FRIENDSHIP TRAIL:
FORT ERIE-PORT COLBORNE; ONTARIO CANADA
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: August 16, 2025
Length: Friendship Trail; 17 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat paved rail trail. Some sidewalk sections.
Directions:
To Start from Old Fort Erie parking lot in Fort Erie [Eastern End]; From I-190 in Buffalo, NY cross the Peace Bridge into Canada onto Queen Elizabeth Way. Take your first right up to Route 124 (Central Ave) and head right. Follow to Lakeshore Rd and turn right. The road splits briefly. Continue straight on Lakeshore Rd passing by Old Fort Erie on your right. You'll come to a parking lot on your left and the start of the trail.
To Start from the Fraser Street parking lot in Port Colborne [Western End]; From I-190 in Buffalo, NY cross the Peace Bridge into Canada onto Queen Elizabeth Way. Take the Thompson Rd (Route 122) exit and travel south to the Route 3 exit. Follow Route 3 west to Port Colborne. Just before the Welland Canal turn left on Route 3A (Welland St) and travel 1 mile (1.6 km) to Fraser St. Parking lots are located both to your right and left. The trailhead is on your left (Map Board).
The Friendship Trail follows an old rail bed along the former Grand Trunk Railway from Fort Erie West, to Port Colborne. Visit; FRIENDSHIP TRAIL for more information.
The regional Greater Niagara Circle Route connects 4 trails to form a Circle. At it's Southern End, the Friendship Trail travels from Fort Erie West, to Port Colborne along Lake Erie. The Welland Canal Trail then travels North, from Port Colborne to St. Catharines along the Welland Canal. Here, at its Northern End, the Waterfront Trail; Lake Ontario/Niagara Section travels East from St. Catharines to Niagara-on-the-Lake along Lake Ontario. The Niagara River Recreational Trail then travels South, from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Fort Erie along the Niagara River.
The Niagara River Recreational Trail, Friendship Trail and Waterfront Trail; Lake Ontario are also part of the regional Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. Breathtaking scenery stretching over 3600km, the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail is a signed route connecting 170 communities and First Nations along the Canadian shores of the Great Lakes region. The trail consists of both on-road and off-road facilities. The route is primarily paved, with sections of unpaved path and gravel roads.
Starting from Old Fort Erie parking lot in Fort Erie [Eastern End]; Across the mouth of the Niagara River is Buffalo.
Note; Heading North, the paved trail is part of the Niagara River Recreational Trail.
Note; Across Lakeshore Rd is access to OLD FORT ERIE .
Heading West, the Friendship Trail follows a wide sidewalk between Lakeshore Rd and Lake Erie. Purple signboards mark the way. Pass through a residential neighborhood and come to a cul-de-sac at 0.8 miles. Here you'll pick up a wide cement trail leading down along the shoreline. Informational signs about the old Erie Beach. Remnants of the old park along the way. Come to Waverly Beach Park. Bear right past restrooms to a parking lot. BIKE STATION located here at 1.2 miles. Head left on a wide sidewalk alongside Edgemere Rd through a residential neighborhood. After 1.7 miles you'll come to the paved, off-road section of the trail on your right. This was as far as I traveled. This brings you up to the old rail bed where the trail continues West. Follow a wooded corridor quickly crossing Kraft Rd, followed by Crescent Rd at 2.4 miles.
Note; Left brings you to Crescent Road Beach Park.
Here the trail parallels Kam Rd before crossing Buffalo Rd at 2.9 miles where it is more isolated. Multiple road crossings. Cross Windmill Point Park at 4.6 miles.
Note; Left brings you to Windmill Point Park.
Multiple road crossings. Cross Gorham Rd at 7.4 miles. Here the trail follows a wooded corridor past farmland. Again multiple road crossings. Cross Sherkston Rd at 11 miles. Finally you'll enter Port Colborne and come to Welland St at 16.9 miles and the end of the trail. Map Board located here along with a Waterfront Trail Map Board. To your right are the Fraser Street parking lots and straight across Welland St (head left for a cross-light) is Seaway Park where you can connect to the Welland Canal Trail at 17 miles.
Note; West, of Port Colborne the GORD HARRY CONSERVATION TRAIL utilizes this same old rail bed for 9 miles (14.3 km) along a crushed stone trail.
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CLICK HERE FOR WATERFRONT TRAIL; LAKE ONTARIO MAP
CLICK HERE FOR WATERFRONT TRAIL; NIAGARA RIVER TRAIL & FRIENDSHIP TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR GREATER NIAGARA CIRCLE ROUTE MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT