Welland Vale Walking Tour

Here's a tour you can take if you want to walk around a bit. Parking is available at the corner of Welland Vale and Sawmill Rd and a small footpath can take you from Sawmill Rd up to the Welland Ave Bridge.

Click on the map to jump to a description and picture for each item.

1.

Welland Vale: The Welland Ave. bridge is a good place to get a look over the entire valley. The channel of the First Welland Canal can be seen on the right (west) side of the valley trailing toward the second Welland Canal at the far end of the valley. Return to Top

2.

Factory Building: Ever since William Merritt operated a mill here in the early 1800's, Welland Vale has always been associated with industry. The buildings in Welland Vale are much more recent than the canals, the oldest being built in the 1930's. Return to Top

3.

12-Mile Creek: The following shot is also from the Welland Ave Bridge. It shows the 12-mile Creek going down the channel of the Second Welland Canal. You may wonder how boats could ever sail against all this water? The water volume today is actually about 100 times what it was when the canal was in use. It's coming from the DeCew Hydro generating station 5 km upstream. Return to Top

4.

Welland Vale Road: Welland Vale road entering the valley just before it turns unto the bridge and into Welland Vale. Return to Top

5.

Lock 2 - Second Welland Canal: You can still see one of the walls of Lock 2 on the southwest side of the channel. The far side of the channel was removed to improve water flow. Return to Top

6.

Lock 2 - Second Welland Canal: Another shot, this one showing the water leaving downstream. Return to Top

7.

Channel of the First Welland Canal I: It's amazing how distinct the channel of the first canal is here. After 180 years it still remains straight with defined edges. This shot looks toward the Welland Ave. Bridge. Return to Top

8.

Channel of the First Welland Canal II: Looking toward 12-mile Creek, water from the creek fills the old channel making it look much more visible. Return to Top

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