The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Cambridge

This trailhead sits at the end of Forbes Street, and has a large parking area, public washroom, and a couple of nice benches with easy access to both the Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail and the Grand River canoe launch. Situated along the banks of the river, it’s a great spot for a lovely picnic and a convenient starting point for exploring one of the trail’s most scenic stretches.

Canadian General-Tower Trailhead is the northern terminus of the Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail, with a large parking area and direct access to the crushed-gravel route. From here, the trail follows the Grand River through beautiful, peaceful woodland, leaving the city behind. There are no facilities here, so plan accordingly before heading out to explore.

This trail follows a mostly flat 18-kilometre former railway corridor along the Grand River, connecting the communities of Cambridge, Glen Morris, and Paris. The fine gravel surface, gentle grades, and picturesque views of Carolinian forest, farmland, and the river make it the perfect route for walkers, runners, and cyclists of all abilities.

The German’s Woollen Mill Ruins are the remains of an 1867 stone yarn and wool mill tucked in the trees along the banks of the Grand River. Abandoned since the 1940s after the rail trail was constructed, its towering walls and arched openings still stand after decades, making it one of the Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail’s most fascinating historic landmarks.

The Speed River is a tributary of the Grand River that flows for about 100 kilometres through Wellington County and Cambridge, winding past farmland, wooded valleys, and urban parkland before joining the Grand River at Preston. Along this section, the river follows a quieter course through beautiful tree-lined banks and open green space before reaching its confluence with the Grand River at Settlers’ Fork.

The Grand River is the longest river entirely within southern Ontario, and runs about 280 kilometres from Dundalk to Lake Erie, shaping much of the landscape through the Waterloo Region. Along this section near the Bob McMullen Linear Trail, the river winds past wooded banks and limestone bluffs before meeting the Speed River at a scenic confluence known as Settlers’ Fork, creating one of the area’s most recognized river views.

Bob McMullen Linear Trail is a scenic riverside path that follows the Grand and Speed Rivers on a wide stone-dust surface between Hamilton Street and the Preston Memorial Auditorium. The mostly flat route runs along the riverbanks and open green space, and is popular for walking, cycling, jogging, and birdwatching. Along the way, there are plenty of beautiful views of the water, and the trail is known for the abundance of butterflies and riverside wildlife, so keep an eye out for ducks and an occasional Great Egret, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot the rare Tawny Emperor butterfly, occasionally seen in this area.

Black Bridge is a one-lane road and a historic bridge over the Speed River. On the west side of the bridge is a dirt parking area and a small beach where kayaks launch.