cambridge to paris rail trail

The only drawback - no facilities in between. There are washrooms close to the trailhead on Water Street in Cambridge - just up the hill and there is Tim Hortons and Subway at the corner of Water and Myers Road. The trail itself is gravel/dirt and flat - easy to ride or walk but muddy in early spring as the ground frost comes out. Keep your eyes peeled for the unusual - ruins of the mill and all kinds of bird and animal life as well as amazing views of the river. It's not a high endurance trail but you can get a good workout going to and from Paris on a bike. I have hiked part of it but not all as I am a walker - not a runner! There are mile markers as you go as this is part of the Trans Canada Trail - only drawback - they start at the high end in Cambridge and count down but you can keep track of how far you've gone at least. It's great for walking, biking, hiking and strollers - we've even used a wheelchair!

The trail to Paris is entirely flat and a good 20km stretch that winds along the river. Once you get past the glut of Highway 24 traffic (which the trail runs parallel too), you are more apt to see deer and redstarts flitting about. The most appealing section is near Glen Morris where you can take fork off the main trail to see an old German Woollen Mill. The stone wall remains are a gorgeous backdrop for photos. Built in 1867, the mill is situated near the Massasauga Rapids (which makes it tricky to find when you are paddling by and focussing on the rapids and not tipping!). In 1945 the mill was dwarfed by larger industry and repurposed as a hotel--the Grand River Lodge. The Canadian Pacific Rail eventually bought out the owner as they wanted to close the only road access to the lodge (which merged into a private summer retreate) and put in a rail system. There's lots of neat history on the German Mill if you dig around on the internet. We've walked, biked and canoed this trail a few times and will continue to! The extensive trail network is one of the reasons we moved to this area.