Sunset Cycling Rides in
Waterloo Region
By Brian Smith and Kai Clemen | September 2024
Our region offers so many great cycling opportunitiesāincluding ones you can fit in at the end of any given day. Getting out for an evening micro-adventure helps to get us away from our screens and daily routines, and into the fresh air. Our region offers cycling adventures for every skill and fitness level, whether you love road, gravel or mountain biking. This isnāt about Strava times or going fast; itās about discovering new routes and the sheer joy of cycling.
Here are a few routes you can easily fit in to experience the natural splendour and sunset views you’ll find throughout Waterloo Region. You can link to my Ride with GPS maps for exact route info and turn-by-turn instructions, or use these as the starting point to create your own adventure.
Route 1: Waterloo to Woolwich sunset ride
Starting in Uptown Waterloo, this 22 km routeāout and backātakes you along the Laurel Trail, past Rim Park to the old iron bridge that crosses the Conestogo River.
This is mostly on shared cycle path out of Uptown Waterloo, with a bit of dedicated bike lane on roads. Portions of the Laurel and Forwell trail meander through forest, parallel to the creek, where you can spot herons, kingfishers ducks and turtles.
Now that youāre warmed up, the bike path along Lexington Road and up University Avenue gives you a chance to get your heart rate going with a decent stretch of road riding. Continue East along Millennium Boulevard to Glasgow Street south, where this little farm road reveals the Conestogo river and iron bridge in the distance. It was a warm breezy evening when I did this ride, with two hot air balloons also taking advantage of the favourable weather conditions and incredible sunset.
You can ride back the way you came or continue on, looping through Conestogo and back into Waterloo along Northfield Drive. (Note that this section can get busy, so if riding with a lot of cars whizzing past isnāt your thing, Iād suggest doubling back.)
Once back in Uptown, drop by Beertown for a post adventure beverage or desert; you deserve it!
Route info: One way = 11.6km
Average ride time: One way = 34 minutes
Route 2: Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail
While many people may already be familiar with this route, itās such a good one that it deserves to be featured for those yet to discover it.
This is the Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail. What makes this great is that itās a linear path used by other walkers and cyclistsāand NO CARS. Furthermore, being a former rail line means the elevation gains are minimal; this makes it great for an easy pedal at the end of the day.
And since this ride is an āout and backā, you can make it as long or as short as your time and energy level permits.
Riding from Cambridge, the route begins near the Petro Canada station on Water Street south; there are several places to park along this section.
While the trail is mostly gravel, the surface is quite smooth the entire way. A friend once rode it on a skinny tire 1980ās Bianchi racing bike without issue. The path takes you through a mixed forest that frequently opens to amazing views of the Grand River and beyond.
If youāre riding in autumn or springtime (when the trees have fewer leaves hiding the view), at about km 7 youāll see the ruins of the old German Woolen Mill on the right side of the trail- itās worth a quick stop to explore and imagine what this might have once looked like in its heyday.
Youāll eventually reach the town of Glen Morris, which also has a parking. (Some people start from here.) Continue on and itās more of a good thing, with a great trail, beautiful scenery and many opportunities for wildlife sightings; I encountered two deer on my way out and a family of five on the way back, as well as woodpeckers, squirrels and a pair of bald eagles.
My sunset rest stop was at the former Grand Trunk Railway bridge crossing the Grand. Now called the Murray Overlook; you can still see the huge stone pilings in the middle of the river. On this particular evening, I had the place all to myself as I sat on a bench watching the sky turn orange and lazy seagulls hanging in the breeze.
After a leisurely ride back to Cambridge, I ended my personal adventure at The Mule restaurant for some much needed after-ride sustenance. (I highly recommend the Achiote chicken Tacos.)
If you have more time, you can also add in a section of trail beginning at the Fountain Street Bridge in Blair; then itās just a short ride through downtown Galt to the start of the Cambridge Paris Rail Trail.
Happy riding !
Route info: One way = 20.5km (for the full Cambridge to Paris Route)
Average ride time: One way = 1:01 minutes (for the full Cambridge to Paris Route)
Recommended gear list for any ride
- Pump and tire repair kit (or extra tube)
- Water
- Extra warm layer
- Bell
- Front and rear light
- Rain jacket (if the weather is looking dicey)
- Snacks
- Also consider a simple first aid kitā just in case
If you want even more two-wheeled adventures, try out some of the rides below.
Uptown Waterloo to St. Jacobs
Route info: One way = 10.9km
Average ride time: One way = 32 minutes
Hespeler to Preston
Route info: One way = 9.5km
Average ride time: One way = 28 minutes
Ayr ā Paris Loop
Route info: Full circle route = 37.9km
Average ride time: One way = 1hr 55 minutes
*****
Brian Smith and Kai Clemen are birding and outdoor enthusiasts who both live in the City of Waterloo. They are partners in Waterloo-based Camp-5 Communications, and Kai is also an award-winning photographer. When not working, youāre likely to find them at any of the above locations with binoculars and camera at the ready.