Walking and Bike Trails

Kitchener offers over 100 kilometres of community trails throughout the City suitable for walking, jogging, bicycling, walking the dog or even bird watching. These well-marked and groomed stone dust trails are frequented by residents and visitors alike. Maps of the trail system are on the Grand River Transit maps which can be obtained for $2 each at Kitchener Community Services, 7th floor of City Hall, the Transit Terminal on Charles Street in Kitchener, Forwell Variety at King St. & University Ave, Waterloo, U of W Federation of Students and the information kiosks at Fairview and Conestoga malls.

A new pedestrian bridge crossing the Grand River is being proposed along the Walter Bean Grand River Trail.

Click here to see the proposed designs .
Please use the comment form If you would like to submit feedback

Notice of Trail Closure at Highway 8 Bridge

The Walter Bean Grand River Community Trail where it passes under the Highway 8 bridge crossing of the Grand River will be closed for a two year period, commencing the week of August 31st 2009. The trail closure is limited to the area immediately in the vicinity of the Highway 8 bridge, and is due to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation's re-construction of the bridge, now underway. The trail is expected to remain closed until bridge re-construction work is completed, anticipated by July 2011.

The Walter Bean Trail passes beneath Highway 8, on the south side bank of the Grand River. The section of closed trail will be reinstated as part of the Province's bridge re-construction work and is expected to be re-opened to trail users in July 2011.

The City of Kitchener will place signage advising trail users of the trail closure, in the vicinity of King Street East at the Freeport Bridge, and also in the vicinity of Kuntz Park - Pioneer Tower Road pumping station. Trail users will still be able to access the Walter Bean Trail at these locations, however the trail will be dead-ended both sides of the work zone closure at the Highway 8 bridge.

Walter Bean Grand River Trail

Not far away from the hustle and bustle of the city is a little piece of paradise where lush trees tower overhead, the scent of evergreen lingers in the crisp winter air and the snow crunches beneath your feet. It is the Walter Bean Grand River Trail and it is waiting for you to discover.

The Walter Bean Grand River Trail was built to improve community access to the river, increase its recreational use and enhance the Grand River Valley's environment. Begun in 1999, the trail provides a place for residents to enjoy the great outdoors in both winter and summer.

Slated to be more than 76 kilometres long when fully completed, the safe, wide trail provides an excellent walking, jogging and biking route in the warmer seasons. In the winter, the Walter Bean Trail is a popular destination within the City of Kitchener for snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing and hiking.
The best part of the Walter Bean Trail is your surroundings are always changing, especially in the winter. Everything can change with just one fresh snowfall.

Named in honour of Walter Bean, a business visionary and community leader, the Grand River Trail is reconnecting communities with the Grand River. Running through Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Woolwich and North Dumfries, the trail provides easy access to more than 25 per cent of the Grand River's 290 kilometre meandering courseway.

The Walter Bean Grand River Trail is currently about 70 per cent finished and is being completed in phases. During the 2002 construction season, 13 kilometres of trail were completed within the City of Kitchener. There are now more than 41 kilometres in place within the region.

For more information and a map of the Walter Bean Grand River Trail, go to www.sju.ca/grt or contact 519-831-4104.

Iron Horse Trail

The Iron Horse Trail marked its 10th anniversary in 2007. The trail is part of the Trans Canada Trail, and represents a significant part of Kitchener-Waterloo’s heritage. Running some 5.5 kilometres between Ottawa Street in Kitchener and Erb Street West in Waterloo, the Iron Horse Trail not only connects Downtown Kitchener to Uptown Waterloo, reflecting the close-knit fabric of the two cities, it also links Victoria Park to Waterloo Park. Flat and easy to access and with a smooth asphalt surface, the Iron Horse Trail is a popular pathway for rollerbladers, cyclists, walkers, and runners. There are lots of interesting stops and sights along the way, too, for those just out for a leisurely stroll with nothing more pressing to do than find a cozy café or nook for reading and people-watching.

The trail was officially opened back in October of 1997, as a joint effort between the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo. Formerly a railway corridor, the trail became a reality when the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo formed a partnership to jointly purchase the abandoned rail line to preserve the corridor as an important part of the two cities’ heritage and for use as a recreation and transportation trail linking the two cities.

The Trans Canada trail, when completed, will span close to 18,000 kilometres from one end of Canada to the other and will be the longest trail of its kind in the world. To learn more about the Iron Horse Trail, and its part in the making and completing of the Trans Canada Trail, you need look no further than the various interpretative stations placed throughout the two cities.

Community Trails

Doon South Community Trails

Staff is working on developing the community trail network in the Doon South community. A number of possible trail routes were first presented to residents at a public meeting in December of 2007. Since then, staff has been working with environmental consultants and Grand River Conservation Authority staff to examine in greater detail these potential routes. The primary focus of this work has been the trails along Doon South Creek between Doon Village Road and Tilt Drive.

City staff presented their recommendations for these Community Trail routes at a pubic meeting on January 27, 2010. The recommended trail locations can be seen on this map

Doon South Community, Existing, Proposed and Future Trails

- This map illustrates all of the trails existing and proposed for the Doon South Community. This allows viewers to see the complete trail picture in this community. 'Future' trails will require further detailed environmental assessment prior to being considered 'Proposed'. Please view this map in conjunction with the detailed map prepared by Ecoplans for the Doon South Creek corridor which was presented at the Public Meeting on January 27, 2010

Doon South Community Trails Assessment Report

- This report has been developed to review the construction and implementation of the passive recreational trails within the Doon South Community. The report provides a background review including provincial policy statement, GRCA wetland area policy & regulations and trail construction considerations.

Staff will be presenting a report recommending council approve the proposed trail locations at the Community Services Committee of Council on April 12th, 2010. If you would like to register as a delegation contact Colin Goodeve at 519-741-2278 or by email (colin.goodeve@kitchener.ca) before noon on Wednesday April 7, 2010. Click here for more information about registering as a delegation.

If you have any questions or would like to provide comment, please contact the project manager, William Sleeth by email or by phone at 519-741-2401 by March 19, 2010. Comments can also be mailed to: