Region 4 Waterloo Region Woolwich
The Township of Woolwich is a community of communities including places such as Elmira, St. Jacobs, Breslau, Floradale, Conestogo, West Montrose, Maryhill, Bloomingdale, Heidelberg, Winterbourne, Shantz Station, and Crowsfoot. All of these communities area surrounded by a rural countryside, and right next to Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge.
Welcome to a place where the spirit of rural Ontario comes alive. Here, quiet roads wander through a patchwork of fields and farms where common sights include "slow moving vehicle" signs and the occasional Old Order Mennonite horse-drawn buggy.
Dotted throughout are ten settlement areas, each offering its own unique character… the bustling shops of Elmira and St. Jacobs feature specialty foods, unique clothing and gifts, restaurants and theatres. In Conestogo you can shop for antiques and gifts, as well as enjoy a dinner concert. West Montrose is home to the "Kissing Bridge", the last remaining covered bridge in Ontario and Winterbourne is graced by a majestic two span, single lane steel bridge crossing the Grand River on the outskirts of the hamlet. The spire of St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church in Maryhill, an area landmark, is used to advantage by the Waterloo Regional Airport in Breslau. Heidelberg was given its name by an early German settler; Bloomingdale was incorporated as a village in 1861; and a must stop is Floradale, where you can indulge in a scrumptuous cream bun at a small bake shop in the village centre.
A Brief Description of Trails in Woolwich Township : More detailed information can be found in the Guidebook to Woolwich Trails.
Avon Trail
Trail length in Woolwich: 15 km
Use: hiking
This natural path was established in 1975 to form a link between the Thames Valley Trail in St. Marys and the Grand Valley Trail at Priddle Park in Conestogo. For more info log onto www.avontrail.ca
Lions Lake Trail (Woolwich Reservoir)
Trail length: 7 km
Use: hiking, biking, cross country skiing
This trail was established in 1980 by the Elmira Lions Club, the GRCA, the village of Floradale and local landowners. It is maintained by the Elmira Lions Club.
Grand Valley Trail
Length of trail in Woolwich: 26 km
Use: hiking, cross country skiing
This trail was established in 1972 with the formation of the GVT Association. The entire GVT is 250 km in length, stretching from Rock Point Provincial Park near Lake Erie and the Town of Alton. For more information please log onto www.gvta.on.ca
Health Valley Trail
Trail length: 5.1 km
Use: hiking, biking, cross country skiing.
This is the old Conestogo River Trail between St. Jacobs and Conestogo. It dates to the earliest days of both villages. The HVT was a Conestogo/Winterbourne Optimist club project in 1992. It is maintained by the Township of Woolwich and members of the Woolwich Trails Group.
Kissing Bridge Trailway
Trail length in Woolwich: 16 km
Use: hiking, cycling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling(as designated)
The abandoned 45 km stretch of rail line from Guelph to Millbank was purchased by the Province in 1990 and subsequently leased by the Region in 1997 as a rails to trails conversion project. The operations of the trailway are coordinated by a volunteer Trailway Advisory Board with representatives from five steward groups consisting of the Elmira Lions Club, the Conestogo-Winterbourne Optimist Club, the Guelph Hiking Club, the Linwood Lions Club, and the Golden Triangle Snowmobile Club. Click here to view Kissing Bridge Trailway Map. Click here to view 2005 Kissing Bridge Trailway Survey Report
Mill Race Trail, St. Jacobs
Trail length: 1.5 km
Use: hiking, biking, cross country skiing
The trail follows the division and reunion of the Conestogo River entering St. Jacobs from the west. It dates back several generations and is known as "Lovers Lane".
School hike day on the Mill Race Trail in St. Jacobs
Sandy Hills Pinery Trail
Trail length: 3 km
Use: hiking, cross country skiing
Three trails meander through 2 stands of pine trees designated as Waterloo Region Agreement Forest. The land was purchased by Waterloo County in 1945 and the red pine stand planted to prevent erosion of the sandy soil.
Trans Canada Trail
Trail length within Woolwich: 29 km
Use: hiking, cycling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling(as designated)
Part of the world's longest trail at 16,000 km. Within Woolwich, the trail follows existing trails(Kissing Bridge Trailway, Mill Race trail, Health Valley Trail), across public and private land and along some roadways. Details of the entire trail can be found at www.tctrail.ca.
Lions Ring Trail, Elmira
Trail length: Approximately 5 km of trail
Use: hiking, biking
Plans are for the Ring Trail to circle Elmira linking with the Kissing Bridge Trailway at the north end. More trails will be constructed as opportunities arise. Click here to view map
Hopewell Trail in Breslau
Trail length in Woolwich: 3km
Use: hiking, biking
The third phase of the Hopewell Trail in Breslau is now complete. This new trail is a combination of asphalt and stone dust making it well suited for pedestrians & cyclists. Click here to view a map.
Riverland Trail in Breslau
Trail lenth in Woolwich: 1 km
Use: hiking, biking
Phase one of a new stone dust trail as part of the Riverland residential development has been constructed overlooking the Grand River. The trail will be open in 2009.
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