Guelph & Wellington County

Wellington County Trails – Find out more about Wellington County’s trails mentioned below on their interactive map at the link HERE

• Kissing Bridge Trail (Guelph to Goderich Trail/Trans Canada Trail) – This 45km multi-use stone dust trail forms part of both the Guelph to Goderich (G2G) rail trail and the Trans Canada Trail (TCT). The trail begins in Guelph city limits and travels 7km through Wellington County before reaching Waterloo Region, and continuing on to the West Montrose Covered Bridge (the namesake “Kissing Bridge”) and further on to Goderich. In addition to the West Montrose covered bridge, the trailway offers a number of attractions including picturesque farms, towns, villages and the beautiful rural landscape.
  • Click HERE for PDF map of the entire trail created in partnership between Wellington County, Waterloo Region and community stewardship groups.
• Elora Cataract Trail (Trans Canada Trail) – At approximately 47km in length, this stone dust trailway stretches from Elora to the community of Cataract and the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park in Caledon, passing through picturesque countryside and the communities of Fergus, Belwood and Belwood Lake, Hillsburgh and Erin.
• Cottontail Road Trail (Trans Canada Trail) – This 16km route closes a gap in the Trans Canada Trail connecting the Elora Cataract Trail in Elora south to the Kissing Bridge Trail on a mix of on road paved shoulders, off-road trails, and signed roadways through rural farmlands. 
• White’s Junction Trail – This 7km cinder/soil/naturally-surfaced trail follows a former CN railway line that runs north from the Town of Palmerston to south of Harriston in the Town of Minto. On the trail you will find a rare area of prairie grass and two old trestle bridges.
• Trestle Bridge Trail – This 3.5km stone dust trail connects Elora and Fergus to the south of the Elora Cataract Trail, and crosses a historic trestle bridge over the Grand River.
• West Luther Trail – From north of Arthur follow the 11km unpaved trail east from Eliza Street and Wellington on an old railway bed. It is part of the Upper Grand Trailway, that continues all the way to Waldemar, in Dufferin County.

Guelph Trails – Find out more about Guelph’s trails mentioned below on their interactive map at the link HERE

• Royal Recreation Trail System – A 20km trail network stretching from the north to the south of Guelph, the network is made up of six smaller trails, including the Speed River Trail (3.4km), the CNR Spurline Trail (1.6km), the Downtown Trail (4.3km), the Eramosa River Trail (4.1km), the Silvercreek Trail (4.9km), and the Hanlon Creek Trail (2km). Many of the trails run alongside the Speed and Eramosa Rivers, and can be linked through short on-road connections. Sections of the trail network have plans for expansion and greater connection. See the City’s Trails and Open Space Map for details. Trail sections below are listed in order from north to south. 
  • Speed River Trail – This 3.4km trail along the Speed River connects Downtown Guelph, the Downtown Trail, and the CNR Spurline Trail with two additional trail systems to the north of the city – the Kissing Bridge Trail (Guelph to Goderich Trail/Trans Canada Trail) and the trail system and recreation opportunities at Guelph Lake Conservation Area. 
  • CNR Spurline Trail – This 1.6km trail is an offshoot of the Royal Recreation Trail and connects to the Downtown Trail at Dufferin St. just south of Riverside Park. Trail extends from Dufferin St. in the north to London Rd. in the south through Exhibition Park.
  • Downtown Trail – This 4.3km trail travels along the Speed River from Downtown Guelph north to Riverside Park, connecting to the CNR Spurline Trail and Speed River Trails. On-road connections south can be made to the Eramosa River Trail, and the Silvercreek Trail, with future direct trail connections planned. 
  • Silvercreek Trail – This 4.9km trail runs from Royal City Park to Janefield Avenue via Silvercreek Park, Centennial Park and W.E. Hamilton Park.
  • Eramosa River Trail (4.1km) – From the Covered Bridge at the junction of the Speed and Eramosa Rivers, this trail connects to the Downtown Trail and ends at Victoria Road South.
  • Hanlon Creek Trail (2km) – Trail runs from University Village Park to Hanlon Creek Park.

Other City of Guelph Trails

• Hanlon Creek Conservation Area (12.5km) – Located between Kortright Road, Edinburgh Road and Scottsdale Drive, the Hanlon Creek property has a network of trails, constructed by community volunteers, that explores its forests and other natural areas.
• Watson Creek Trail (1.5km) – Located between Watson Parkway North and Grange Road to Watson Road North via Joe Veroni Park, Severn Drive and Fleming Road.
• Laura Baily Memorial Trail (1.5km) – Grange Road Park through Hadati Creek Wetlands to Buckthorn Crescent via Grange Road, Eastview Road, Trimble Court, Ireland Place and Starwood Drive.
• Radial Line Trail (6km) – On a mix of private and public land, the trail is maintained by the Guelph Hiking Trail Club, and generally follows an abandoned railway line from Guelph eastward. Some sections of this trail west of Wellington Rd. 29 are shared-use with bicycles allowed, by landowner agreement. East of Wellington #29 is pedestrian use only. This trail connects the Eramosa River Trail (RRT) with the Arkell Forest Trails (GORBA members only, no parking permitted). 

• Guelph Lake Mountain Bike Trails  – The 20km of trails at Guelph Lake (a lake created by the widening of the Speed River) are maintained by the Guelph Off-Road Bicycling Association (GORBA) and feature more than 30 trails from beginner to experienced. Trails are described as flowy, relaxed, with enough elevation to get up some speed. The trail head can be found at 797 Victoria Rd. N. and can be accessed from the Speed River Trail and Royal Recreation Trail system, a 6km bike ride from Downtown Guelph. Trails are open to the public but GORBA membership is encouraged. 
• Arkell Spring Grounds – Open to Guelph Off-Road Bicycling Association (GORBA) and Guelph Hiking Trail Club members only through a trail-use agreement with the City of Guelph (access is restricted to protect Guelph drinking water source on property), this property just east of Guelph is home to about 10km of marked and challenging trails featuring rocks, roots and steep hills. No parking on site. Cyclists can ride the Radial Line trail east from Guelph to access the trail system. Note that the adjacent trails at Starkey Hill are for hiking only.

• Trans Canada Trail (TCT) –The TCT is a four-season, multi-use trail system with various surface types and users. A number of the Region’s trails are incorporated within this larger, national trail including: the Elora Cataract Trail (from Erin west to Elora), the Kissing Bridge Trailway (from Guelph northwest to Waterloo Region) and the Cottontail Road Trail, connecting these two trails. The Trans Canada Trail also extends into the Guelph through on-road connections from the G2G trailhead to the downtown via the Speed River and Downtown Trails.
• Goderich to Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail – The Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail (known as G2G) runs 132km along the former CPR railway line, which stretches from Guelph to the waters of Lake Huron. The G2G Rail Trail officially opened in July 2015 and consists of 3 regional trails, the Kissing Bridge Trailway, the Perth Harvest Pathway and the Lake Huron Route. The G2G connects through 13 communities and many other beautiful trails, including the Trans Canada Trail, the Grand Valley Trail, the Elora Cataract Trailway, the Avon Trail and the proposed Port to Point Trail. Trail surface varies along the 132km route, with a mix of hard pack stone dust suitable for hybrid bikes, to grass covered sections. Development continues to improve trail surface from end to end and construct bridges to connect the gaps. An interactive map on the G2G website has the most up to date information on trail conditions, connecting trails and communities

• Ontario By Bike Self Guided Ride Itinerary – Waterloo Guelph Explorer – In 2020, Ontario By Bike hosted a small group tour to explore the well-developed road and trail cycling network spanning Wellington County, Guelph and Waterloo Region. This two-day self-guided ride itinerary starts and ends in Guelph. It features a multitude of trails including portions of the Kissing Bridge Trailway/G2G Trail, Iron Horse Trail, Laurel Trail, and more. Find detailed digital maps and additional information HERE.
• Royal City Mill Run – This 183km looped, multi-day itinerary starts in the city of Guelph the ‘Royal City’, and connects with several local and regional cycling routes through Caledon, north to Orangeville and back to Guelph. This route forms part of the provincial Greenbelt Route.

• City of Guelph – Cycling and Walking Webpage – Explore the ambitious active transportation network plans, as well as links to the online Guelph Cycling Map and trail descriptions. 
  • Guelph Cycling Map –  The map shows bike lanes, signed cycling routes, suggested local routes through neighbourhoods, plus multi-use paths and off-road bike routes. 
  • City of Guelph Interactive Map – Trails and Cycling – Explore on-road cycling infrastructure as well as multi-use paths on this online interactive map. 
• Wellington County – Trails Webpage – Explore the Kissing Bridge Trailway, the Elora Cataract Trail and more on the Wellington County Trails webpage
  • Wellington Interactive Map – includes trail distance, surface type, description and history
• Guelph Cycling Club – RideWithGPS Route Library – Explore over 100 paved road and 40 gravel cycling routes. 
• Elora Cataract Trailway Association Maps – PDF maps and Ride with GPS route available for the entire trail. Print maps are also generally available at the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Elora BIA Office, Fergus, Aboyne, Elora, Hillsburgh and Erin Public Libraries, Wellington County Museum, Erin Town Hall.
• Kissing Bridge Trailway Map – This map was developed in partnership between the County of Wellington, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, five community groups and a volunteer Trail Advisory Board and shows routing and services for the entire 45km trail.
• G2G Trail Interactive Map – An interactive Google Map with details including trail kiosks, connecting trails and other rider information helpful to explore the trail.
• Trailforks – Explore Guelph and Wellington County trails on user created digital maps. Please exercise caution when using user-created trail maps and always respect the allowed uses for all trails.

Please note there are may be additional trails, routes, events and information resources for the region that may be of interest and useful to cyclists.