The Kitchener-Waterloo region has a number of great recreational trails.
Kitchener
Kitchener offers over 100 kilometres of community trails throughout the City that are well-marked and groomed stone dust trails. Maps of the trail & Transit system are $2 each. Get maps at
- Kitchener Community Services, 7th floor of City Hall
- Transit Terminal on Charles Street, Kitchener
- Forwell Variety at King St. & University Ave, Waterloo
- U of W Federation of Students, Waterloo
- Fairview Mall information kiosk
- Conestoga Mall information kiosk
Walter Bean Grand River Trail
http://www.sju.ca/grt/heritage.asp
Begun in 1999, the trail along the Grand River provides year-round recreation, with 76 kilometres when fully completed (41 kilometres already finished). Running through Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Woolwich and North Dumfries, the trail provides easy access to more than 25 per cent of the meandering Grand River’s 290 kilometre length. 519-831-4104
Waterloo
City of Waterloo trails take you through Uptown Waterloo, parkland, natural areas, woodlands and creek corridors. Begun in 1990, trails rum over 120 kilometres, with some multi-use trails for hiking, jogging , cycling and roller blading; bike routes on City streets, and low-impact (crushed stone, bark mulch) trails for foot traffic only. <– http://www.city.waterloo.on.ca/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=826 –>
Bechtel Park Trail
This 3 km bark mulch trail through a woodlot in Bechtel Park (off Bridge St, south of University Avenue East) with a leash-free dog zone.
Forwell Trail
A 1 km asphalt and stonedust trail from King Street North (near the Conestoga Parkway) to Lexington Road, generally flat, and runs along the rushing Forweel Creek.
Hillside Trail
This 3 km stonedust and paved trail runs from Lexington Road through Hillside Park and ends at either University Avenue West& Carter Avenue or to the north close to the Conestoga Parkway.
Iron Horse Trail
A 5.5 km paved trail Between Waterloo Park (Erb Street West), Waterloo and Victoria Park in Kitchener along a former railway corridor, and is very popular with rollerbladers. Part of the Trans Canada Trail
Laurel Creek Conservation Area
Laurel Creek Conservation Area covers 294 hectares, has a small lake popular for swimming, windsurfing and hiking May to October, with 8 kilometres of mixed stone dust and asphalt trails groomed for cross-country skiing. Many places to rest and find food and drink along the route, with public washrooms in Waterloo Park
RIM Park Trails
7 km of generally level asphalt trails within RIM Park (2001 University Avenue) along Critter Creek, and connecting to the Walter Bean Trail. Popular for walking, cycling and rollerblading.
Walter Bean Trail
When completed, this trail will be 76 kilometres in length and run close to the Grand River from Cambridge, through Kitchener, Waterloo and Woolwich. Parking near the Martin Farmstead in RIM Park, with several restaurants along the way.
West Side Trails
Known as Forested Hills, 12 km of trails wind through woodland and wetlands with rare plants, migratory birds and a variety of wildlife. Trails are stonedust and bark mulch, with some steep &challenging slopes
Cambridge
The Walter Bean Grand River Trail
http://www.sju.ca/grt/heritage.asp
The Walter Bean Grand River Trail will run some 78 kilometers in the proximity of the Grand River and connect to the existing Cambridge-to-Hamilton trail system as one continuous pathway, with 19 access points along the Trail. See http://www.city.cambridge.on.ca/relatedDocs/TRAILS_MAP_BROCHURE.pdf
Grand Trunk Trail
A trail along a former railway bed, following the southwest bank of the Grand River, passing byt the Davidson Quarry, and connecting Blair to Galt
Devil’s Creek Trail
A scenic trail from Mova Rouse Parkette toward Victoria Par k and Cedar Street, on the west bank of the Grand River
Galt Woodland Park Trail
A 1 km trail south of the dam at Jacob’s Landing, in Hespeller
Linear Trail
This trail in Linear Park, where the Speed River flows into the Grand River, on the west side of Preston
Living Levee Trail
Along both banks of the Grand River through the center of Galt
Mill Creek Trail
From the Grand River through Soper Park along Mill Creek
Guelph
Guelph currently features over 1000 hectares of parks and open space, with over 70 km of trails and paths.
For an informal discussion see: http://guelphtrails.blogspot.com/
Arboretum
There are several walking trails at The Arboretum, at the University of Guelph.
CNR Spurline Trail
This 1.6 km trail run as along an abandoned rail line, and connects from the Downtown Trail and winds through Exhibition Park to Duffering Street. It is popular with cyclists and walkers.
Downtown Trail
This 3.6 km trail runs along the Speed River between Speedvale Ave and Gordon Street (near the covered bridge), alongside a not-busy rail line
Eramosa River Trail
4 km stone dust trail follows the morth side of the Eramosa River from the Downtown Trail (at Gordon Street, Covered Bridge) to Victoria Rd and then along the south side of the Eramosa River to Stone Road, across from the Barber Scout Camp
Guelph Lake
This trail along the south side of the Speed River extends past the Guelph Lake dam and is popular with hikers and cyclists. South of Victoria Rd N, connects to the Speed River Trail.
Hanlon Creek Trail
3 km crushed stone trail from the Silvercreek trail to Preservation Park, south of Kortright, with some paved portions. Preservation Park, is a 27 hectare bike free area of looping trails through forest and wetlands.
Guelph Lake Conservation Area
stone dust rails starting on Victoria Road North at the end of the Speed River Trail
Kissing Bridge Trailway
A 45 km multi-use trail running from Guelph (at Edinburgh Road North& Woodlawn Road) to Millbank along an abandoned rail line.
Silvercreek Trail
4.9 km crush stone route from the Downtown Trail (at Gordon Street, Covered Bridge)winding through residential areas to the Hanlon Creek Trail, across from the Stone Road Mall
Speed River – Niska Road Trail
3.4 km from the Downtown trail to the Guelph Lake trail. This trail through evergreen forest runs along the west side of the Speed River floodplain in Guelph, from Niska Road (parking) over to Fife Road, and is popular for cycling and dog walking, though can be wet/flooded in Spring. The Riverside Park portion is crushed stone.
Starkey Hill Trail
A 4 km walking trail through wetland and hardwood and coniferous. Forests, with some hills. South of Arkell Rd, east of Watson Rd S. Trail to the top of the highest hill in Puslinch gives panoramic views toward the Church of Our Lady.
Elora
Elora Cataract Trail
This 47 km trail follows the route of the 1879 Credit Valley Railway, abandoned in 1993.