The Welland Canal
The Welland Canal
4.5
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4.5
320 reviews
Excellent
190
Very good
109
Average
18
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Janine C
Niagara Falls, Canada133 contributions
June 2022
Welland Canal Amphitheatre .
Opening Band Repeatles excellent.Everyone was singing and dancing.
Floating bandstand Paula and the Goodfellas
They played June 24 2022.
Nice weather and well organized.
Music was great and lots of seating.
There were 2 food trucks,I had Funnel Cake with caramel.
The Bacon Crazy food truck had nice menu of bacon foods.
Canada Day July 1 2022
See you this weekend Derek Miller,Grace2 and the best Tragically Hip😎
Bring water, hat, a chair.There are bleachers.
Thank you Welland City Council.
Opening Band Repeatles excellent.Everyone was singing and dancing.
Floating bandstand Paula and the Goodfellas
They played June 24 2022.
Nice weather and well organized.
Music was great and lots of seating.
There were 2 food trucks,I had Funnel Cake with caramel.
The Bacon Crazy food truck had nice menu of bacon foods.
Canada Day July 1 2022
See you this weekend Derek Miller,Grace2 and the best Tragically Hip😎
Bring water, hat, a chair.There are bleachers.
Thank you Welland City Council.
Written 29 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RNLynda
Smithfield40 contributions
June 2023 • Family
It was a wonderful experience. Lock 3 had an observation area and we were able to see a cargo ship going through the lock. From the area of Lock 5 we saw a Viking cruise ship come through. Saw the locks also from the highway. Truly amazing.
Written 30 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jack S
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Friends
Visitors center was great. Really nice folks situated at Lock 4. Watched ships locking up towards Lake Erie. Then took Segway tour. Great guide and fun ride.
Written 15 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robby G C
Toronto, Canada81,657 contributions
July 2020
The Welland Canal is a great place to have fun!
Kids have fun at the canal swimming paddle boards.
There were people fishing.
Someone had made a place to enjoy the Welland Canal.
We can even walk near the Welland Canal.
Sometimes the canal is completely pure blue. Wow!
Kids have fun at the canal swimming paddle boards.
There were people fishing.
Someone had made a place to enjoy the Welland Canal.
We can even walk near the Welland Canal.
Sometimes the canal is completely pure blue. Wow!
Written 14 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trek2237
Welland Ont.1 contribution
Relaxing waterway surrounded by well kept parklands,trails and rentals (paddle boats canoes bikes) Dont forget to check out Merrit Island.
Written 30 June 2004
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tyler P
Edmonton, Canada197 contributions
July 2014 • Family
It is something special to watch one of those big ships go from top to the bottom. I recommend making the trip atleast once since the experience will be worth it. There is lots of other things to do and walking trails to enjoy.
Written 21 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PGHTraveller
Beaver Falls, PA34 contributions
In a region with no shortage of attractions, the Welland Canal is among the rarest of the rare- interesting (especially to those technologically inclined or interested in ships) and free. The Falls are too, naturally, if you're just driving by or know where the free parking is.
There are two visitor centers, at locks 3 and 7. The one at Lock 7 in particular leaves something to be desired. The Lock 3 center has some exhibits about the history of the Canal and the technology associated with the locks, but at the risk of nitpicking, I'd have liked to have seen more artifacts, historical photos, etc. Again, though, with the price being whatever, if any, donation you'd care to give, it's hard to complain.
The big attractions are the ships and locks themselves, of course, and with 6-8 ships per day taking an hour or so to pass through each of the 8 locks, chances are you'll get to see the canal in action. Most locks have their own roadside viewing areas where you can pull off and get within a few meters of the action.
Keeping in mind that I'm a geek for this kind of thing, I'll take an afternoon at the Welland Canal over the tourist traps in Clifton Hill any day. You can get there from the exits off the QEW at either end of the Garden City Skyway in St. Catharines, or do what we did and start at Port Colborne on the Lake Erie shore and follow the well-marked canal trail to where most of the locks are, in Thorold.
There are two visitor centers, at locks 3 and 7. The one at Lock 7 in particular leaves something to be desired. The Lock 3 center has some exhibits about the history of the Canal and the technology associated with the locks, but at the risk of nitpicking, I'd have liked to have seen more artifacts, historical photos, etc. Again, though, with the price being whatever, if any, donation you'd care to give, it's hard to complain.
The big attractions are the ships and locks themselves, of course, and with 6-8 ships per day taking an hour or so to pass through each of the 8 locks, chances are you'll get to see the canal in action. Most locks have their own roadside viewing areas where you can pull off and get within a few meters of the action.
Keeping in mind that I'm a geek for this kind of thing, I'll take an afternoon at the Welland Canal over the tourist traps in Clifton Hill any day. You can get there from the exits off the QEW at either end of the Garden City Skyway in St. Catharines, or do what we did and start at Port Colborne on the Lake Erie shore and follow the well-marked canal trail to where most of the locks are, in Thorold.
Written 19 June 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
polar_purple
Canton, Ohio65 contributions
My son and I stopped by Lock 3 on the back from Toronto to Niagara Falls, as we noticed a ship approaching the lock from the north, when we crossed over it on the QEW. Within five or six minutes, we had parked at the lock and were atop the viewing platform.
The ship took about ten minutes to get into the lock, then about 15-20 minutes to rise up and move out of the lock.
The viewing platform is absolutely free, and it was worth spending a half hour or so at it. Don't know if I'd do it again, but if you are travelling down the QEW from to/from Toronto, take a few minutes and check out the lock - it's worth seeing it at least one time.
The ship took about ten minutes to get into the lock, then about 15-20 minutes to rise up and move out of the lock.
The viewing platform is absolutely free, and it was worth spending a half hour or so at it. Don't know if I'd do it again, but if you are travelling down the QEW from to/from Toronto, take a few minutes and check out the lock - it's worth seeing it at least one time.
Written 16 October 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew H
Toronto, Canada137 contributions
June 2020
We bike from our home in Welland down the Canal to Port Colborne and often across to Crystal Beach. The Canal ride is always great.
Written 26 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Senior F
Toronto, Canada166 contributions
July 2016 • Couples
You can watch large lake/ocean ships climb the mountain from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie via a series of locks of the Welland Canal. The visitor centre (Lock 3) supplies food, information and souvenirs. Check the opening times as it is not open for all ship transits. A web site lists the ships expected through the lock and at what time. You can watch from ground level or climb the viewing stand to get better pictures. A park is right next to the centre for those wishing to have a picnic. A ship takes about an hour from entry to the lock to exit,
Written 24 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey! I was wondering if the pump house over by the blue ghost tunnel is still active. Like do sirens still go off and water still gets released
Written 11 August 2020
hello .is there a bike path and how long is it.from start to finish.Is it moderately easy. is there free parking
Written 22 April 2018
Yes there is a bike/walking path along the old Welland Canal which runs from Port Colborne to Port Robinson for a distance of about 12 miles. There is free parking at various spots along the route. There is also a great bike/walking path along the Niagara River from Fort Erie to Niagara Falls. Free parking is also available along the route except in Niagara Falls itself. I don't believe there are paths that extend for any kind of length along the newer canal where the big ships pass through.
Written 22 April 2018
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