Image

Self-guided hikes

The following walks have been prepared for you to enjoy close to home, without a leader or car shuttles. Many are wide trails suitable forwalking side-by-side and a few are narrow and meant to be walked in single file. In some cases, both wide and narrow parallel rails are in place. Choose your own hike according to location and distance. Enjoy your walks!

Please remember that the trails are created and maintained for pedestrian use only.It is essential that trail users respect the privacy and rights of landowners and adhere to the trail user's code.

For information on public transit routes, check here.

Iron Horse Trail

Hike Ranking: Up to 15 km out and back for the entire route, but choose your distance.

Level 1:easy, flat, fully paved and perfect for strollers or wheelchairs.

This trail is a paved urban trail linking Waterloo Park in Waterloo, Victoria Park and Rockway Gardens in Kitchener. Any of these locations have lots to see and are good for people of all ages to spend some pleasant time strolling around. On the trail, keep right and watch out for bikes! Forparking, trail descriptionand details on entering the trail at different points, check here.

Schneider Park (Kitchener) to Pioneers Memorial Tower (Waterloo) hike

Hike Ranking: up to 12 km out and back

Level 2: flat terrain, unpaved and with rough surfaces in places. Not suitable for strollers.

This is a pretty andvaried trail and runs beside the Grand River. It is mostly wooded and offers good views. For parking detailsand a more indepth description of the trail, check here.

Pioneers Memorial Tower to Fountain Street Hike

Hike Rating: 8 km out and back.

Level 1. Mostly level, unpaved trails with a couple of hills.

A varied walk with river views, bridges, open areas, interpretive displays, fields and a playground at the starting point. For directions to Pioneers Tower and a description of the hike, including points of interest, check here.

Stanley Park to Chicopee Hike

Hike Ranking: Up to 8 km out and back.

Level 1: mostly paved, some steep hills near Chicopee.

This walk takes you through parkland, along a tree-bordered power line section and along wooded sections. It offers great views across the city. For more details on the hike and parking, check here.

Forest Heights Loop Trails

Hike Rating:8-km loop.

Level 1: Mostly unpaved, undulating, hilly in places.

This is a loop hike through open parkland, playgrounds, ponds, and some hilly woodland. For parking information and a more detailed description of the hike, check here.

Otterbein to Woolner Trail

Hike Rating: 7.6 km out and back

Level 1: Wide, unpaved trails, mostly level but with a steep hill near the beginning.

A pretty route following the Grand River withvaried scenery includes woods, open areas, some housing. Mostly on or next to the Grand Valley Trail. For parking information and a more detailed description of the trail, check here.

Rim Park

Hike Rating: Up to 9 km out and back.

Level 1: Easy and level but for one short hill at the start, partly paved and partly stroller / wheelchair friendly.

This is a pretty, level walk through woodland and open areas close to the river, along the Walter Bean Trail. For parking and other details, check here.

Kolb Park to Riverbend via Bingemans

Hike Rating: Up to 12.8km out and back.

Level 1: Moderate terrain, hilly towards the Riverbend end. Smooth, unpaved surface.

A very pretty and varied route along the Grand River. For parking and other hike details, check here.

Kiwanis Park (Waterloo)

Hike Rating: Up to 4.8 km return

Level 1: Easy, level unpaved trails but for one hill at the start.

Pretty, varied walk along the Grand River through woodland, open areas and fields. For parking and a more detailed description of the hike, check here.

Preston to Hespeler (Cambridge)

Hike Rating: Up to 14km return.

Level 1: Level trails, mostly unpaved, rough surface in a few places

Pretty, varied walk through parkland, over bridges and through woodland alongside the Speed River. For parking information and other detailson the hike, check here.

Rare to Galt - Cambridge Loop Hike

Hike Rating: < 11km out and back.

Level 1: Mostly level with a couple of hills, partly paved.

The hike will follow paths with views of the Grand River, through parks and into historic central Galt, returning along mostly wooded riverside trails. You can also do an out and back along the same route. For parking information and hike details, check here.

Preston Linear Trail (Cambridge)

Hike Rating: Up to 7km out and back.

Level 1: Mostly level walk partly on unpaved, rough surface.

Pretty trail with excellent views along the Speed and Grand Rivers and their confluence. Great for birdwatching! Forparking information and hike details, check here.

Monarch Woods to Downtown Kitchener

Hike Rating: Up to 8km out and back.

Level 1: Mostly easy, level trails but for Monarch Woods which has undulating trails which are unpaved and not suitable for strollers.

Pretty woodland and park trails follow a stream to popular Victoria Park and downtown Kitchener. For parking details and more information on the hike, check here.

Blue Heron Trail

Hike Rating: 3.2 km return

Level 1: Mostly level single track packed dirt

The trail runs along the river and takes about one hour to complete. For parking details and more information on the hike, check here.

Oak Bank Farm Loop (Brantford-Paris area)

Hike Rating: 6 km loop trail

Level 1: Mostly level with a couple of slight hills, dirt single lane trail, with a compact granular return on S. C. Johnson trail.

The trail provides great views of the Grand River and returns on S. C. Johnson Trail. For parking details and more information on the hike, check here.

Highway 403 Loop (Brantford-Paris area)

Hike rating. 3.5 km loop trail.

Level 1: Mostly flat, single lane, compact dirt trail, well blazed.

Straight run to highway 403 and then around south of the highway and back along the blue trail which follows the Grand River. For parking details and more information on the hike, check here.

Waterworks Park Trail

Hike Rating: 6 km return

Level 1: Mostly single track packed dirt trail.

The trail follows the canal, into the woods and along the Grand River. For parking details and more information on the hike, check here.

West Cast Loop (Brantford-Paris area)

Hike rating: 5 km loop, around

Level 1: Mostly undulating with some small hills, single lane compact dirt trail, well blazed.

The trail follows Grand River south along the bank to a pine forest then turns left to go into more woods. For parking details and more information on the hike, check here.

Tutela Heights Trail (Brantford area)

Hike Rating: 4.9 km out and back

Level 1: Mostly level single track packed dirt

Starts in pine forest and follows along the banks of Grand River through woods, part way along a field and back into woods. For parking details and more information on the hike, check here.

Big Creek Run (betweenCaledonia and Brantford)

Hike Rating:6.6 km out and back

Level 1: Mostly level single track packed dirt

Starts following a ravine, then through the woods, across Mulligan Road through more woods and then follows Big Creek to Big Creek Road. For parking details and more information on the hike, check here.