by Christopher Mitchell | April 2025
One of the great joys of cycling in Waterloo Region is the sheer variety of experiences on offer. If you’re keen to coast through smaller towns, and hop right back onto gravel paths, it’s here for you. Conversely, if you’re looking to traverse larger cities via bike lanes and well connected paths, well that’s here as well. And if you’d rather trade in your road or gravel bike for a day of adventure mountain biking, you’re also in luck, as this is one of the province’s premier mountain biking destinations.
I’ve been a cyclist in Ontario for years and years, and have been visiting Waterloo Region enough that I was inspired to put together what I deemed as “The Ultimate Guide to Cycling in Waterloo Region,” but before I start to dive into the key information here, which I can only hope will inspire you to bring your bike to this region (or rent one with a provider like River City Cycle Rental), it’s worth noting that cycling cannot thrive in a region without the support of the region itself.
A little while back I visited the region to experience (and applaud) the unveiling of the Farmers’ Market Trail (which ultimately connects Waterloo to the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market). That wasn’t a one-off investment, it was (and is) a testament to the dedication that the region at large has shown to support active Ontarians. It’s for residents who may want to ride their bike to work as opposed to driving, and visitors who want to explore the region more meaningfully, while stopping at so many of the local businesses and viewpoints that make this region worth visiting again and again.
Trails aren’t built by accident, and signage isn’t put up by chance so, as a voice in Ontario cycling, the least I can do is offer my applause to this region’s commitment. But the more pressing question, as a reader, of course, is how you can take advantage of these offerings. Let’s break it down step by step.
For Cyclists Who Like to Engage with Local Communities
Thankfully, you’ll have plenty of options here. For getting a taste of Waterloo and Kitchener, I love the Iron Horse Trail, which is a historic route linking the two cities on a former railway corridor, and it’s now fully paved. In a similar vein, I also adore the Laurel Trail, as it runs from uptown Waterloo through the University of Waterloo, and onwards to Columbia Lake.
The Walter Bean Trail is a can’t miss, as it runs through Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, and the Township of Woolwich.
In terms of longer routes, it’s the Cambridge-Ayr loop (around 45 kilometres in total) that I’ve always used as my excuse to spend some time in downtown Galt (and to get unbeatable views of the Grand River).
The Blair-Blenheim route is what you’ll want to prioritize if you want to explore the old neighbourhoods of Galt. My partner, Bri, and I actually used that route as an excuse to check out some of the Queen’s Gambit filming locations. Many people don’t recognize what a headquarters Waterloo Region is for the Canadian film industry.
The 22 kilometre or so Waterloo to St. Jacobs Village and Market Ride is a classic as well, and you’ll want to time that with the opening hours of the market. If you’re looking for something a bit more unpaved, consider the Hespeler Village-Mill Run Trail Ride, and you can spend some time in Hespeler Village in Cambridge.
Finally, I would note that the routes here are well paved and well marked, so you also shouldn’t hesitate to simply choose a city or town, and to use a tool like RidewithGPS, or even Google Maps (which has drastically improved its cycling info as of late) to plan out a route. Look for local businesses, restaurants, breweries and more to add some local culture into your ride. Might as well make your breaks count!
This list of bicycle friendly businesses in Waterloo Region should help!
For Cyclists Who Want to Treat Themselves
On our recent cycling foray in Waterloo Region, Bri and I decided to base ourselves at Langdon Hall Country House & Spa. Besides being one of the most alluring accommodation options in Ontario, and having Michelin quality dining on offer, there’s also some outdoor adventure to be had.
On the property alone, there are 12 kilometres of woodland trails that can be explored by foot if you so choose (or by snowshoe in the winter), but we chose to explore them via bike. We ended up heading off from these trails to Willibald Brewery (in Ayr), and it’s something we captured and aimed to share in a recent reel (linked below).
Blair Road, right near the entrance of the property will keep you on paved paths for the most part if you’d like to head into the likes of Cambridge or Blair, but heading south, on Langdon Drive, will keep you on more unpaved and gravel paths (something Bri and I both appreciate if we’re riding gravel bikes, anyhow).
For Cyclists Who Want Something a Little Different
If you’re keen to get off the beaten path a little, I’m a huge fan of the General Store Tour. This nearly 40 kilometre route (which I’ll link for you here) will bring you past some classic bakeries, cafes, restaurants and, yes, general stores in rural communities like Elmira, Floradale, Yatton, Wallenstein, and Hawkesville.
I loved the sense here that you were far away from the big city, so to speak, yet still so close to some of the best parts of Ontario (ie. local business owners), all while experiencing the beauty of the rolling hills of Woolwich and Wellesley Townships.
For the Mountain Bikers and the Adventurous
Ladies and gentlemen, in Ontario, it really does not get better than The Hydrocut. We’re talking about 35 kilometres of flowing trails that see nearly one hundred thousand visitors per year, and for good reason.
There is a little something for everyone here, as there are routes of varying skill level. If you want to keep it easy, you can, but if you’re more advanced, you’ll also find board walks, bridges, switchbacks, and armoured walls.
It’s one of the best kept secrets in Canadian mountain biking, quite frankly.
For Serious Cyclists Who Want to See It All
The Waterlooo Region Four Rivers Bikepacking Route is 212 kilometres long, and was inspired by the lengthy Grand Nith Ramble. This is a route where you’ll want to plan for a couple of overnight stops, but it’ll cover it all, in some sense.
Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo – you name it, and it’s covered on this route, but do note that it’s reserved for the more advanced and adventurous cyclist. It’s certainly on my to-do list as it relates to cycling in this region!
When it Comes to Cycling in Waterloo, If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It
Whatever you’re looking for, it’s here, and it’s also not overdeveloped. There’s a rawness, a realness, and a beauty to cycling here, because you’re rarely on a route that is all one thing. There’s a mix of paved and unpaved, city and town.
The best piece of advice I can offer is that you have the power to customize your trip. If you want to take a diversion, take it! The world is your oyster here, and I can tell you from experience, cycling here is only going to get better, and that’s a testament to a region where cycling matters, and cyclists are thought of as these communities grow.
It’s wonderful to see, and even more wonderful to ride.
