There are several hiking-only trails in the Grand River Watershed. These trails offer a great opportunity to get off the beaten track and commune with nature.

The Grand Valley Trail Association

The Grand Valley Trail is a long-distance hiking trail which follows the Grand River from Belwood to Port Maitland on Lake Erie.  The trail is maintained by volunteer members of the Grand Valley Trail Association. Consult the GVTA Website for information on trail closures and re-routes and to find out about guided hikes led by Hike Ontario certified leaders. The website includes details on excellent self-guided hikes or you can purchase a detailed guidebook to all 250 km of the trail.

Hiking the Grand Valley Trail

The Guelph Hiking Trail Club

The Guelph Hiking Trail Club maintains two hiking trails within the Grand River watershed. The Speed River Trail is a 15 km hiking trail that follows the Speed River, the Grand River’s largest tributary, between Cambridge and Guelph. In Guelph, the trail continues as the Guelph Radial Line Trail, along an abandoned rail line. The Trail is shared with bicycles until Wellington Rd 29, where it becomes hiking only. It eventually connects with the Bruce Trail near Limestone.

The Starkey Hill Loop Trail is a 4 km hiking loop within the Starkey Hill Conservation Area East of Guelph.

Consult the Guelph Hiking Trail Club website for more information and to obtain their on-line maps and hiking guide. The club also offers guided hikes.

The Speed River, seen from the Speed River Trail

The Avon Trail

The Avon Trail is a 130 km hiking trail that runs from Conestogo in the Grand River watershed, to St Marys, on the Thames River. The club maintains the trail and runs guided “rambles”. Consult the Avon Trail website for more information and to access interactive maps.

Fall Colours on the Avon Trail