because it is convenient to visitors coming into Ontario from
New York State, and because the Niagara region is a tourist destination itself. I have not taken
notes as I have done for rail and towpath trails, and the section near the Falls I have not cycled for
many years, so please bear with me if this writeup is not as comprehensive as for the other trails.
I have cycled the Niagara
River Recreation Trail
between
Niagara-on-the-Lake and
the Falls. Beyond the Falls
the trail goes all the way to
Fort Erie and I have cycled
most but not all of it.
Between
Niagara-on-the-Lake and
the Falls the trail is a paved
path in the boulevard between the road (Niagara Parkway) and the river. Within the City of
Niagara Falls you have to ride along streets. The section between the Falls and Fort Erie is also
paved and off-road, but not as scenic.
The path can be congested
at times, particularly on
summer weekends. It is
used by cyclists, roller
bladers and walkers. Since
it mostly parallels the road
you do not get the
tranquility of most rail
trails.
Never-the-less, the Niagara
parkway is a 2-lane,
winding road with a low
speed limit and a lot of
tourists who are looking at the sights. It is very pretty with the boulevard and river on one side,
fine homes and a few fruit farms on the other. In a few places, particularly at the Niagara on the
Lake end, the boulevard becomes quite wide and the path loses sight of the road.
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a pretty town
with shops, fine restaurants, and the
Shaw Festival. 
The trail
starts at the south end of town, near
Fort George. The distance to the
Falls is about 20 to 25 km. The first
half is below the escarpment, then you
will climb to the upper level where the
river is in a gorge. Along the way
you will want to stop at various
viewpoints, and perhaps visit some of the attractions.
The Butterfly Conservatory at the Botanical Gardens is well worth a visit, but be prepared for
crowds on summer weekends.
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