I wanted to check out the Cambridge-Paris rail trail. I was inspired by some of the pictures that were posted in the Ontario Gravel and Adventure Riders’ group on FB along with this route map. Wanting to add a little distance, I made my own version that included a side trip to Brantford.
Here is the trailhead, a little south of downtown Cambridge.
The Cambridge to Paris section of the trail is well packed gravel, mostly shaded, with pretty views of the Grand River.
These mileage markers were counting down, but I never figured out where they were counting down to, as the distance to Brantford was only about 30 km.
At the Brant County line, the trail is renamed the S.C. Johnson Trail.
Unfortunately this bit of the trail was closed.
However there was signage to direct you back to the trail. This is the intersection of Dundas and Curtis Ave. If you want to go to downtown Paris, you turn right at this point. I went straight to reconnect with the trail.
Sure enough, a short distance south of the intersection, the trail branches off to the left.
Welcome to Brantford.
At about 26 km, the trail ends and you are directed onto a road through this industrial park.
After going east on Hardy Rd, you can rejoin the trail to the right.
Beyond the dam, the trail is on a raised levee.
The trail takes a sharp bend here at Morell St.
More riding on levees.
Approaching the Colborne St overpass. My intention was to cross the rail bridge that you can see just past the overpass.
However, Brant County had other ideas; the bridge was closed.
Back onto the trail towards the next bridge. Note the gap in the fence to the right.
This leads to the Dike Trail.
This leads to the Dike bridge, which I will designate bridge #1. I’ve ignored a prior bridge over the 403; I’m only counting bridges over water.
As described in a previous post, you turn right at the end of the bridge, and then a trail takes you around to Ballantyne Drive.
Ballentyne Dr ends at Spalding Drive, and from here, looking across Veteran’s Memorial Parkway, you can see the entrance to the Brantford-Port Dover Rail Trail.
There’s a parking lot at the end of Spalding Dr. Don’t take the trail leading down to the right. Continue on the trail, or just ride along Oakhill Dr.
There is a bike trail leading off of Kerr-Shaver Terrace that is not well marked.
It leads to Oakhill Cemetery.
After skirting the cemetery, the trail leads to another crossing of the Grand.
This is bridge #2.
The bridge was official closed for repair, but these gentlemen let me through.
I turned right onto a dirt trail after the bridge.
It eventually ends here, and to want to go through both P gates to the SC Johnson Trail.
Here is where the SC Johnson Trail intersects Hardy Road. I already went through this intersection in the other direction earlier in the ride.
Riding back towards Paris.
This time crossing the Grand River on Dundas St.
Then across the Nith River towards downtown Paris.
I turned left on Mechanics St towards Lions Park, where there is another bridge across the Nith.
There are washrooms at the south end of the park.
At the north end of the park, another crossing of the Nith.
After this bridge, head on up the trail to Broadway St as soon as possible. The GPS file might not be accurate at this spot. By no means should you try the walking trail along the river. It is not bikeable.
You head west out of town on Silver St, which becomes Keg Rd. South on Brant-Oxford for a bit, and then you can divert onto Township 2 Road. Back on gravel!
Cars and ATV’s are blocked here, but you can ride on.
This brings us to the second coolest bridge on the ride.
The next two crossings of the Nith are just on roads.
Note that I’m wearing an Audax wool jersey in a vintage style with front pockets. I imagine that when these were first worn, no one imagined that you could tuck the equivalent of a Cray 1 supercomputer into one of the pockets. Also perfect for carrying snacks.
At km 69.5, you have a choice of continuing straight on Township 5 Road, or there is a dirt road leading off to the right. It is marked as private road with no trespassing. I thought I took a picture of this point, but apparently not.
If you do elect to go down the dirt road, you will cross several bridges. This is the first one over a culvert. I rode across, and then went back to inspect the rather large gaps between the timbers.
There was another such bridge. I didn’t take a picture of it as I came upon someone who was clearing brush, and I didn’t really want to get into trouble. You will see things along this road that some people might not want you to see. You have been warned.
The third bridge along this stretch spanned the Nith River, and given the larger gaps between the timbers, I elected to walk my bike across. Just past that point, there is a section of loose sand where I could have really used knobby tires.
After this point, some more gravel riding. This is Nith Rd.
This is a paved section of Beke Road, leading back to the Grand. I’m hoping it’s the last climb of the day.
Back across the Grand on the last bridge of the day, on Footbridge Road, which is actually not a footbridge.
From here, it was a quick 3 km along the rail trail back to the trail head, for a total of about 100 km.
All in all a fun day of biking. I got lost a couple of times, partially due to the GPS file. The one that is posted has been corrected.
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