Spencer Gorge Conservation Area
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.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
367 reviews
Excellent
175
Very good
106
Average
32
Poor
22
Terrible
32
Scott M
8 contributions
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.
Peter N
Cambridge, Canada123 contributions
Sept 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.
Irene L
Hamilton, Canada4 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
People who live in Dundas are wealthy and perceive those who aren't as a nuisance or liability. They lobby for this kind of thing and of course have influence. Their families had slaves historically. They claim private property over areas beside a public walkway for example. Its public land, and ultimately Indigenous land, people. When I lived there for a year they would talk to my friends visiting as if they shouldn't be there. They monitor your movements and are intimidating and gossip amongst themselves as they have nothing better to do. God help you if you park in the wrong place. I had someone I didn't know track me down on Facebook and basically ask me to move my car from open street parking because it was in front of their house. Beautiful place with privileged people intimidating others
Written July 1, 2024
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.
Kdirken
3 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
DO NOT FALL FOR THE BUS SCAM, but DO visit the beautiful falls. This new system started recently so that explains the previous good reviews and the photos of sights you'll never see with your $30 entrance fee.
It didn't make sense that there were police officers blocking every entrance or possible parking spot in the whole town, that they were charging $30 for a family of four to park, that you were only allowed to shuttle bus between sights or walk up on the road, that they offered "free entry to their market" with the purchase of entry (who pays to go into a dumpy market to begin with??), or that you were not able to go anywhere except stand on viewing platforms or boring short trails crammed with all the other visitors.
This prompted me to ask questions to both locals and the people running this scam to get to the bottom of things. Everyone had a different excuse for why they changed everything but not one answer made logical sense. If the issues were actually traffic or maintaining the nature there would be countless better solutions (look at all the places in northern Ontario that maintain their natural beauty for locals and thrive off tourism).
Finally someone working there admitted that it got busy with all the "people you can see obviously aren't from here" aka not white and that "the locals and the police hated it so they did this to discourage people from coming".
Do not listen to the lies that the police and staff of the conservation authority give you, there is another way to access the falls for free and that is actually the only way to see all the best parts and hike. (as they leave open for all the locals who know better than to pay or take the shuttle).
If you manage to get in from the bottom of the falls (not where you have access by paying or taking the shuttle), it is spectacular and you must visit if you're in the area and like a nice hike. Not very maintained down there but that's the beauty of it anyways. If you want a more leisurely sight seeing or have young children or elderly people with you, you might actually enjoy the access given through the paid entrance (although I don't know why anyone would pay to do this in Hamilton instead of going to see Niagara for free).
VISIT THE FALLS BUT DO NOT SPEND A $ SUPPORTING DUNDAS' XENOPHOBIA.
If anyone involved in this scam would like to openly discuss possible solutions I would be more than happy to help.
It didn't make sense that there were police officers blocking every entrance or possible parking spot in the whole town, that they were charging $30 for a family of four to park, that you were only allowed to shuttle bus between sights or walk up on the road, that they offered "free entry to their market" with the purchase of entry (who pays to go into a dumpy market to begin with??), or that you were not able to go anywhere except stand on viewing platforms or boring short trails crammed with all the other visitors.
This prompted me to ask questions to both locals and the people running this scam to get to the bottom of things. Everyone had a different excuse for why they changed everything but not one answer made logical sense. If the issues were actually traffic or maintaining the nature there would be countless better solutions (look at all the places in northern Ontario that maintain their natural beauty for locals and thrive off tourism).
Finally someone working there admitted that it got busy with all the "people you can see obviously aren't from here" aka not white and that "the locals and the police hated it so they did this to discourage people from coming".
Do not listen to the lies that the police and staff of the conservation authority give you, there is another way to access the falls for free and that is actually the only way to see all the best parts and hike. (as they leave open for all the locals who know better than to pay or take the shuttle).
If you manage to get in from the bottom of the falls (not where you have access by paying or taking the shuttle), it is spectacular and you must visit if you're in the area and like a nice hike. Not very maintained down there but that's the beauty of it anyways. If you want a more leisurely sight seeing or have young children or elderly people with you, you might actually enjoy the access given through the paid entrance (although I don't know why anyone would pay to do this in Hamilton instead of going to see Niagara for free).
VISIT THE FALLS BUT DO NOT SPEND A $ SUPPORTING DUNDAS' XENOPHOBIA.
If anyone involved in this scam would like to openly discuss possible solutions I would be more than happy to help.
Written May 23, 2017
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.
stellardoc1
Champaign-Urbana, IL155 contributions
Jun 2016 • Family
I live close to this place and have been coming to this area - Spencer Gorge, Tews Falls and Dundas Peak from the past 6 years or so. If i wrote this review last year, it would exceed expectations however:
-- The parks authority or whoever runs this place decided to hike up the prices. Previously, it just used to be 10$ parking fee which was acceptable. Now, a bunch of immature teenagers who hardly know how to count money are placed at the entrance points and the fee? $10 per car and $5 per person in the car. Our charge for the weekend trip to this place - 2 SUVs with 13 people total --> $85. This is unacceptable by any means. A nature preserve where a leisure walk with friends or a family picnic can really affect your wallet. What are the taxes for?
-- If you want quiet time, forget it. There are 'significantly more' number of visitors to this place and it is a cash machine for local administrators. You won't find any quiet time, its like a disney land over the weekend.
Spare yourself a hassle and save a few bucks, find another park if you want peace. I perhaps won't be going there for a while now. I thank the corrupt politicians from the bottom of my heart for screwing this one up too.
-- The parks authority or whoever runs this place decided to hike up the prices. Previously, it just used to be 10$ parking fee which was acceptable. Now, a bunch of immature teenagers who hardly know how to count money are placed at the entrance points and the fee? $10 per car and $5 per person in the car. Our charge for the weekend trip to this place - 2 SUVs with 13 people total --> $85. This is unacceptable by any means. A nature preserve where a leisure walk with friends or a family picnic can really affect your wallet. What are the taxes for?
-- If you want quiet time, forget it. There are 'significantly more' number of visitors to this place and it is a cash machine for local administrators. You won't find any quiet time, its like a disney land over the weekend.
Spare yourself a hassle and save a few bucks, find another park if you want peace. I perhaps won't be going there for a while now. I thank the corrupt politicians from the bottom of my heart for screwing this one up too.
Written June 6, 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.
zzyygg65
Waterloo Ontario45 contributions
Sept 2017 • Family
My daughter and I drove an hour to find that the parking lots have been closed. You follow these Fallsview Parking signs which you assume would be just around the corner; 10 minutes later you arrive at this farm that's been converted to a parking lot and pay booth for the Falls–a shuttle bus drives you back to a drop off site near the falls. You pay $10 for parking an another $5 per person for admission; I didn't think the money was that much of an issue until I arrived at the falls. The falls are surrounded by a 4 foot high metal fence that also cuts off most of the forest paths. 10 minutes of walking around in a circle and you've basically seen everything, including the obstructed view of the falls. Last time I visited Webster's Falls I was able to walk down to the bottom to an incredible view - that is no more. The entire trip was a swarm of annoyed and frustrated visitors who were trying to figure out how to get to the bottom.
We then decided to walk to the nearby Tews Falls Nope, no longer accessible by foot; have to make your way back and wait for another shuttle (school bus) to take you there. I asked the park attendant if Tews Falls was also behind a fence and he confirmed the falls were no longer accessible. At that point we decided to cut our losses and left–it was obvious we weren't the only ones who felt ripped off.
An hour drive and $20 admission just to admire steel fencing. Shameful at what they did to this place.
We then decided to walk to the nearby Tews Falls Nope, no longer accessible by foot; have to make your way back and wait for another shuttle (school bus) to take you there. I asked the park attendant if Tews Falls was also behind a fence and he confirmed the falls were no longer accessible. At that point we decided to cut our losses and left–it was obvious we weren't the only ones who felt ripped off.
An hour drive and $20 admission just to admire steel fencing. Shameful at what they did to this place.
Written September 16, 2017
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.
dmetz534
Lombard, IL4 contributions
Apr 2017
$20 for 2 people and they only accept cash. Niagara Falls is free. How can you charge this much to look at a natural attraction? Money grab. No thanks. Not with it.
Written April 2, 2017
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.
viper123
Burlington, Canada7 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
Well I have been visiting the Falls at Spencer's gorge for years. I attended McMaster university and often visited for relaxation and to study. Back then it was all free. Free parking. No admission!!!
Well a few years ago they started charging for parking! I accepted this and still visited.
Well then a couple years ago they closed on site parking and you had to take some ridiculous shuttle on weekends. Well I just avoided weekends.
Well I went yesterday and was told I had to pay $15 for the car and $5 admission each. I had a group visiting me from South Korea. All we wanted to do was see the falls and leave....5 minutes!!. I was told that I still had to pay the full amount buy the smug arrogant student working there.
This is absolutely ridiculous. We pay taxes to allow us to have access to nature around the area. Things that we as taxpayers own!!! What next? Taxing air?
We need to boycott these places so the Hamilton conservation authority can rethink this ridiculous policy. I understand charging for parking cause the lots are not huge but charging admission is DAM ridiculous. Avoid this place
Well a few years ago they started charging for parking! I accepted this and still visited.
Well then a couple years ago they closed on site parking and you had to take some ridiculous shuttle on weekends. Well I just avoided weekends.
Well I went yesterday and was told I had to pay $15 for the car and $5 admission each. I had a group visiting me from South Korea. All we wanted to do was see the falls and leave....5 minutes!!. I was told that I still had to pay the full amount buy the smug arrogant student working there.
This is absolutely ridiculous. We pay taxes to allow us to have access to nature around the area. Things that we as taxpayers own!!! What next? Taxing air?
We need to boycott these places so the Hamilton conservation authority can rethink this ridiculous policy. I understand charging for parking cause the lots are not huge but charging admission is DAM ridiculous. Avoid this place
Written July 12, 2018
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.
Livinglime
2 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
Webster's falls used to be one of my favourite spots in this part of the world. Now, they've closed the parking lots and force you to take a shuttle bus ($10 for parking +$5.pp) from a flea market. They've removed the stairs down the gorge, and put up fences everywhere, so you can barely get a glance at the falls. Some rich NIMBY has put a giant fence up in the middle of what used to be a lovely hiking path between Webster's and Tews Falls, so you can't even go for a decent hike and have to (you guessed it!) get back on the shuttle bus if you want to see the other falls. It's like the going to the worst theme park ever. I felt ripped off and disappointed, and the last bus back is at 6:30pm.
Written July 30, 2017
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.
Mark O
Hamilton, Canada28 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
Websters Falls is great, the park is clean and inviting. Tews Falls is high but has very little water going over it just a trickle during high season. Both parking lots will be closed at Websters and Tews from now on from May to Nov. I would strongly recommend going to Christies Lake Conservation Area first as there is lots of parking, food and beaches. Park in the most southern parking lot and take the Spencer Adventure Trail into Websters approx a 26 min walk past old mill ruins and spencer creek. Once again the parking lots are now closed beginning 2017 May to Nov due to serious congestion in the Greensville area.
Written April 26, 2017
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.
Are people allowed to bring food and picnic/ eat at Webster falls/ in the area?
Because when I called the park and asked if there were picnic tables available, the girl I was talking to told me that there was no picnicking allowed at all. Even though some reviewers have said they have picnicked there before.
Written July 15, 2016
Only one restriction for Picnicking:
Barbecues, fires or sound equipment are NOT permitted at this conservation area
Otherwise light food & drink for personal use is fine.
Written July 16, 2016
Some people have waded in the stream above, but that is a very dangerous activity. No swimming can be accommodated.
Written July 16, 2016
Hi there!
It might be easier with a baby backpack because the path can be lumpy. Also: there is an entry fee which I believe is 10 dollars for car and 5 dollars per person over age 5. I had heard it was being increased. Bring cash for that.
It really is quite beautiful so I hope you and your wee one enjoy it!
Written June 7, 2016
Yes, can confirm what the other traveler said, parking is outside, depends where you are, near Webster Falls the day parking pass is $10, which is a lot considering you have to bring your snacks and there are only portable toilets, which are better than nothing but still gross, when I was there is August it has been a while since anybody cleaned them.
Written November 3, 2015
Yes, you are allowed, you must always carry a poop bag, but yes, canada is a great Country and allow many things others turn there nose,s up at, HAVE FUN with your DOGGY
Written September 18, 2015
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