Where to Hike in Guelph This Fall
From beginners to experts, there are plenty of places to hike near Guelph, Ontario, this fall.
Ontario is beautiful this time of year, and one of the best ways to experience that is by basking in nature. Guelph, as a city, boasts incredible parks and trails, but there are also areas outside the city that deserve our love. Here are five places to hike in and around Guelph, Ontario.
Guelph Radial Line
The Guelph Radial Line is 40 kilometres and connects Guelph to Limehouse. The path follows an abandoned railway line and crawls through Black Creek, Blue Springs Creek, and the Eramosa River valleys.
Due to the extreme length, this trail can take almost 10 hours to complete from start to finish, but it connects to a few side trails for smaller jaunts. It's also popular for cross-country skiers, ATV riders, and mountain bikers alike, so it's requested dogs are kept on leashes.
Another thing to note, Radial Line is accessible because of the Guelph Hiking Trail Club but is private property. Since no township maintains it, the trail can get overgrown, muddy, narrow, or hard to follow in places; it's considered a moderate-level hike and hikers travel at their own risk.
Marden Tract
The Marden Tract is generally considered an 'out-and-back' trail between Guelph and Eramosa. This short trail is only 34 kilometres and can be done in under an hour. It's also kid-friendly, with a wide and relatively flat path. The Marden Tract connects the Guelph-Elora and Kissing Bridge trails for those looking for a longer trek.
Despite its shortness, this a beautiful trail any time of year with only one major complaint – it's a significant mosquito hub. Remember your bug spray!
Forks of the Credit Provincial Park
Forks of the Credit Provincial Park is a small drive out of Guelph, but this gorgeous area is a hidden Ontario gem! As a day park, there are no options for camping, but the trails are perfect for biking, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, and horseback riding. There are even areas for picnics and fishing.
There are a few trails throughout the park, but the most popular ones lead to the park's waterfall. Other visitors have noted that the trail gets more challenging the closer you are to the falls; obstacles from erosion, increased steepness, and multiple flights of stairs are not recommended for those with strollers or mobility issues.
Guelph Lake Conservation Area
You've likely heard of Guelph Lake Conservation Area, but it still deserves a spot on our list. There are ten kilometres of trails throughout the conservation, two beaches, and multiple picnicking sites. The wide range of amenities makes visiting the conservation area an excellent day trip for all different types of families.
The conservation area is also home to hundreds of birds and multiple species. The quiet bird-lover can catch some incredible photos with patience.
Limehouse Conservation Area
We briefly mentioned Limehouse in the first entry on this list, but Limehouse has its own gorgeous conservation area that is well worth the drive. There are three marked trails: Radial Rail, considered beautiful but easy, Black Creek Side, which runs along the creek – a challenging trek, but the terrain is considered safe for dogs – and their most famous, the Bruce Trail.
Bruce Trail is around 3 kilometres and is full of natural and historic beauty; remnants of the limestone industry are throughout the trail, including an old draw kiln, a historic mill, and a "Hole-in-the-Wall" where you can explore an old structure left behind in the Niagara escarpment. Please note the extra ladders and steps on this trail make it hard for dogs.
No matter where you go hiking this fall, we kindly ask that you take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footsteps when visiting these areas of outstanding natural beauty.
