Elora to Fergus Bike Ride

13 KM — Approximately 1 hour round trip by bike

Optional Extension to Belwood Lake

15 KM return to Belwood Lake — 1 hour by bike

START: Metcalfe St and High St Public Parking, Elora

Explore two fantastic rail trails: the Elora Cataract Trailway and the Trestle Bridge Trail between Elora and Fergus. If you are feeling energetic, take the optional extension to Belwood Lake, crossing the gigantic Shand Dam, for a spectacular view of Belwood Lake and the Grand River. Have a picnic and a swim at Belwood Lake or stop for lunch in Fergus. After lunch, ride back to Elora and explore the unique shops. Finish your day with a delicious dinner at one of the excellent restaurants in Elora.

Mainly on multi-use trails, short on-road sections, very short sections on busy roads.

Link to Interactive Map of Elora to Fergus Bike Ride

The instructions for this ride start at the public parking lot at Metcalfe St and High St (1) in Elora. Alternatively you could start in Fergus, at the parking lot (8) beside the Fergus Marketplace, or at the boat launch (19) in Belwood Lake Conservation Area (day use fees, public washrooms at boat launch).

Elora to Fergus Bike Ride

Exit the Metcalfe St parking lot in Elora at the back and turn R onto Clyde St. Immediately turn R onto Water St E and then L onto High St. Continue for 2 blocks to Nichol St and turn L. At the bend in the road, turn R onto the multi-use trail on Waterloo St. The Trestle Bridge Trail (2) starts at the end of Waterloo St. Turn L and follow the trail, crossing Gilkison St and S River Rd. Soon thereafter, you cross the Grand River. Stop to take a few photos from the bridge (3).

A short distance later, you will cross a pedestrian bridge over Wellington Rd 18, followed by a trail to your L. This leads to the Wellington County Museum and Archives (4), housed in a former “House of Industry and Refuge”, otherwise known as the “Poor House”. This is well worth a visit if you have time. Otherwise, continue to the end of the trail at Beatty Line. Turn L onto Beatty Line and then R onto the next street, St George St W, which is a gravel road for 1 block. Continue on St George St W to Tower St W. Turn R at St Andrews Presbyterian Church (5). Stop at the small park on your R and notice the large stone in the middle of the park. This is the Kissing Stane (6). Legend has it that this was the one spot in town where Victorian locals were permitted to show each other affection. Be that as it may, sitting on the stone and kissing your beau is supposed to bring good luck, which you can cement by adding your padlock to the nearby metal sculpture, and putting the key in the box below.

Continue down Tower St W and cross the Tower St Bridge (7), which offers great views of the Grand River gorge. Look back up Tower St, which is dominated by St Andrews Church. After the bridge, turn L onto Queen St W. Turn L just before the Fergus Marketplace (8). Spend some time browsing the shops in the marketplace. (The adjacent parking lot serves as an alternate starting point for this tour.) Cross the river again by the adjacent pedestrian bridge (9) which offers views of the steep limestone banks of the river and of downtown Fergus. Turn L and explore the Templin Gardens (10), built into the limestone gorge. Then turn around and walk your bike up the edge of the river, pausing to enjoy the views of the gorge as well as the gardens and sculptures, maintained by the Fergus and District Horticultural Society. Turn L at St David St N/Hwy 6 and walk on the sidewalk for the short distance to St Andrew St W, the main street in Fergus (11). Cross at the lights and turn L and ride up St Andrew St W to the next street, Provost Lane, and turn R. (Or park your bike and explore the shops along St Andrew St, and stop for lunch).

Ride up Provost Lane. (If you are planning to go to Belwood Lake, continue for 2 blocks and turn R onto St George St W (16).) Otherwise continue up Provost Lane to Hill St E. Turn L and continue to the end of Hill St W, which runs into the Elora Cataract Trailway (12). Continue on the trailway back to Elora, where it ends at Church St E and Kertland St. Continue along Church St, past Knox Presbyterian Church (13), in the middle of Church Square.

Continue on Church St E to Metcalfe St, and jog L and then R onto Church St W, taking care crossing this busy road. Turn L onto Price St and then L onto Mill St, at the Elora Mill. Before browsing the shops along Mill St W, cross to the middle of the pedestrian bridge (14) on your R and take photographs of the Grand River and the limestone buildings lining the riverbank.

Pause in Elora for a snack, homemade ice cream or a gourmet meal, from one of many restaurants along Mill St and Metcalfe St.

To return to your car, from the corner of Mill St and Metcalfe St, head south. Cross the Metcalfe St bridge (15) (more great photos!). The parking lot is on your left at High St.

Optional Extension from Fergus to Belwood Lake

15 km return — 1 hour by bike

To continue to Belwood Lake, from Provost Lane and St George St W (16), proceed E on St George St W. Cross St David St N/Hwy 6 with care, as it is a busy road. Continue up St George St E to Herrick St. Turn L onto Herrick St, which turns into Gzowski St. The Fergus to Belwood Lake (17) section of the Elora Cataract Trailway starts on your R, just after you cross Forfar St E. Continue on the trailway for 5.3 km, through farmland and small woodlots, to the Shand Dam (18). Take some pictures of the Grand River gorge, just below the enormous dam, and of Belwood Lake behind the dam. The Shand Dam was the first of many dams built on the Grand River to prevent devastating floods along the Grand River downstream. The dam was completed in 1942, during the 2nd World War. In the process, most of the little village of Belwood was submerged under the reservoir that formed Belwood Lake. Continue along the trailway to Belwood Lake Conservation Area (19). Relax with a picnic and go for a swim in the spring fed quarry pool .

To return, retrace your steps along the Elora Cataract Trailway to Gzowski St, back in Fergus Turn L and go down the hill to Hill St E. Continue on Hill St, taking care crossing St David St N/Hwy 6, to the end of the road, just past Beatty Line, where it runs into the Fergus to Elora Section (12) of the Elora Cataract Trailway. Follow the instructions as above, for the Elora to Fergus Bike Ride.

Grand River, Elora

Grand River, Fergus