Hiking Along a Canadian Heritage River
The Grand River in Southern Ontario has several options for hiking. These can be anything between a leisurely stroll pushing a baby carriage to a serious narrow footpath hike.
Along the eastern bank of the Grand River, from Cambridge to Brantford, you can travel the ‘Rail Trail’. This 28 km. section of the Trans Canada Trail is a well packed, small gravel trail. This is good for a leisurely stroll or biking. The main access points are in Cambridge, Glen Morris, Paris, and Brantford. There are also several access points in between. You will also fined benches along here to stop and rest and enjoy a view of this Heritage River.
For the more adventurous, the Grand Valley Hiking Trail runs along the west bank from Cambridge to Paris and along the east bank from Paris to Brantford. This is a hiking trail only and is marked with white paint on trees.
There is a lot to see along the river. In the Glen Morris area you can view the remains of a late 1800’s woolen mill. Around Paris you can find the remains of old gypsum mines. The first gypsum production in Ontario was just outside Paris in 1822.
As you pass through the Carolinian Forest watch for a variety of tress, including, Sycamore, Cottonwood, Eastern Hemlock, as well as several species of oak, maple and pine.
Wildflowers are common. Trillium, Trout Lily, May Apple and Marsh Marigold are easily visible, as well as the harder to find Jack in the Pulpit and Yellow Lady Slipper.
Along these trails you will see beautiful views of the Grand River. Anyone wanting to explore by water can rent canoes, kayaks and rafts from Heritage River Canoe and Kayak Company located in Brantford Ontario. www.heritageriver.com.
About the author
Brian Gill is a retired canoe and kayak outfitter who owned and operated Two Rivers Adventures in Paris, Ontario. He grew up in Paris and has been canoeing, kayaking, rafting and mountain biking and hiking both the Grand River and Nith Rivers all his life. He has also worked as a wilderness guide on trips in Algonquin and Killarney Provincial Parks, and throughout the James Bay frontier. While operating Two Rivers Adventures he was able to provide thousands of eco adventurers with grand experiences while paddling both the Grand and Nith Rivers. He always promoted both the Grand River and Nith Rivers as having some of the best paddling in Ontario. Every spring he can be found paddling the fast water while Grand River rafting in the company of his friends.
He still loves canoeing the Grand, so he now works part-time guiding canoe, kayak and raft trips and nature hikes for Heritage River Canoe & Kayak Company in Brantford located just one hour west of Toronto, Ontario. www.heritageriver.com.
Since 1999 Heritage River Canoe & Kayak Company has offered guided and self-guided canoe, kayak and raft trips and rentals on both the Grand River and Nith River.
He also volunteers his time working on Grand River rehabilitation projects along the Grand River watershed.
So if you are looking for fun things to do this summer, come and enjoy the great outdoors by canoeing, kayaking, rafting, mountain biking and hiking the beautiful and historic Grand River watershed, truly one of Canada’s wonderlands.