In 2000 the various municipalities in Waterloo County
'officially' opened their sections of the Trans Canada Trail (TCT).
Opened in October, 2007 a new pedestrian/cycle bridge over highway 401 provides a
safe off road link for the TCT. This page is a summary of the TCT segments in
Waterloo County, some good, some bad.
[a] Waterloo (city centre) to Elmira = 19 km approx [b]
Waterloo (city centre) to 401 ped bridge = 19 km approx.
Remember:
1. The Trans Canada Trail through Waterloo County is not really 'complete'
and certainly not well signed!
2. This is especially true in the city of
Kitchener where the trail has not been improved since 2000. Some of the
Kitchener TCT runs along Courtland, Manitou and Wilson, all busy arterial
roads.
3. In the City of Waterloo, most of the route use the Iron Horse and
Laurel trails but gaps exist.
4. In Woolwich County you can use wide shoulder on highway #85 - wide
enough for the horse and buggies - (7 km)
However, the official TCT between St. Jacobs and
Elmira has been routed along country roads. (21.3 km)
5. Cambridge has completed its 11 km route via the Grand Trunk Trail
6. The newly opened pedestrian bridge over highway 401 provides the link
between Cambridge & Kitchener.
remember, this is a photo album, so CLICK on each thumbnail for a full size
version of any photo!
Lets start in Cambridge at the 401 bridge and cycle
north through Kitchener, Waterloo, St. Jacobs and finally Elmira.
Photo
album being reorganized ..... work in progress .... starting September 22/08
basic cycle routes in Waterloo County
Cambridge to Iron Horse trail has 2 options. Routes through Kitchener are on arterial roads and difficult,
On Oct. 14, 2007 a cycle/ped bridge over 401 connects TCT in Kitchener
Use Old Mill Rd. through historic Doon to reach Wilson and Manitou
there is even a TCT sign along Courtland
Trail starts again at Manatou and runs through park.
stonedust trail runs beside Courtland
Sign on Howard is WRONG!
Do not follow, stay on Courtland
cross Courtland at Mill to reach 'trail'
Iron Horse trail map
trail is 5 km
Iron Horse trail ends at Ottawa St. Now follow Courtland, Manitou
Historical explanation for railway line
trail crosses many streets
Laurel Trail in near Waterloo Park
downtown Waterloo is one block from Caroline
between park and Iron Horse trail use Caroline
crossing Erb St to reach trail
Trans Canada Trail pavilion in Waterloo Park
Waterloo map of Laurel Trail located on TCT pavilion
trail bridge entering Waterloo Park
near University of Waterloo with RIM building on right
Benjamin has bike lane that eventually ends
Weber Street sign
King Street N.
buggy and cycle tunnel under highway 85 north of St. Jacobs
in Woolwich, share the road with buggies
family in buggy heading south on #85
BUT, the official Trans Canada Trail route between St. Jacobs and Elmira does
not run along highway 85. Instead, when in St. Jacobs go along Front St. and
look for the trail kiosk with map. Follow the Mill Race Trail for about 1.6 km
until you reach Three Bridges Rd. Go north and follow the signs. This section of
the TCT is perhaps the best signed that I have ever found. Eventually, the on
road route will connect you to the Kissing Bridge Trail at Wallenstein. You want go east (right turn) and follow the trail to Elmira
(6.8km) and then
eventually to Guelph via the Kissing Bridge Trail. It ends north on Silver Creek Pkwy, not in the city
centre!
gps map of Elmira to St. Jacobs official TCT route [21.3km]
Elmira trailhead of Kissing Bridge Trail on
fall day heading west on Kissing Bridge Trail
in Wallenstein turn on to Herrgott Rd. [2 km] paved wide buggy shoulder
cycle 3.3 km on Temperance Rd.
notice houses with green roofs ... local Mennonite tradition
at Conestoga River turn on to Broadway and then Hemlock Hill Rd.
Hemlock Hill & Three Bridges Rd turn at 16 km
follow Three Bridge Rd and in 1.5 find this bridge and nearby dam
at trail kiosk turn & follow mill race trail 1.8 km to Front St.
at Front St. & King. ....go along King one block to Albert St. E. and head towards river trail
St. Jacobs downtown view from south only 7 km to Elmira along direct route link
follow trail for 5 km to reach market area
Official route to market if 26.4 km
Google Earth map of Elmira to St. Jacobs TCT route
