The development of and the maintenance of a footpath by a volunteer organization is always a work in progress. Changes to the trail(s) do happen between Guidebook publication dates. This summary of various changes (below) is designed as a supplement to the 2006 GVTA Guidebook.
If you notice any error or omission in this Trail and Road Name Changes summary or in the existing GVTA Guidebook (6th edition) , please let us know. If you are a member, you may call the appropriate Trail Director with the details (see newsletter for contact information). Alternatively, you may report by e-mailing GVTA at or leaving your name, telephone number and reason for your call at the GVTA Voicemail 519-576-6156. Thank you.
Map 01 > Reroute of main trail at Port Maitland (effective May 2009) - The starting point of the Grand Valley Trail has changed. Now the main trail starts at the Haldimand County boat launch on Feeder Canal Road near the junction of the Feeder Canal with the Grand River. This location is about 0.6 km south west of the junction of Feeder Canal Road and Siddall Road. This shortens the main trail by 3.2 km. The former main trail leading into Rock Point Provincial Park will be blue blazed and known as the Rock Point Side Trail. For details see PDF. 
View or download map and Google Earth image (~1.7 MB B, two pages).
Map 03 > Reroute of main trail at Ruthven Park National Historic Site (effective July 2008) - This reroute starts on Haldimand Hwy 54 opposite the main entrance to the Ruthven Park National Historic Site. It removes about 400 m from Haldimand Hwy 54 and results in a net gain of 2.2 km after it loops through the Ruthven Park National Historic Site land and onto a portion of the old towpath behind the Gingerbread House Restaurant & Country Inn before reaching Haldimand Hwy 54 again opposite Indiana Road. View or download trail description and map (~ 72 kB, two pages)
Map 07 > Reroute of main trail near Wilkes Dam, Brantford (effective February 2010) - At Wilkes Dam, this reroute follows the existing water intake canal trail. At the point where the water intake trail elevates to near dyke level (about km 41.1), cross the dyke and descend on the existing graded ramp to the river floodplain and rejoin the Grand Valley Trail. No map at this time - follow revised (new) blazes. Purpose: To bypass an environmentally sensitive area on the Grand River (Bald Eagle nesting site) at approximately Wilkes Dam (km 40.6).
Maps 07-08 > Winter Warning/Alternate Route - Due to the steep slopes off to the Grand River and potentially icy conditions the GVTA strongly recommends that hikers remain off the trail between km 49.0 (where Blue Heron Side Trail joins the main trail) to km 55.1 (Curtis Ave, Paris). During the winter an alternate choice one may follow the Trans Canada Trail between km 44.9 to just before km 55.1.
Maps 08 > New Route Near Powerline Rd - Due to the steep slopes north of Powerline Road and erosion near km 51.8, the main trail has been moved closer to the S.C. Johnson Trail for about 1 km. The new route has been blazed and there will be no use of the lookouts shown on Map 08. (posted 2011MAY12).
MAP 09 > Seasonal Alert for March to June - Due to rains, ice build up and slow drainage parts of or all of the GVTA boardwalk referred in the third paragraph on the back of Map 9 may be under water - between the km 1.5 (Brant-Waterloo Rd) and km 3.7 (Beke Rd). A work crew is looking into a solution.
MAP 10 > Reroute of main trail at New Dundee Road (effective May 2008) - The main trail no longer follows New Dundee Road to Pinnacle Drive. At km 16.5 (Reichert Drive) the trail turns right onto the shoulder of New Dundee Road for about 125 m and turns left onto Robert Ferrie Drive. It proceeds to the traffic circle where it turns right onto Thomas Slee Drive and then left onto Monarch Wood Drive. The trail follows Monarch Wood Drive to its end and passes along a walkway to the right (east) of house # 55 (look for a black chain link fence). The trail passes through Topper Woods and exits on Forest Edge Trail (a residential street) opposite Windrush Park. It turns right along the sidewalk for a few metres and then turns left, crossing Autumn Ridge Trail (street) at a three-way stop. It follows the sidewalk of Windrush Trail (street) for about 120 m and turns right and up a slope into Pinnacle Hill Natural Area. The trail continues to Doon School. This reroute returns some on the main trail to two wooded areas where the trail used to be a few years ago prior to the urban development in the area. Note that construction in the area is ongoing. The original main route off of Autumn Ridge Trail (street) between house numbers 60 and 64 remains as a blue access route. View or download map (~ 60 kB, one page)
MAP 10 > Blue Access Trail (effective May 2008) - At approximately km 18.5, between house numbers 60 and 64, Autumn Ridge Trail (street), the former main trail has been kept as an access trail. The trail passes between the two houses, over a stile and up a gradual slope to the main trail and is about 100 m in length. See the reroute listed above for the change in the main trail. View or download map (~ 60 kB, one page)
MAP 10 > Reroute of main trail at Tube Park, Chicopee - After km 29.5 and as you approach the new Tube Park, the main trail has been rerouted slightly in the Tube Park area near Chicopee. Follow the Dom Cardillo Trail as before, go by the Chalet, turn left into the entrance of Tube Park parking lot following the blazes on the lamp posts, cross the parking lot, exit and turn left and then immediately right to rejoin the original main trail. No map.
MAP 10 > Reroute of main trail at Morrison Road, km 30.5 (effective May 2008) - In the Chicopee Ski Hill area, at about km 30.5, the trail no longer turns left along Morrison Road. Now it exits the south Chicopee parking lot, crosses Morrison Road and enters Morrison Park and follows a park path. It exits the park, eventually comes to a path through woods, follows the sidewalk on Manitoulin Crescent and then turns right onto Morrison Road. This reroute results in a net gain of about 1.6 km to the main trail. View or download map (~ 344 kB, one page). NOTE: At the time of this posting the City of Kitchener has closed the trail due to some erosion that should be repaired in the spring of 2008. Hike leaders are asked to check the area prior to leading a hike in this location and plan accordingly.
MAP 10 > Temporary reroute at Grand River Blvd about 0.5 km beyond Morrison Road near Chicopee (effective August 2011)
View or download map (~ 76 kB, one page) for details.
Map 10 >TRAIL CLOSED from km 33.0 to 35.8 effective 2010OCT01 - DOWNLOAD PDF MAP FOR THIS TEMPORARY REROUTE. "Fairway Road Extension and New Bridge Over The Grand River >> Construction is planned for 2010 to extend Fairway Road from Zeller Drive in Kitchener to Fountain Street and Kossuth Road in Cambridge. The new four lane road will have two lanes of traffic in each direction, bicycle lanes, and sidewalks on both sides. There will also be roundabouts placed at either end. In addition, a four-span bridge, with no piers in the water, will be built over the Grand River. It will feature scenic lookouts, custom architectural details, and connections to the Walter Bean Trail. Construction is expected to be completed in 2012 to the tune of approximately $54 million."... from The Region of Waterloo "Region NEWS", Winter 2009, page 5.
MAP 10 > Reroute of main trail at km 33.3, near the end Zeller Drive (effective May 2008) > TEMPORARILY CLOSED see notice above - Turning right onto Zeller Drive (opposite a Walter Bean Grand River Trail parking lot and access point) the trail descends to the end of Zeller Drive where it turns left onto a crushed stone trail, which is part of the Walter Bean Grand River Trail. About 50 m along the crushed stone path, the GVT veers right along a footpath in a wooded area closer to the river. This footpath continues for about 1.5 km until it reaches a large rock. Note that this footpath is prone to flooding in the early spring so the use of the Walter Bean Grand River Trail on your left may be required. View or download map (~ 300 kB, one page)
MAP 10 > Reroute of main trail at km 38.2, end of Ottawa Street allowance (effective May 2008) - At km 38.2 (end of the Ottawa Street road allowance) the trail crosses Otterbein Road instead of turning left along Otterbein Road. It crosses a green patch and turns left along a portion of the Walter Bean Trail which passes behind houses with trees on the river side, before returning to Otterbein Road. View or download map (~ 40 kB, one page)
MAP 11 > Trail change north of Victoria Street (effective Spring 2010) - At km 41.9 about 300 m after leaving Victoria Street. For details please refer to the text and map available here. View or download map (~ 0.6 MB, one page)
MAP 11 > Trail change at Snyder's Flats (effective Fall 2006) - This reroute adds about 0.38 km to the main trail. It is available in two formats: a) web [coloured map image, no text] and b) PDF (~ 100 kB, 2 pages, one coloured map) [recommended].
MAP 11 > Side trail closure at Snyder's Flats (2007) - The Preston Side Trail is closed until further notice. Blue blazes have been removed. This side trail has been closed at the request of the land owner due to some restoration activity in the gravel pit.
Map 12 > Covered Bridge Side Trail (May 2011) - In West Montrose this revised side trail has been lengthened to include a portion of the abandoned rail road north of West Montrose and west of the Grand River that is not currently a part of the Kissing Bridge Trailway due to the lack of a pedestrian bridge at the Grand River. Using a combination of this revised Covered Bridge Side Trail (blue balzes) and the main Grand Valley Trail (white balzes) provides a loop walk of about 4 km. The Kissing Bridge Trailway has an appointed Trailway Advisory Board and stewards that are in the process of raising money to make further improvements and build more bridges. The majority of work done by the Kissing Bridge Trail group is volunteer. - View or download map of revised Covered Bridge Side Trail (~ 76 kB, one page).
MAP 12 > Middlebrook Road Closure Notice (2010) - Be advised that the Township of Centre Wellington has closed a section of Middlebrook Road west of Elora Gorge C.A. effective Tuesday August 4, 2010. Construction is expected to last to the end of December. The closure is to facilitate extensive repairs to the bridge over Carroll Creek (43.647493,-80.47241), which is between 8th Line West (43.645358,-80.475396) and 3rd Line West (43.658408,-80.45742) - see Google Maps image of bridge work. Parking and access via the 3rd Line Access Trail (Map 12, km 6.5) will not be effected and can still be reached via Middlebrook Rd from Wellington Rd 7 and David Street. There will be road closure signs advising local traffic only, and detours will be provided for those approaching from Woolwich Township. [Andrew Costley, Trail Maintenance Director, Pinnacle Section]
MAP 12 > Reroute at Carroll Creek (effective 2010SEP15) - View or download map (~ 65 kB, one page)
MAP 13 > Reroute of main trail from Elora to Fergus (2009) - View or download map (~ 108 kB, two pages)
Updated 2011 AUGUST 12 FRIDAY
