City of Cambridge Trails

Mill Run Trail

5.0 km natural, stonedust, boardwalk
This woodland trail runs along the Speed River from the Sheffield Street Trailhead under Highway 401 to Riverside Park, connecting Hespeler to Preston.  It follows the route of the 1896 Galt, Preston, Hespeler Electric Railway, passing through Chilligo Conservation Area and the former Idylwild Park.  The trail surface is mainly stonedust with stretches of boardwalks offering a footbridge crossing and river vistas.  The area is alive with deer, beaver, ducks, geese, herons and numerous songbirds.  At Russ Street, follow the trail over a 200-foot pedestrian bridge into Riverside Park - at 250 acres it is Cambridge’s largest park with an interpretive boardwalk, playing fields, outdoor water park, picnic areas and washrooms.  Continue through the park to the King Street Bridge and cross to Chopin Drive to connect with the Bob McMullen Linear Trail.

Bob McMullen Linear Trail

3.2km rural, stonedust
This trail begins at the intersection of Chopin and Hamilton streets winding along a broad open floodplain beside the river's edge to Preston Auditorium.  It passes the confluence of the Speed and Grand rivers offering panoramic views with abundant bird species. This was once the site of the original Mennonite Meeting House, Jacob Hespeler Raceway and the Rock Springs Brewery.  Across the river is the rare Charitable Research Reserve (the largest in the region) - with its outcropping of ancient limestone bluffs and Carolinian forests.  This river valley is a main migratory bird route and winterfeeding area for bald eagles.

Devil's Creek Trail

1.6 km natural, stonedust
This trail includes a boardwalk and interpretive signs along the pathway.  Meandering through environmentally sensitive wetlands, the Devil’s Creek Trail is an ideal hike for the nature enthusiast.

Grand Trunk Trail and Blair Trail

7.5 km stonedust and asphalt, rural and natural
Park at the intersection of Morningside Drive and Fountain Street.  Blair Trail south follows the former Grand Trunk Railway over Blair Creek to the Shingle Bridge lookout and features interpretive signs.  Take Morningside Drive over the Highway 401 pedestrian bridge to connect to Kitchener Trails.  The Grand Trunk section, starting south of the Blair Trail, is paved and follows Blair Road then becomes a woodland trail passing through the rare Charitable Research Reserve.  Continue past the Walter Bean Trailhead along the limestone bluffs to the 40-foot high Devil’s Creek Waterfall.  Here the trail connects under George Street to the Devil’s Creek Trail.  As you travel along the Grand River down the Davidson Quarry Rampway look for examples of the heart shaped ‘Galt Fossil’ embedded in the limestone bluffs.  The trail continues to Riverbluffs Park, home of the Cambridge Rowing and Ancient Mariner canoe clubs.  The park is also the site of the annual Riverfest Celebration and features parking, seasonal washrooms, playground, picnic tables and a boat launch.  The trail continues along George Street to the Parkhill Road Bridge where it meets the Living Levee Trail.

Mill Pond Trail

5.0 km stonedust and asphalt, rural and natural
A mill pond is a body of water used as a reservoir for a water powered mill.  This mill pond is a natural body of water which feeds into the Forbes Creek; this in turn feeds into the Speed River which powered the textile business (Silknit) in Hespeler on the Speed River.  The Mill Pond Trail provides about 5.0 km of enjoyment around Forbes Creek, the new subdivision, and a natural green space.

Living Leveee Trail

2.4 km urban
Park at the Mill Restaurant or Mill Race Park on the river’s east side and walk through the award-winning park where formal promenades blend with historical limestone architecture.  The levee also continues north from the Parkhill Dam along ‘Dan Spring Way’ past historic Galt Collegiate Institute to Augusta Street.  By following the promenade south along Water Street, past the lookout at Barradell’s Loft, you can connect with the GRCA Rail Trail to Hamilton via Paris and Brantford.  By crossing the Main Street bridge to Dalton Court you can continue south along the river’s west side to Absalom’s Walk, past the sculpture gardens, McDougall Cottage Interpretive Centre and the factory mill outlets, continuing to the Waterworks Park terminus.  A detour east along Main Street will take you to the paved Mill Creek Trail, an 800-metre trail passing by the historic Galt Arena Gardens, featuring interior wall murals, into Soper Park.  This trail is built on the 1850s Great Western Rail Line route.

For information on all Trails please visit www.cambridge.ca or www.grandriver.ca