Niagara River near Niagara falls. (Wikimedia Commons/Ad Meskens/HO)

NIAGARA FALLS, ONT. - Five people were rescued from the Niagara Gorge as emergency personnel were called to the area twice in as many nights during the long weekend, according to Niagara Parks Police.

The most recent rescue was Sunday when three young adults became stranded in the area of Hubbard Point at around 10 p.m.

One man was able to extricate himself from the gorge and call 911. The second had to be raised from the gorge by the Niagara Falls fire department using an aerial ladder. The third was helped out by members of the parks police's high-angle river team.

All three men were charged with trespassing for climbing over the retaining wall in a posted no-trespassing area. Police did not release their names.

Traffic was temporarily rerouted on River Rd. during the rescue, which concluded at around 11:30 p.m.

The first rescue was Saturday in the Niagara Glen when two visitors from the Toronto area called 911 around 8:30 p.m. after becoming stranded in the dark.

The two were out for a late afternoon hike and were without flashlights when the sun went down.

They were located and escorted out by members of the parks police's high-angle river team at 9:45 p.m.

"In both cases we were glad they called," Niagara Parks Police Const. John Gayder said. "They knew it was too dangerous to press on so they contacted 911. We told them to stay where they were so they could avoid injury and not exhaust themselves."

ray.spiteri@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @RaySpiteri