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Spencer Gorge Conservation Area
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Spencer Gorge Conservation Area

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See all things to do
Spencer Gorge Conservation Area
4
About
From the escarpment brow, noted for its panoramas, to the forested depths of the gorge below, the Spencer Gorge Conservation Area exhibits the physical features which have made the Niagara Escarpment one of Ontario's most spectacular geological formations. This significant natural area contains two beautiful waterfalls: Webster and Tew Falls. Webster is a magnificent tiered waterfall and Tew, which towers at 41 metres, is only a few metres shorter than Niagara Falls. Both offer spectacular vistas of the gorge.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
65 within 5 kms
Quarry Restaurant
9
1.6 km$ • Fast food • Canadian
Betula Restaurant
122
2 km$$ - $$$ • Contemporary • Canadian • Vegetarian Friendly
Quatrefoil
614
2.4 km$$$$ • French • Contemporary • Canadian
Namu Restaurant and Bar
65
2.2 km$$ - $$$ • Japanese • Asian • Korean
Bangkok Spoon Deluxe
379
2.6 km$$ - $$$ • Asian • Thai • Vegetarian Friendly
Jonny Blonde
12
2.2 km$$ - $$$ • Grill • Canadian
The Winchester Arms
162
2.3 km$$ - $$$ • Bar • British • Pub
Nellie James
3
2.3 km$$ - $$$ • Fusion
Detour Cafe
194
2.6 km$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • Cafe • Canadian
Jax Sweet Shoppe
96
2.6 km$$ - $$$ • Dessert • Cafe • Diner
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Attractions
90 within 10 kms
Tews Falls
243
0.1 kmWaterfalls
Waterfalls of Hamilton
398
0.5 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Webster Falls
32
0.3 kmWaterfalls
Dundurn Castle
701
Historic Sites • Castles
Tiffany Falls Conservation Area
223
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Volcanoes
Bayfront Park
292
Parks
Dyment's Farm
85
2 kmFarms
Steel Town Cider Co
1
1.6 kmBreweries
Royal Botanical Gardens
883
Gardens
Crooks Hollow Conservation Area
2
1.8 kmNature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
367 reviews
Excellent
176
Very good
106
Average
32
Poor
22
Terrible
31
Suzystretch
Mississauga, Canada21 contributions
Great views of Fall Foliage
Oct. 2022 • Couples
Trail and views were well worth the visit. Reserved time slots ensured the trail and lookouts weren't too busy. Must be booked the day before; no walk or drive up entry. Portable toilets at parking. Trails are mostly packed earth. Stairs have solid, wooden steps.
Written October 12, 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.
Scott M
5 contributions
BOYCOTT anything run by Hamilton Conservation authority
Jul. 2022
Hamilton Conservation authorities have ruined this area. I attended McMaster years ago and would go here a lot on breaks or to read. It was all free. NO payment. Parking was free. NO blocked views with fences. Well HCA has decided to make this an amusement park. They expect reservations then not only charge you per car to park but then charge per person to view the falls. PATHETIC. Nature is not owned by anyone. Charging a reasonable fee to park is appropriate but if you want a 5 minute look at the falls this is crazy. I suggest people Boycott this area and anything ran by HCA until they get their acts in gear. Anything ran by them has been ruined or turned into money makers. Even Tiffany falls where you must pay for parking is up to more than $10 to park for a 15 minute walk. CMON. I am so pissed at hour why have ruined things. There are lots of free hikes around that we do not need anything run by HCA.
Written July 29, 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.
David P
Dover, UK74 contributions
Lovely Webster Falls
Jun. 2022
A sunny but coolish June morning was a perfect time to visit Webster Falls. The trails are more limited here than at nearby Tews Falls, but try to go to both.
Written June 20, 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.
Sam W
6 contributions
Hamilton Conservation has Terrible Bureaucratic Management
Apr. 2022
Hamilton Conservation is run by a brunch of bureaucrats, a 100% for profit organization now. All public funding should cease to support this for profit organization with audit showing how much were paid for their "administration" staff.

In addition to charging an unreasonable amount of money for a short duration visit plus parking they are now working with local police to ticket any car for all sort of parking issue which they created. They literally discouraged visitors from outside the area; we cancelled our booking of a large group with the local restaurant in protest.

They are running it as though they owned this property despite public funding.
Avoid this poorly run park at all cost unless you want a ticket in addition to ruining your trip.
Written May 29, 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.
Mary M
Toronto, Canada104 contributions
Wonderful
Apr. 2022 • Couples
I went for a walk and saw Tews falls and the gorge. There were stairs the view the falls on a lower level and a higher level.
Written April 24, 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.
1greenwood
Oakville, Canada418 contributions
A must see attraction
Feb. 2021
Went exploring the walking trails and were thrilled when we arrived as this area is absolutely gorgeous. The falls area is fully fenced and so safe you don't need to worry about small children. It was -12 C, sunny and windy when we arrived but fully explored the falls & surrounding area. The fresh blanket of snow made walking a pleasure.

We took quite a few pictures of the frozen falls area and specifically the falls. Could have taken so many more if our battery didn't die.
Written February 8, 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.
Ocean Phi Long Le
Toronto20 contributions
DON'T GO TO DUNDAS PEAK IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A PICNIC AT THE PEAK. THEY HAVE FENCED THE ENTIRE PEAK OUTLOOK.
Oct. 2020
***REVIEW IS ON DUNDAS PEAK ONLY***

Installed fence is terrible!!!

The HAC has ruined this gem basing their opinions on fears and decided to destroy the natural beauty of this landscape. They have installed a 4 foot black metal fence around the entire Dundas Peak lookout. When you hike to this point, you LOSE out completely on the unobstructed views. What people have done for years was hike and been able to sit on the rocks, enjoy their snacks/lunch and appreciate the views. There is no where to do it now. I think whoever decided on this should be fired in my personal opinion.

Because the fence is only 4 feet tall and pointy, I've seen people climb over the fence. They can easily loose their balance and fall off. No matter what people try to do to protect humans from doing silly things, they will continue to do so. I rather have HAC post a sign and disclaimer that reads "Enter at your own risk. Cliffs are dangerous and if you are trying to take a selfie and fall, or if you ride your bicycle and fall off the cliff or if you come at night and fall over the cliff, if you drink and fall over, "YOU HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT YOURSELF. YOU ARE LIABLE FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS. THANK YOU AND ENJOY YOUR DAY."

After paying $30 dollars for the visitor fee and parking fee was this worth it? NOPE!
Written October 3, 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.
Peter N
Cambridge, Canada125 contributions
Disappointing
Sep. 2020
There was no mention on the website that the water flow was basically non-existent. I paid $30 for two peeps. Then prior to visiting learned the water flow was just a trickle and I was not able to cancel my reservation. It is a nice spot but totally not worth $30 for seeing the falls basically dry. The Hamilton Conservation Authority has yet to respond to my email complaint.
Written September 30, 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.
Richard
25 contributions
A very beautiful park and waterfall
Dec. 2019
Well worth a visit. One of the most scenic waterfalls in Southern Ontario.

Note: Parking on weekends is not permitted unless you park at Christie Lake Conservation area and take a shuttle bus. Even Passholders are not allowed to park on weekends!!!! :(

You can no longer walk between Websters Falls and Tews Falls/Dundas Peak, as some .... person... built a home in the middle and put an end to something that was one of the greatest walks in the area.
Written January 15, 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.
silverbrook
London, Canada4,881 contributions
Beautiful falls and lovely views
Oct. 2019
Spencer Gorge Conservation Area is a very busy part of the Hamilton Conservation Authority's parks that gives you access to two different and beautiful waterfalls (Tew's Falls and Webster's Falls) as well as some spectacular views of the gorge and surrounding area from Dundas Peak. Because this area has become so popular and to help preserve the park, HCA has mandated that on weekends and holidays visitors must utilize shuttle buses that will transport guests from parking areas at nearby Christie Lake Conservation Area to Spencer Gorge Conservation Area. There is a $10 fee for parking as well as a $5 per person fee to enter. Once you are parked at Christie Lake Conservation Area, you need to get a wristband from a little hut near the shuttle bus stops so you can hop on. You can also pick up a map of the Spencer Gorge/Webster's Falls Conservation Area. There are two stops on the shuttle - one that gives you access to Tew's Falls and Dundas Peak and a second stop that gives you access to Webster's Falls. Considering the sheer volumes of people that were visiting the area when our group came up for a hike, I must say that this shuttle transportation ran fairly smoothly and justified the meager $5 cost to ride. I cannot image where all of the people would have parked or how much of a traffic jam would have been caused if people had tried to park in the falls parking areas or on surrounding streets - it would be chaotic and dangerous. There are also hefty fines for those who choose to take their chances and park there anyways and skip the shuttles.
The scenery in Spencer Gorge Conservation Area was spectacular mid-fall when we made it up to hike in the area. The amount of people also visiting was bitter-sweet - it was nice to see so many people outside enjoying nature, but it was also kind of sad because many of the paths felt more like sidewalks in Toronto, rather than a stroll through nature. I found almost everyone was polite and took turns on the observation decks as well as at the other vantage points so that it was usually just a short wait before you could step up and enjoy an unimpeded view of the falls or the gorge.
I found the pathways to be well marked, fairly well kept and wide enough to allow for hikers in both directions. There were areas that were fenced off for safety along the paths and near the falls, sometimes obstructing clear views of the falls in their entirety, such as with Webster's Falls. I was surprised to see the lack of barriers at Dundas Peak. There was a little stone structure a couple of feet high at the top, but people could, and did, easily step around to stand or sit precariously on the edge of the cliff. The views from this vantage point were absolutely stunning, but again you had to wait for a few minutes to try to get a shot without several other heads also enjoying the same views. If you were to visit during the off-season or through the week, you might have better luck with the area not being quite as busy.
Written November 4, 2019
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.
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SPENCER GORGE CONSERVATION AREA - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Spencer Gorge Conservation Area