The Trust is partnering with the Town of Lincoln, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and the Bruce Trail Conservancy to improve and expand the Niagara Twenty Valley Trail. Thanks to the generous support of the Greenbelt Foundation, phase one of the project is now complete.

The new Twenty Valley Trail network will provide Ontarians improved access to greenspaces and will contribute to local tourism and recreational opportunities in the area.

The current Twenty Valley Trail is a scenic two-km (1.2-mile) trail that starts in Ball’s Falls Conservation Area and ends at Lake Ontario, connecting with the Waterfront Trail. Once the trail revitalization project is complete, visitors hiking along Twenty Valley Trail will be able to access a continuous 1,366-km trail network (849 miles) that connects Ball’s Falls to the Ontario Heritage Trust’s Ellis property (a natural heritage site recognized as an Environmentally Significant Area), the Bruce Trail and side trails, the main street of Jordan village and the Lincoln Museum and Cultural Centre.

Latest updates

Phase One: Feasibility (complete)

The Trail feasibility study started in March 2022 and was completed in July 2022. It included a tree inventory and various studies (hydrological, geological and ecological) to identify the best route for the new trail network.

Phase Two: Design (in progress)

The Trust has identified the optimal route for expanding the current trail. We are now working on the trail design and selecting the construction materials. Archaeological work is scheduled for spring 2023.

Phase Three: Construction

The Ellis property is situated along the Niagara Escarpment area and is considered part of the greater grouping of natural systems known as the Greenbelt. Ontario’s Greenbelt is one of the most biologically rich areas in all of Canada, and with nearly 810,000 hectares (over two million acres) of farmland, forests, wetlands and rivers, it provides the residents of Ontario with clean air, fresh water and a reliable local food source. The Greenbelt's natural areas provide essential climate resilience for local communities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe – Canada's most rapidly urbanizing region. Greenbelt natural features – like forests, rivers, wetlands and healthy soils – help to prevent flooding, protect our freshwater and offset the urban heat-island effect, helping to keep the air feeling cool during heat waves. Ontario’s Greenbelt provides a home for wildlife and critical species at risk, and ensures that our communities have green space to explore.

The Greenbelt provides accessible greenspace for Ontario's growing population. With one in four Canadians living in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the Greenbelt is an essential resource for outdoor recreation, safely connecting with friends and loved ones, and exploring nature. Time spent in nature has proven benefits to physical and mental health and the Trust with its partners plan to improve access to these great natural areas with the creation of the Twenty Valley Trail.