Jordan Station: Escarpment, Hiking Trails and History

Jordan Station brings together cultural history and nature experiences: at the Lincoln Museum and Cultural Centre, exhibitions, a garden with native plants and an outdoor classroom meet the landscape of the Niagara Escarpment. The area also offers historic homes, trails and the Jordan Harbour Marina. As you plan your trip, consider which aspects of the area interest you most—whether you want to make time for history, spend time outdoors or focus your stay on the water.

Cultural History Around Jordan

The Lincoln Museum and Cultural Centre has several gallery spaces featuring both temporary and permanent exhibitions. A multipurpose room is used for public programs and events. The grounds also include an outdoor classroom for nature-based learning and seasonal programs. The adjoining garden is planted with native species and pollinator plants. The museum grounds border the Niagara Escarpment and connect directly to the Twenty Valley Trail. Exhibition spaces, a landscaped outdoor area and a hiking trail are therefore all found here, each offering a different kind of experience.

Another part of the area's history can be seen at the Jordan Schoolhouse, also known as School Section #4 (S.S. #4). For almost 90 years, it served as a one-room school for the children of Jordan. During its restoration, the building was designed to reflect a typical 1908 classroom. The Fry Family House is a two-storey log house built around 1815. Fry House is also a rare surviving example of Pennsylvania German Traditional Architecture in Canada. From June to August each year, it can be visited with a costumed interpreter or as part of a private tour. The Jordan Schoolhouse also offers both of these types of visits each year during those months.

The Haines Cemetery is also located on the museum grounds. Loyalist settlers and their families who came to Jordan between 1880 and 1900 are buried there. Nearby, Sho’aríshon Park commemorates the history of the Neutral Nation (Attawandaron), the first known inhabitants of what is now Lincoln. West of the museum lies Ellis Property, a protected 23-hectare landscape. These places offer different points of interest: the history of a school and homes, a cemetery and memorial site, and a protected landscape.

Forest Trails, Waterfalls and Marina

For time in nature, Louth Conservation Area provides access to the Bruce Trail and preserves part of the Niagara Escarpment. The trail there passes through the Escarpment's forest landscape and features two impressive waterfalls. The Twenty Valley Trail is different; it connects directly to the grounds of the Lincoln Museum and Cultural Centre. If you enjoy combining culture and outdoor activity during your stay, you can take these different trail and visitor interests into account when planning, without treating them as a single outing.

Jordan Harbour Marina also offers practical amenities for a boating-focused stay. It has a double-wide boat launch ramp, and boats can anchor in the sandy-bottomed basin. Facilities include washrooms, showers and laundry. Gasoline, diesel fuel and a sewage pump-out station are also available. These amenities are distinct from the trails and historic sites: they are most relevant to your travel plans if you are travelling by boat.

Choosing the Right Vacation Rental

If the Niagara Escarpment, forest and waterfalls are your main focus, take a look at the information about Louth Conservation Area and the Bruce Trail. If local history is of particular interest, the museum, schoolhouse and historic homes offer a range of subjects. The marina is a separate point of interest for boaters. Choose your accommodation based on the kind of trip you want, rather than treating all the attractions as one combined itinerary.

If you’d like to explore more destinations: Fort Erie, Thorold, Lincoln, Wainfleet, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Niagara-On-The-Lake and Port Colborne.

For the broader travel overview: Niagara Regional Municipality.