Drove by this pirate ship looking thing for years and now I decided to stop in and check it out. This isn't the type of place you come to without having other places to go after. Definitely not a 1 off trip, going to or from somewhere else is the trick to this place. La Grande Hermine is the official name to this ship, you can walk a short trail around the sides of the ship but not too much more to do or see here...

What a beautiful landmark and roadside attraction in the Niagara region. It is a great little ship with a pirate-like vibe to it and a bit of history behind it! In the winter, when the lake is really frozen, I have seen quite a few folks walk up to it to board it. I personally do NOT recommend this and I would use extreme caution when doing so as the ice is unstable, especially near the hull.

It saddens me that the masts on this ship have been taken down, because I grew up with this ship and I have a lot of fond memories of passing by this beauty and sometimes we’d stop and see it. Luckily I still have a photo I took of it back in March of 2020 in the dark, it does give off a very ghostly and haunted vibe in my opinion.

Amazing historical landmark, with a very interesting story on how it got here and why this was it's final stop. Site also has a beach, hotel, restaurant, and marina. The long rock wall that goes out a good distance on to the lake, is a fun and treacherous hike. Perfect place to stop when heading into, or coming out from Niagara Falls.

Fun to explore. It's full of birds and spiders. Can only view from land unless you own a floating device. Have to pay fees now to launch nearby, even for kayaks or paddleboards! That seems a rip off just launch small craft at the beach. Slowly the ship is disintegrating into the water. Good fishing and small Beach nearby. Can try walking from Beach across the large rocks that make the edge of the harbour to see the boat from other perspective but you can't get on board without a craft.

A very nice place to visit on the way to Niagara Falls from Toronto/GTA. Things that are good: - The pirate ship replica, pretty nice. - Optionally can go to a rock wall that goes into the Lake Ontario (not suitable for kids though) - A very nice view of Lake Ontario on a sunny day (we went in October). - Plenty of parking - Din’t try but there’s a boat renting agency that rents out launches or kayaks. It would be very good to have some better signage and guides to this place to get better publicity. It's more of a hidden place and we saw this by chance and like it very much.

I have driven past this location so many times and seen the tall ship masts from the QEW. Today I finally had to go take a look. Wow picture perfect and the place was empty. Had it all to myself for some great images from as many angles as possible without the public in the photos. Great location to visit with family and kids. Wildlife also along the beach.

the ship is not as imagined, the view is nice, and the lake is calm, but the ship need maintenance

It is nice quick site scene while going to Niagara or back to Toronto. Kids will like to see see a ship wreck and if you are storyteller you can tell a story around it. Nice place for few clicks. Max 15-30mins fun activity.

This is a must visit. A really nice experience. A lovely walk. Great picture spots. A good leg stretcher on the way to Niagara.

Take a quick stop at La Grande Hermine. There is also a small hiking trail next to the ship but don't expect a good view as it is next to the highway

It's a nice place to have a look. And there is a beautiful beach nearby.

Good place to visit! The sinking ship is so beautiful!

Off the road surprise spot we stopped by on our way home from Niagara.Unsure about parking since it seems to be owned by a marina company. Beach near by. Not accessible by wheel chair or walker for anyone who might be wondering.

You’ve probably spotted the gigantic abandoned ship that impressively rises out of the water while you've been driving along the QEW from Toronto to Niagara Falls. The rusting shipwreck, which closely resembles a pirate ship and floats only a few metres off the shoreline at the Jordan Harbour off Lake Ontario, is named La Grande. Tilting strongly to one side and measuring in at 140 feet (40 metres) in length, it’s a life-sized replica of the three-masted sailing vessel that famous explorer Jacques Cartier travelled on in the 1500s.

Finally I had a chance to visit the ship yesterday. What an amazing site! The harbour was frozen, so I was able to walk around and climb on. Climbing on the ship could be dangerous. The rusty, bare metal was slippery and the ship is inclined. Too bad that people insist of leaving their graffiti all over the place. Otherwise, is a nice place to close your eyes and imagine adventure!

Wonderful location to getaway from the city and enjoy a view! There is also a hidden beach to the side which made it an enjoyable experience to watch the waves. Would recommend for a break from the daily routine !

Ahoy!

A hidden gem that's not so hidden. You can see the masts from the highway. Nice little escape, plus a beach!

I've always wanted to see this up close!!! Not disappointed at all! This relik has been here in Lake Ontario all my life!! Great historic pit stop!

A perfect place to stop by and check out on the way to Niagara from the East. Or if you have a dinner plan at Lakehouse Restaurant, then you should add this place to your list. A perfect outing suggestion would be -> 1. Drive by “The painted ladies of Grimsby”, 2. then this shipwreck and 3. then dinner at Lakehouse Restaurant with a view.

Love the scenery a great place for the family.

Always great down there , nice place to enjoy yourself, walk down a little on the path past the boat and you come to a small beach area, its quiet surprising the highway right there. Bring a chair and enjoy the water.

The ship is gorgeous. I would love to be able to walk on it.

Nice site. You spend a good time here. Nice beach and small trail. Must visit if you are going niagara or back to GTA.

Beautiful place and sight to see

Makes for a dramatic backdrop, but the ship itself offers nothing more. There is a restaurant nearby and a small beach too. I stumbled on a mulberry bush which i rummaged through. Do not plan a special visit but if you are driving through the area it is a good spot to stop.

Fun little place to get out and stretch your legs. The boat is a replica of the old St. Lawrence river exploration ships. It was originally moved here to be a floating restaurant however the owner passed before becoming a reality. It was subject to arson and had its masts removed in 2019. If you like roadside oddities, this is a good stop.

A small treasure we found on the way to Hamilton while on the highway. It's a little hard to spot at first, due to the trees, and fencing that separated the highway from the main road. But it's worth stopping by to see this free to visit model of the historical ship. I'm baffled that this is just a replica of La Grande Hermine, too! It's just a few meters away from land, if you plan to approach by foot. The ship itself appears to be in a pretty old, rusted, and decaying state, and no longer has the masts or booms put up either. It's a little disappointing, but also due to being unmaintained, and letting nature have its way with the old model. Off-road parking is possible, and it isn't really busy at all throughout the day. We stayed for about 5-10 minutes to appreciate the ship and the view, before heading back on our way I personally would not come back to see La Grande Hermine again. But it is worth stopping to see for yourself if it is your first time - plus it's a good stopover to take a break and stretch your feet, too.

Fishing there. A great boat to see

The shipwreck looked stunning when the lake was frozen in the winter.

There is a small private beach just a short walk away where we had a lovely sunset picnic. The views were stunning. It is a lovely little spot. Sadly, though, the beach was quite littered.

We had an amazing day at the beach. You can not go on the boat...it is very dangerous!!! But it is beautiful to look at. It is so very interesting to the kids...they play pirate on the beach with sticks....it sure does bring out their imagination!!!!

Pretty nice little escape from sleepy quiet Ramada hotel. There is a sort of a beach as well. Trails are bad maintained though - watch your step!

We made a quick stop here to dip our feet in Lake Ontario. It had a decent beach but it was a bit hard to get to with narrow pathways overgrown with native vegetation and rocks to climb. The beach had nice sand but closer to the water it became very rocky. The boat itself was a sight to see.

It's a nice, quiet place to relax & kayaking. There also has a nice medieval cruise, but it's always busy ....

Nice little stop along the Highway. Great place to get out, stretch your legs and take some photos

Could be a little difficult to find on your own unless using maps to find your way off of the highway to find parking if you're new to the area. Anyways beautiful views, very friendly place and well maintained for / by the public. Good spot for a small hike if u wanted, canoeing, or you could enjoy the beach off to the side.

Our son has asked for months to check out this ship as we drive past on the QEW. This ship has sat here untouched for years. Who would have thought that it used to be a floating restaurant. Today we stopped in. The parking lot is gravel and at the end there's a No Trespassing sign. Despite the sign so many people are walking down the short path to view the ship. The city should do something with this area so more people can view it free of charge. You can also paddle to the ship and enjoy the views from the water.

(Translated by Google) It is still beautiful to see an imposing old boat on the edge of the shore, but having a beach on the edge of the highway is not that intriguing to visit. And the lake on this side is not the most beautiful that I have seen on my trip. (Original) C'est quand même beau de voir un vieux bateau imposant sur le bord de la rive, mais avoir une plage sur le bord de l'autoroute ce n'est pas si intriguant que cela à visiter. Et le lac de ce côté c'est pas le plus beau que j'ai vu dans mon voyage.

Worth a stop for sure if you're heading to Niagara or back. Shame that it was burned in 2003, but it's still an interesting ship/story

Good pictures today...

Why not stop on the way back from Niagara. Good thing is there's a Timmy's in the close distance. There's nothing much here other than a photo opp

Replica shipwreck been there about 30 odd years.

You know I like the view of Toronto across the lake

Really cool abandoned ship tourist attraction that can be seen just off the highway. Would be nice if they posted some history about it at the site though.

Pretty neat spot. Interesting and unique. Only negative is the garbage littered throughout the parking lot and trail.

Really cool site to see with not much historic value except that it was a boat someone turned into a restaurant but eventually it caught on fire somehow. However there ia a nice beach on the other side if the break wall, good photo op on the side of the highway and a nice place to relax

ever since I was a little boy I always loved trips to Niagara falls and seeing this boat. now my little guy gets to experience the same and hearing how excited her gets as we pass makes me happy

You've seen it from the QEW highway, now go for a visit! This is a fun stop on the way to Niagara or on the way to Toronto. There's a little stony beach with flat rocks perfect for skipping but the best part is seeing the shipwreck up close. There's ample parking nearby and this makes a great 10-15 minute stop. This ship is now a social hang-out for many birds. Many looked like cormorants. Also, look for some interesting fossils and rocks on the beach. On a clear day, you can see the Toronto skyline from across the Lake.

Good family time. The ship pull the memory back to the old movies and stories of pirate ships and ghost ships.

A nice place to explore. Has been quite busy this summer for such a small area.

It’s quite a surprise to see such a beautiful view in summer! The place is not big, but definitely worth to see in a sunny day!

We've always passed by this boat to and from niagara and always wanted to stop by! We finally found our way there and it was very nice and peaceful! There is an area you can walk out to and sit on the rocks and just enjoy the view. Definitely a great stop off when passing by!

Lovely paddle to the ship! We launched at the rowing school and paddled under the QEW to get to the inlet where the ship sits. It's calm and you can take your time to see all sides. Definitely a worthwhile trip! Highly recommend heading to the trestle Bridge after the ship.

Tear it down

The old ship is sigh of history last 100 years, bring so many unknown. Staying with you.

This place is a super cool little find on the drive between Hamilton and Niagara Falls. Well worth the mini adventure to find the path down to the water and the best viewing point.

This is an amazing spot to chill and watch the sunset. Very close to the highway too so it’s easily accessible and cannot miss.

Always worth a stop to check it out!

decent place to fish although I have heard u can catch big fish here

I recommend stopping by and taking a look at the ship before or after a trip to Niagara falls from Toronto. It won't take longer then 10 minutes, and it's well worth it.

It is a beautiful eerie site

It is super cool but just a stop, no information plaque or anything. Cannot access the boat without swimming in harbour water or taking your own boat across.

Found this hidden gem going towards the Niagara. Had no idea this place existed before that

Was great it was a bit hidden behind trees but we found it...wish there were docks to walk closer

Very awesome

It would be nice if they could clean up the area

Beautiful place, where you can relax

I'm 56 years old and passed this ship thousands of times in my travels. I finally made up my mind and stopped for pics. So very glad I finally did. My kids used to call it the pirate ship and knew we were almost at Niagara Falls.