Great Waterfront Trail Adventure 2025 Recap

The excitement is palpable as riders arrive at Mohawk College in Hamilton to collect their registration packages. Many of our tour participants return year after year, and the first moments of another Great Waterfront Trail Adventure are some of the best, as people reconnect with old friends and meet new ones.

Once the formalities are taken care of, riders roll down to Lake Ontario along sections of the Hambur Loop, some sampling the ice cream options at Easterbrooks, and others exploring the Royal Botanical Gardens.

The day’s ride offers a chance to warm up the legs, explore Hamilton’s waterfront by bike, cool off with a swim in the lake, and enjoy a tasty lunch and opening celebration at Barangas on the Beach before heading back to Mohawk College along Hamilton’s impressive cycling network.

Let’s get this adventure started. There’s no better way to fuel a day on the bike than with a hearty breakfast, thank you, Mohawk College. Today, we mark 20 years of Ontario’s Greenbelt as we follow a Greenbelt cycling route through hills, forests, farmland, and small towns, ending in Guelph.

A cycling tour offers a series of challenges and rewards. The first challenge of the day is Snake Hill, a popular local climb that is quite tough. The reward is enjoying some of the best apple fritters in the area at Copper Kettle Café in Waterdown. The next motivation to push through about 35 kilometres of ups and downs along country roads is the promise of ice cream and snacks at Flow State Bike Co.  

We cap off the day in Guelph with a group dinner, offering another chance to express our gratitude to the Ontario Greenbelt and the Waterfront Regeneration Trust for their years of dedication to making this adventure possible.

Evening options include a guided Arboretum tour or exploring the historic streets and breweries of Downtown Guelph.

Day three is a bucket list day as we take on the legendary Guelph to Goderich (G2G) Rail Trail. This is a new addition to the Trans Canada Trail that offers a long, scenic ride through Ontario’s farmland. Days like this need proper fueling for the body, and another epic breakfast spread, this time at Guelph University’s Creelman Hall, made sure energy would not be an issue.

The adventure vibe is high as 150 sets of wheels kick up a cloud of dust along the hot and dry rail trail. Dust-covered bikes and bodies enjoying lunch at the Gourmandise French Bakery in the small town of Milverton is a picture-perfect representation of what the GWTA is all about: camaraderie and adventure.

Those who choose the camping option finish their day 110 km in at Blyth and are rewarded with a visit to the Boot in Blyth, a family-run business that serves local brews and great food, and one of G2G’s favourite stops, the Cowbell Brewery. For the riders who made the 135 kilometres to Goderich, the reward is a beach, a swim, and a spectacular Lake Huron sunset.

With riders starting their journey at both Blyth and Goderich, the charming town of Bayfield is an ideal spot to reconnect over coffee and perhaps lunch.

Quiet country roads lead us south to Grand Bend. Riders disperse into one of Ontario’s most popular beach towns. The afternoon is spent with sand between our toes, swimming in Lake Huron, and sharing a meal on one of the many patios.

Everyone reconvenes for a sunset beach celebration at the Grand Bend Beach House to enjoy dessert, and one of Lake Huron’s famous sunsets marks the end of a memorable day.

Day six is the shortest day of the tour, but what it lacks in kilometres, it makes up for in being one of the most memorable days of the bike trip. We start with a relaxing ride out of London along the Thames Valley Parkway before connecting to the Whistlestop Trail in St. Thomas.

In St. Thomas, we learn the story of Jumbo the elephant and take selfies with its giant likeness. Another highlight in St. Thomas is the Elevated Park, the first of its kind in Canada, bringing you 95 feet above the ground, with beautiful views of the Kettle Creek Valley. Discover art displays, musical installations, and more.

With a short riding day, most riders arrive in Port Stanley by noon, giving a perfect opportunity to enjoy lunch at one of the many eateries and spend the afternoon on the beach. We finish the day with a group celebration at GTs on the Beach, complete with sand, water, and summer vibes.

As day six was a short ride, day seven was a larger challenge – over 100 km along the Lake Erie shoreline. Along the way, we visit some of Ontario’s most charming port towns: Port Bruce, Port Burwell, Port Rowan, and Port Ryerse. Riders enjoy beach town cafés, lake views, and wineries, making it both a scenic and indulgent day in the saddle.

The final overnight of the tour is in one of Ontario’s most well-known beach towns, Port Dover.

On the final day, riders complete the journey along the rail trail from Port Dover back to Hamilton.

We stop at the Windmill Country Market for delicious baked goods – a local gem that’s definitely worth a visit. Continuing through Brantford, we are greeted with music, celebrations, and culture. Chef David Jacob prepared a charcuterie infused with traditional indigenous flavours, which we savoured while exploring the Chapel’s eight stained glass windows, each sharing the story of the Six Nations and the Chapel.

A short distance later, we feast at Heart’s Content Organic Farmstead. Ella and Richard are long-time environmentalists and advocates for protecting Ontario’s farmland. 

Back in Hamilton, spirits are high as riders cross the finish line, celebrating not just the distance they’d covered, but the friendships and memories they’d made along the way.