If there is one thing that Guelphites love to do, it's to get outside! There are many hiking trails that will take you to all parts of town. Whether you enjoy the challenge of hiking up hills, or prefer to casually wander along a gravel path, there’s an outside activity for everyone to do in beautiful Guelph. Here is the rest of our top 10...
5. Arboretum Trails
Arboretum Trails
Cost: Free! Though there is guided interpretative tours are available for a fee. Parking within the Arboretum
Location: University of Guelph, enter off of College Ave East.
Length: Multiple trails make up over 9km in total length
Things to see: Birds, gardens and unusual trees. Interpretive brochures and map
are available.
Type of path: Earth and crushed stone. Good for biking, hiking, cross country
skiing, and jogging. Popular with dog owners
Difficulty Level: Easy
4. Preservation Park
Trails
Guelph Trails
Cost: Free! Parking on Kortright Rd west at Hanlon Creek Park
Location: Preservation Park, access off of Kortright Road West
Length: 12km of looping, crossing trails
Things to see: Different types of trees, the size of the park represents the
total forested area preserved by recycling newspapers in the first year of the
Blue Box program
Type of Path: Earth, with many tree roots and raised wooden boardwalks. Good for
hiking. No bikes allowed!
Difficulty Level: Moderate – watch your footing!
3. Ignatius Centre Trails
Ignatius Jesuit Centre
Cost: Free, but donations appreciated
Location: 5420 Hwy 6 North, just
beyond Walmart
Length: Approximately 15km
Things to see: Gardens, orchards, wildlife
Type of Path: Earth. Good for hiking and cross-country skiing. Some hills
Difficulty Level: Moderate
If you prefer to be in the
water instead of walking along beside it, Guelph has a few options for that
too…
If you prefer open water swimming, then head out to the Guelph Lake Conservation Area (Grand River), just north of Guelph.
Fees: Children Under 5 – Free
Children 6-14 – $2.75
Over 14 – $5.50
If you want to swim outdoors, but don’t want the sand that comes
with swimming at the beach, Guelph also has an outdoor pool at Lyon Park (Lyon's Park Pool
). The pool is open daily from 10am – 12pm, 1pm – 4pm, and 5pm – 8pm Canada Day
weekend until Labour Day weekend.
Fees: Children Under 3 – Free Children 4-17 – $2.60
Over Age 17 – $4
If you’d rather be on the
water instead of in it, we’ve got options for that too!
1. Canoeing & Kayaking
Canoes and Kayaks can be rented from Speed River Paddling (Speed River Paddling) at 116 Gordon Street. Open Tuesday thru Sunday, mid-May until Labour Day from
10am – 7pm, weather permitting, then weekends only until Thanksgiving.
Canoes $15/hour on weekdays, and $18/hour on weekends
Kayaks: $12/hour on weekdays, and $15/hour on weekends
Paddleboats can be rented at Riverside Park, and are available every
day from the first weekend in July until Labour Day weekend, 11am – 7:30pm
Kayaks are also available at the Guelph Conservation Area at the rate of $15/hour (Grand River)
