Ontario By Bike Ride – September 2020

OBBR Marketplace ENG w bleed 011619 1

This ride is now over
The detailed ride itinerary for this ride is available below for download. Enjoy great trail riding with a self-guided ride experience.

button download ride itinerary

Waterloo Guelph Explorer

When: Anytime. It’s a self-guided itinerary 


Total Distance: 115km 

A Perfect Mix: Waterloo Guelph Explorer

Photo credit: Explore Waterloo Region

The Ride: Explore the Waterloo region and Guelph area on this two day 115km looped ride. Enjoy a mix of scenic rural and urban sights on a weekend ride that uses a variety of off-road trails for over half the total tour distance. Cycle through Mennonite country on quiet stretches of road, with time to stop in small communities along the way as well as the famed Kissing Bridge, in Montrose. Visit the vibrant downtown cores and explore Guelph and Waterloo by bike.

Experience Level and Ride Guide: Moderate. The route is approximately half road and half trail. Some segments of off-road trails are unpaved but hard-packed, and easy to ride. A portion of the ride will be on roads, some smaller rural roads without bike lanes or paved shoulders, as well as some connector stretches on busier roads with more traffic. It is suggested riders have some experience cycling on roads with vehicle traffic.

View Digital Route:
Full Ride Route: RidewithGPS.com
Just Day 2: RidewithGPS.com

Waterloo OBBR Photos

Day 1: Guelph to Waterloo – 62km

Starting from Guelph, this looped ride is easy to access with its start location in south-central Ontario. Gear into ride mode and enjoy the first 25km cycling on the Kissing Bridge Trail, with a detour added at West Montrose to view the unique covered bridge. Lunch and look around Elmira, the largest town in Woolwich Township, an area popular with cyclists and home to the largest Mennonite community in Canada. Switch onto and share country backroads with horse and buggies, before following the trail and Conestoga River into the village of St. Jacobs. Stop for a coffee, visit the Mennonite museum, craft brewery or farmers market before rolling into Waterloo to enjoy the city’s vibrant downtown area with plenty of restaurants and attractions to visit. Spend a night at one of the many hotels available in the city. Find bicycle friendly accommodations here or visit explorewaterlooregion to find overnight accommodation.

Day 2: Waterloo to Guelph – 53km

Having explored the university city of Waterloo on the Laurel Trail, ride the Iron Horse Trail south towards Kitchener, a route that links the two neighboring cities. On a combo of Trans Canada Trail and quiet country roads that run alongside and cross the Grand River, pedal past farmland and on through the outskirts of Cambridge to the village of Hespeler for a riverside lunch picnic. Enjoy the last few kilometres of the ride on trails that wind their way through downtown Guelph, following the Speed River and passing the pedestrian and cyclists only picturesque wooden covered bridge.

Getting To / From Start:
Guelph is located approximately 1 hour from Toronto, 1 1/2 hours from London, 1 1/2 hours from Niagara, 1 1/2 hours from Barrie and 3 hours from Windsor.  Approximately 20 minutes north of the 401

Arriving Early / Staying Late:
Consider an overnight option at one of Ontario By Bike’s certified bicycle-friendly accommodations in the Waterloo Region here

Guelph OBBR Photos

Additional Visitor Information:

Use below to find out more about ride areas and plan an extra day or two to see more.

For More Information Contact:
Ontario By Bike
Phone: 416-827-2772 / 1-866-701-2774
Email: info (at) ontariobybike.ca


For information on all Ontario By Bike Rides, visit:

for detailed information www.ontariobybike.ca/rides