Fort Erie is situated on the extreme east tip of the Niagara Peninsula, directly across the Niagara River from Buffalo, New York. Originally settled by Loyalists forces in the late 1700's, the town has been responsible for much of the history in the establishment of Canada as a sovereign nation, defending the country from American advances. The abundant forests and location along Black Creek fostered a large timber and mill trade. Today, it is home to many cottages and mansions. The Black Creek is a very interesting paddle, from the tee off to the Beaver Creek, the flat grasslands of the International Country Club of Niagara, the United Empire Loyalist Conservation Area, and stretching all the way to the Stevensville Conservation Area, you can do this trip 10 times and still discover new things.
Trip Length:
After launching from the dock into the Niagara River, you need to head south. If you see this tree, it is to the North. A word of caution, the precipice of Niagara Falls is also to the North. Do not go North unless you know the area well! :)
After a short paddle South, you will see this bridge, which is the entrance to the creek.
The creek has bright blue-green water, with hue houses lining the North bank.
Once you get past the houses, you paddle through a golf course and a very interesting Conservation Area. I am pretty sure you can make it all the way through town. The day I went there was a pretty big storm rolling in, so I decided to head back before I made it. I am definitely going to attempt this in 2017.
Cost: $0.
Difficulty: The Niagara River stretch, although short warrants extreme caution. Make sure you are prepared and you know which direction you need to go to find the mouth of the creek. Once you enter the creek, the water is flat and peaceful. I am not sure if there are currents or floods in the spring or after heavy rain, so use caution. As always, use proper safety gear on any trip.