The Grand River runs from Dundalk to Lake Erie, through the heart of Southern Ontario. The Grand Trail consists of a network of publicly maintained trails, connected by roads when necessary. It includes the Grand River itself as a water trail from Belwood Lake to Lake Erie.

In addition, the Grand Trail connects directly with other long-distance trails, such as the Trans Canada Trail, and the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. A number of regional trails cross the Grand River Watershed, linking the Grand Trail with the Waterfront Trail at multiple points, creating numerous multi-day cycling loops.

Trans Canada Trail and Brock’s Route Signs

Canada's iconic Trans Canada Trail traverses Canada from the Atlantic to Pacific and to the Arctic Ocean and includes its own water trail. It passes through the Grand River Watershed from Belwood Lake to Brantford, including a side trail to Guelph. Another side trail follows the Grand River from Caledonia to Dunnville, on its way to Niagara Falls. Click here for a map of the Trans Canada Trail in the Grand River Watershed.

The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail is a long-distance route from the Quebec border to Thunder Bay. The Grand Trail directly connects directly to the Waterfront Trail in Port Maitland and Dunnville where the Grand River flows into Lake Erie.

There are also several trails that run between the Waterfront Trail and the Great Lakes. The CP Rail Trail links the start of the Grand Trail in Dundalk to the Waterfront Trail in Owen Sound on Georgian Bay. The Chippewa Trail is another trail on an abandoned rail line, running from just outside Caledonia, down the Niagara Escarpment to Caledonia.

.Multiple trails connect the city of Brantford to the Great Lakes. The Brantford to Hamilton Rail Trail follows an old railway line to Hamilton, while the T H & B Rail Trail and the L E and N Rail Trail run from Brantford to Port Dover on Lake Erie. Together these two trails form Brock’s Route, which follows the route that General Sir Isaac Brock took between Hamilton to Port Dover in the War of 1812, defending Canada from a US invasion.

The Kissing Bridge, West Montrose

The G2G or Guelph to Goderich Rail Trail is a another long distance multi-use trail which connects the Grand River Watershed to the Waterfront Trail. This trail runs between Guelph and Goderich on Lake Huron.  Within the Grand River watershed, it is called the Kissing Bridge Trail, and is maintained by the Guelph Hiking Club. The G2G crosses the Grand River in West Montrose via Ontario’s last remaining covered bridge. 

The Elora Cataract Trailway is a multi-use rail trail which links the Grand River and Credit River watersheds.  It connects the town of Elora, on the Grand River, to Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, where it meets the Bruce Trail. The Grand Trail and the TCT take the Elora Cataract Trailway from Belwood to Elora.

Elora Cataract Trailway

The Iron Horse Trail is a well-used urban rail trail within Waterloo and Kitchener. Cyclists share the trail with dog walkers, joggers and parents with strollers.

Between Cambridge and Brantford, the Grand Trail follows 3 beautiful rail trails that afford spectacular views of the Grand River.

From the historic village of Blair, the Grand Trunk Trail leads into downtown Cambridge.  From the south end of Cambridge, the Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail follows the river from Cambridge to Paris.  After a short, quiet on-road section, the Grand Trail continues on the SC Johnson Trail, which continues downstream into the centre of Brantford. 

Iron Horse Trail Sign

The SC Johnson Trail