Grand River Bike Loop in Brantford

With Optional Extension to Paris

15 km round trip — 1 hour by bike

Optional 20 km return trip to Paris — 1½ hours by bike

Ride the beautiful SC Johnson Bike Trail along the East side of the Grand River. If you are feeling energetic you can ride add another 20 km and ride all the way to Paris (Ontario, not the other one!) and back. Cross a spectacular pedestrian bridge for a birds-eye view of paddlers below. Return along the opposite side of the river.

This ride is almost entirely on multi-use trails with short connecting sections on paved roads.

PARK: Parking is available in downtown Brantford, behind the Brantford and District Civic Centre (1), where the tour description starts.  There is also parking available on the SC Johnson Trail at Hardy Road (2), at Powerline Rd (3) and at the end of the trail at Portland St (4), in Paris. 

Interactive Map of Brantford Loop and Paris Extension

Begin your bike ride on the SC Johnson Trail behind the Brantford and District Civic Centre (1).  Turn R and go upstream with the Grand River on your L.   After about 3.8 km the trail passes Waterworks Park.  If you are seeking some thrills, make a detour and spend some time navigating the challenges at the Rotary Bike Park (2), a free public mountain bike park.

Continue on the SC Johnson Trail for another 1.5 km to the Wilkes Dam.  The trail continues onto Dufferin Ave (paved road) for 200 m.  Then turn L back onto the multi-use trail.  In 550 m, a trail to the R leads to the Glenhyrst Art Gallery (6). (Make a reservation for afternoon tea at the Golden Teapot in the solarium).  Continue on the SC Johnson Trail for another 3.4 km to the Oak Hill Trail Bridge.  (Note that 150 m before the trail reaches Hardy Road, it takes a sharp turn to the left going down the hill.)  

If you are planning to ride the optional extension to Paris, follow the instructions below for the Paris Extension and continue north on the SC Johnson Trail to the historic town of Paris.

To continue on the Brantford Loop, to return to downtown Brantford, cross the Oak Hill Trail Bridge (7), which offers spectacular views of the Grand River.  

Follow the Oak Hill Trail, past the entrance to the Brant Park Conservation Area (8), which offers day use activities and overnight camping.  There is access to the Grand River for paddlers, both above and below the Wilkes Dam (which must be portaged).  Turn L onto Kerr-Shaver Terrace (paved road) and continue for 400 m.  Then turn L onto Oakhill Dr.  After 700 m, turn L onto the D’Aubigny Trail, which runs along the west bank of the Grand River to Ballantyne Dr (paved road with bike lanes).  Turn L, onto Ballantyne Dr. At Sherwood Dr, where the bike lanes run out, cross the road onto the Fordview Trail, which runs under Colborne St W.  Continue on the Fordview Trail for and then turn L onto the Plywood Patch Bridge.  Admire the murals painted on the plywood panels on the bridge and take some photographs of the views of the Grand River.   Turn L onto the Dike Trail and your starting point is in 100 m. 

There are numerous restaurants and pubs in downtown Brantford where you can relax and enjoy an evening after your bike ride.

Optional Extension to Paris

Additional 20 km return trip mainly on multi-use trails

Instead of turning L onto the Oak Hill Trail Bridge, turn R and continue on the SC Johnson Trail until it runs into Oak Park Dr (paved road).  After 500 m, turn L back onto the trail.  In 1.7 km, the trail passes a turnoff to the end of Fen Ridge Close.  To continue to Paris, follow the SC Johnson Trail, passing over Hwy 403 on a pedestrian bridge.  The trail ends at Curtis Ave (paved road) in Paris.  Continue on Curtis Ave, crossing Dundas St E at the lights.   Shortly afterwards, take the multi-use trail to the L and ride to Portland St (4), about 1 km.  If you continue on the trail from here, it connects with the trailhead of the Cambridge-to-Paris Rail Trail, another spectacular trail that runs beside the Grand River to the city of Cambridge. If you are feeling really energetic, you can Ride the Rail Trail from Paris to Cambridge for 20 km each way. Or do a Walking Tour of Paris and stop for lunch at one of the many restaurants in the historic centre of town.

After your visit to Paris, retrace your ride along the SC Johnson Trail back to the Oak Hill Trail Bridge (7).  Cross the bridge and follow instructions above, which take you back to downtown Brantford.  

View of SC Johnson Trail in Brantford (Courtesy of GRCA)