News & Events

SUMMER EVENTS 2026

ALERT – A decision has been made as of August 5, 2026 to close Short Hills Provincial Park entirely. 

There is significant damage in the park due to the recent weather. Staff will be assesing the damage, developing a plan and begin cleanup and repairs. 

There is no timeline for the opening , updates will be made available on the parks Alert Page. https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/shorthills/alerts

General Meeting and Potluck BBQ – Wednesday, July 8, 2026 – 6:00pm Camp Wetaskiwin As in the past, this is a low waste event – please bring your own cutlery, plates and cup as well as a dish to share. The Friends will provide burgers and if you prefer a meatless option – please let us know when you register. Please confirm your attendance via shorthillspark@gmail.com by Saturday, July 4th. This year apart from a general meeting we will be having more of a social event with the option to stroll the grounds of the scout camp.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Summer Bird Hikes – Our fearless birder, Brad will continues his popular bird hikes this summer, with July 5 as the next date. To learn more and register – go to: https://eventbrite.ca

Trail Work Days – NEW DATE! Saturday June 13. Meet at 8:30am at the Short Hills maintenance building at 2884 First street Louth. For more information please email lumdig58@gmail.com

Thanks to the St. Catharines Game and Fish Association for their generous donation of $3000 to the Friends! We are looking into doing some stream restoration work on the Twelve with these monies.

Trail Alerts– To protect Niagara’s trails and surrounding ecosystems—including the Laura Secord Trail, Twelve Mile Creek trails, and Short Hills Provincial Park—please follow these guidelines:

Stay on marked trails. Do not cut corners or create new paths. Do not use muddy trails – clay-based trails are easily damaged when wet.

Using muddy trails causes: Trail widening as users go around mud, damaging nearby ecosystems. Deep footprints and tire ruts that hold water, slow drying, and increase erosion. Hardened, uneven surfaces when trails dry or freeze, creating safety hazards. Greater spread of invasive plant species from seeds carried on footwear and tires. Your cooperation helps keep trails safe, sustainable, and enjoyable for everyone. Thank you.

Over summer 2025 staff at Ontario Parks have re-routed and closed some of the trails in the park. Check this site for the updated trails, primarily Terrace Creek and the amalgamation of the Scarlet Tanager and Hemlock Valley.

Volunteer at the Park

Some of our events require a volunteer agreement be completed. At larger events these agreements (eg. trash bash) will be available from the park staff. For smaller events (eg. trail maintenance) we’ll likely be on our own and want to have the volunteer agreements in place before starting. Please download the volunteer form, fill it out and return to our membership chair Ryan Haanappel – haanappel@gmail.com.