Feeder Canal Driving Tour

Duration: 120 minutes Difficulty: Easy

The Feeder Canal is easy to see, just keep in mind that that the distance to see everything is close to 40km. If you're not up for the drive the following photo tour will identify some of the landmarks for you.

1. Junction Lock: You might be surprised to discover that the lock originally built to connect the Feeder Canal to the Second Welland Canal still exists and has become a small historical landmark. The park got redesigned around 2011 and was designated a historical landmark in 2022.

Today the Junction Lock is mostly buried, but it does show you the exact location where the Feeder Canal once ended.(Google Maps)



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2. Junction Lock Plaque. A historical landmark isn't complete without a good plaque. The Junction Lock now has two, the latest one marking the historical landmark status it got in 2022.

According to the plaque, boats used the canal from 1833 to 1914 with the Junction Lock being built in 1845. Most historians cite 1908 as the last time a boat went through the canal. Sometimes you have to accept a certain level of disagreement among scholars. (Google Maps)


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3. Junction Lock Displays: The Junction Lock currently has six large displays around it's perimeter explaining the history of the Feeder Canal and the role it played in the surrounding community. They're very well done and it's clear a lot of time and effort went into making them. (Google Maps)






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4. Start of the Feeder Canal:: The channel near the Junction Lock is filled in but across the street, Feeder Rd. continues along it's route. If you travel up the road 200 meters you can see the the channel starting to develop on the right side of the road. The Feeder Canal can be seen in the forest just ahead but keep in mind if you want to see the canal there are endless other opportunities along it's route. (Google Maps)




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5. Just west of Wainfleet: Wainfleet developed as a small town called "Marshville" on the banks of the Feeder Canal. Wainfleet has done a lot of work restoring the canal so it's possible to see what the Feeder Canal looked like in its glory days. Its easy to imagine small ships and barges using it today. (Google Maps)





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6. Stromness: Like Wainfleet, Stromness developed as a small village along the canal, this time where the Feeder Canal turned north toward Dunnville and where the canal was later extended west toward Lake Erie at Port Maitland.

All three channels still meet forming a small triangular turning basin at this point. If you are interested the original towpath still exists on the west side of the turning basin.(Google Maps)



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7. Port Maitland Lock: Several years ago a group of local residents decided to clean up and restore the Port Maitland Lock to its original condition. The results were remarkable although its difficult to escape the remoteness of this location. Keep in mind that visiting the site is showing appreciation for their efforts. (Google Maps)





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8. Port Maitland Lock Signage: A sign and display kiosk are available nearby to provide information about the Port Maitland lock. The most noteworthy item on the sign is an open invitation to contact local author and historian William Warnick if you have any questions. Possibly the only historical landmark in Canada with technical support. ac.ocegoc|kcinraww#ac.ocegoc|kcinraww or (905) 549-6086. (Google Maps)




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9. Toward Dunnville: If you continue back to Stromness you can now head north to Dunnville along North Shore Dr. The highway actually crosses the Feeder Canal four times so be prepared to see the canal on either side of the road.

About 1.5 km from the end of the historic Feeder Canal, you'll come to the end of the channel on your left side. The rest of the channel is filled in but you can still go Dunnville and see the dam and where the Feeder Canal officially started. (Google Maps)


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10. Dunville: Dunville's a nice to visit and has a slight touristy feel similiar to Port Dalhousie or Port Colborne. Concerning the canal, a dam still crosses the river creating an upper and lower section in the river. The canal with it's associated lock, raceways and mills have been cleaned up at this point. Their approximate location pictured on the right were just east of the dam on the north shore of the river. (Google Maps)




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