Only 4 more sleeps until the official arrival of summer! Definitely something to celebrate, even though 2021 will be another summer of staying close to home. Looking on the bright side, this gives us a chance to explore some spots in our own area. With that in mind, I’ve made a list of Waterloo Region trails I’d like to explore over the summer months.

I’ve lived in Waterloo Region for most of my life and there are still places I’ve never visited. One of the upsides of the pandemic is we have an opportunity to discover local gems that we might otherwise never visit. Late last summer, we decided to hike a different trail every weekend and we continued well into fall. We plan to revisit some of our favourites this summer, and add a few more to the list.

About Waterloo Region

With a population just over 600,000, Waterloo Region is located in Southwestern Ontario. We’re about 100 kilometres west of Toronto, Canada’s largest city.

I live in Kitchener, the largest city in the region. It was originally settled by Germans – in fact, it was once named Berlin. Every October, we celebrate our German heritage with Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest. It’s the largest Bavarian festival outside of Germany.

Another popular place to visit in the region is the St. Jacob’s Farmers’ Market. At the market, you’ll see old-order Mennonite and Amish people selling their wares. And if you drive down country roads in the northern part of the region, you’ll usually spot the Mennonites driving their horse-drawn buggies.

Although we’re not blessed with ocean views, and the closest of the Great Lakes is about an hour’s drive away, we do enjoy some beautiful landscapes thanks to the Grand River. This heritage river weaves its way through the region on its way to Lake Erie, providing scenic views and recreation opportunities. Other rivers in the region – The Nith, Speed and Conestogo rivers – all feed into the Grand.

Waterloo Region trails to explore

I’m a big fan of walking and hiking. To me, it’s the easiest and cheapest form of exercise and it’s something nearly everyone can enjoy. So, lace up your walking shoes and explore one of these local Waterloo Region trails.

Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail – Cambridge

This 18 km trail follows the Grand River from Cambridge to Paris, in Brant County. It’s suitable for cycling and hiking. It’s gravel-coated, and is generally flat and level, making it a fairly easy hike.

We haven’t hiked this trail for a few years so it’s time for another visit.

Devil’s Creek Trail – Cambridge

This 1.7 km trail in Cambridge follows Devil’s Creek to the Grand River. It passes through wetlands with over 30 rare plant species, and along limestone cliffs. 

Dryden Tract – North Dumfries

Located just outside of Cambridge, the Dryden Tract includes 3.5 km of forest that passes through Carolinian forest. It’s a great spot for bird watching. We visited last fall

Grand Trunk Trail – Cambridge

I lived in the Galt area of Cambridge for almost 20 years but, as a child and teenager, I didn’t appreciate it. These days, I love to walk along the riverbank in historic downtown Galt. I’ve walked the Living Levee Trail many times with my Mum, but I’ve never ventured on to the Grand Trunk Trail, on the other side of the Park Hill dam. The Grand Trunk Trail runs 10 km from Galt to Blair.

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Huron Natural Area – Kitchener

The Huron Natural Area is the City of Kitchener’s largest natural space, with 250 acres of protected forest and wetlands, and 7 km of hiking trails. With 6 different trails, ranging in length from 0.6 km to 2 km, it’s a great place to spend an hour or two, or a whole day if you want to pack a picnic lunch and explore them all.

In addition to its natural beauty, the Huron Natural Area provides some great learning opportunities. When you visit, check out the displays where you can learn about the Indigenous peoples who originally inhabited our area. And your kids can learn about environmental issues by following the story of Samuel the Turtle as they explore the trail.

Iron Horse Trail – Kitchener and Waterloo

Next on my list of Waterloo Region trails is the 6 km Iron Horse Trail runs. It runs from Ottawa Street in the south end of Kitchener to Waterloo Park. It’s part of the 27,000 km Trans Canada Trail system.

Kissing Bridge Trailway – West Montrose

The Kissing Bridge Trailway definitely has the most romantic of names. It’s a 45 km hiking and cycling trail that runs from Guelph to Millbank. Part of the Trans Canada Trail network, it passes through rural communities, wetlands, and spans the Conestogo and Grand River watersheds.

From the trail, you can take a detour to the 140 year-old West Montrose Kissing Bridge, the last covered bridge in Ontario.

Schneider Creek – Homer Watson Park Trail – Kitchener

This trail is a well-kept secret that you can’t find on the city of Kitchener’s website. You can access the trail from Homer Watson Boulevard near Doon South, or from Wilson Ave. The trail runs along Schneider Creek to the Grand River and then continues along the riverbank on the opposite side of the river from the Walter Bean Trail. It’s mostly flat, although there is one fairly steep trail as you approach Huron Road.

Snyder’s Flats – Bloomingdale

This 4.5 km looped hiking trail near Bloomingdale is an old gravel pit that has been restored as a natural area with ponds, forests and grassland.

The trail is wide and flat. If you venture off into some of the side trails, you’ll find rougher terrain.

Trillium Trail – Kitchener

Accessed through the Williamsburg Cemetery in the south end of Kitchener, the Trillium Trail is a peaceful spot for a walk through the woods surrounding the cemetery.

We were fortunate to visit recently when the trilliums were in bloom. The trillium is Ontario’s provincial flower. It only blooms for a short time in May each year so I always feel lucky when I get to see them.

Walter Bean Grand River Trail – Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge

The 18 km Walter Bean Grand River Trail weaves its way along the Grand River from Woolwich township, through Waterloo, Kitchener and into Cambridge. There are 19 access points throughout the region where the trail connects to other trails in the area.

Last fall we walked about a third of this trail from the Blair area in Cambridge to Freeport in Kitchener. Our goal for this year is to walk the rest of the trail. 

Woolwich Reservoir – Elmira

We discovered the Lions Lake trail at the Woolwich Reservoir last summer. Located in the Northernmost part of the Region, just north of Elmira, it’s a 7 km loop for hiking and cycling. It’s mostly flat and makes its way through a maple sugar bush. The reservoir is a great spot for fishing and non-motorized boating.

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So, we’ve got a bit of walking to do this summer. I’ll come back and update this post with pictures as I visit these trails over the next few months.

Have you visited any of these trails? Do you have other favourite Waterloo Region trails for hiking? Tell me about them below.