Welcome to Hamilton and say cheese!
Discover some of the city's best views and capture the moment with our selfie stations, set up to help you take your best shot.
Don't forget to share by using the hashtag #HamOntViews for a chance to be featured.
Pier 8 – Copps Pier Park
Welcome to Hamilton's Pier 8 and the Copps Pier Park. You're standing on a promenade designed to honour Hamilton's unique industrial roots and fascinating waterfront.
Copps Pier Park is named after the Copps family and their decades-long commitment to improving the water quality and public access to the waterfront. The nearby yellow Gantry Crane and the Copps Pier Park sign were inspired by the city's pride in its industrial steel-making heritage and constructed from the same material.
Hamilton Harbour is one of the hardest-working harbours in North America. It was once the pristine fishery for the Iroquoian-speaking First Nations who called the bay "Macassa" or beautiful waters. It was later known as Burlington Bay before becoming the engine that powered the area's industrial transformation. It is located on the western tip of Lake Ontario and bounded by Hamilton to the south and Burlington to the north.
In addition to the iconic Skyway Bridge and working factories, you'll find Parks Canada’s docked HMCS Haida, nearby. This National Historic Site was a WWII tribal class destroyer since turned museum ship.
For more on this destination visit our West Harbour Guide.
Pier 8 – Hamilton Waterfront Trust
Welcome to Hamilton's popular Pier 8, packed with great views and loads of fun.
Look out onto the bay, located at the western tip of Lake Ontario and enjoy the peaceful views. Watch the sailboats sail past along with an occasional ship – all part of Hamilton's hard-working harbour.
If you're lucky, Hamilton's iconic Theodore Tugboat – based on the much-loved Canadian TV show – will be docked nearby when you visit.
Behind you, you'll find an outdoor waterfront skating rink – complete with skate rentals as well as Williams
Nearby Williams Fresh Cafe offers indoor and patio seating and a fresh, casual menu with some of the best waterfront views of the city. Save room for ice cream from Hamilton Waterfront Scoops.
For more on this destination visit our West Harbour Guide.
Devil’s Punchbowl Conservation Area
Welcome to Devil's Punchbowl Conservation Area, one of the city's most fascinating geological sites. If you're lucky, you'll catch the waterfall flowing. If you're visiting during a dryer season, it may have ebbed to a trickle. But regardless of flow, Devil's Punchbowl is always worth a visit.
This unique site emerged at the end of the last ice age when huge meltwater rivers plunged over the Niagara Escarpment, carving out the punchbowl or gorge below. The many layers of rock reveal tens of thousands of years of the Earth's history.
From here, you can take in spectacular views of Stoney Creek and Hamilton Harbour, and on a clear day, you can even catch a glimpse of the Toronto skyline. If you're wondering about the 10-metre-high steel cross, it was constructed in 1966 by a local resident to "bring light to the community."
Christie Lake Conservation Area
Welcome to Christie Lake Conservation Area, one of the most beautiful lake settings on the Niagara Escarpment.
Explore 10 kilometres of trails that wind through meadows and past towering pines. Rent a canoe and paddle across Christie Lake and don't forget to bring your fishing rod. The kids will love the sandy beach and great swimming. An 18-hole championship disc golf course is free to use with park entry.
If visiting in the winter, the conservation area's recreational trails are accessible by foot, snowshoes, or cross-country skis.