Guelph Hiking Trail Club upcoming events

Snyder’s Flats (19 Aug 2026)

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Snyder’s Flats

Wednesday, August 19, 2026, 9:30 am for approximately 1.5 hours. Level 1, moderate pace, 5.5 kms.

Trailhead: Snyder’s Flats Conservation Area, 1353 Snyder’s Flats Road, west of Sawmill Road near the village of Bloomingdale in Woolwich Township, Region of Waterloo N0B 1K0. Continue on the gravel road to the parking lot where the road ends and where there is a kiosk.

Carpool: 9 am from the Galaxy Theatre parking lot (near the traffic lights) on Woodlawn Road in Guelph.

Snyder’s Flats is a 100-hectare former gravel pit that has been restored as a natural area with ponds, new forests, grasslands and other features.

The ponds provide habitat for several fish species that live in the ponds as well as the nearby Grand River. The forest was planted in conjunction with the Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club.

There is a 4.5-kilometre looped trail with interpretive signs that explain the features of Snyder’s Flats. Along the way, you'll traverse boardwalks and dirt paths, exploring the ecosystems that make up the region. The trail is especially rewarding for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts, with plenty of opportunities to spot local species.

Bring: Water, sunscreen, bug repellent and ID.

Optional coffee/tea or lunch after the hike: Crowsfoot Restaurant, 1872 Sawmill Road, Conestoga.

Please let the hike leader know if you are meeting at the trailhead.

Hike Leader: Mary Mitchell, mhmitchell1@gmail.com, 819 321-5378.

Belfountain Conservation & Area Fitness Hike (20 Aug 2026)

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Belfountain Conservation & Area Fitness Hike

When: Thursday, August 20, 2026

Where: Belfountain Conservation Area 819 Forks of the Credit Rd., Belfountain

Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (hiking)

Distance: Approx. 7 km (out & back)

Hike Rating: Level 2+

Moderate to fast pace, depending on the terrain. The trail varies from easy wood decking, crushed stone, metal grates in spots, to trails with rocks, tree roots, unstable surfaces, rough stairs and hills.

Carpooling Advised: Meet at 9:05 am for a 9:15 am departure from the Rockmosa Community Centre, 110 Rockmosa Dr., Rockwood. Marie will reserve Credit Valley Conservation park passes for the drivers. Please let her know if you are willing to drive so vehicle permits can be booked.

Cost: Admission to the Conservation Area is $6.75 per person (senior), $8.50 (-64). Marie will pre-purchase these tickets to facilitate the park entrance.

Recommended: Hiking boots & poles, water, snacks, insect repellent, sun screen, Health Card/ID, small personal first aid kit. Dress for the weather. No dogs please.

Details: Perched atop the Niagara Escarpment, Belfountain Conservation Area is a scenic 13-hectare seasonal oasis featuring a suspension bridge, historic bell fountain, waterfalls and man-made caves. We’ll explore the Riverside, Gorge and Bide-a-Wee Trails in the Conservation Area, which are short, but beautiful. From there our hike will take us on the challenging Trimble and Crow’s Nest Side Trails and then continue on the Trimble Side Trail to the Credit River. We’ll return back to the Conservation Area via the Trimble Side Trail.

Hike Leader: Marie Burland burlandmc@gmail.com

Post hike opportunity to enjoy refreshments and snacks at one of the lovely cafes in Belfountain.

Summer Picnic Final Volunteer Update (20 Aug 2026)

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 22:30:00 GMT

If you are available to help with our event on Sunday, August 23, please join us for an update meeting on Thursday, August 20 @ Royal City Brewery.

Snacks will be provided.

Discussion to include:

Overall set up (9:30am)
Games/Activity/Hike Coordinators and leader
Food Coordinators - set up
Clothing Booth
Prizes (draw)
Clean up

Summer Members Picnic (23 Aug 2026)

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Leave No Trace Members Summer Picnic

Join us for a fun, social potluck picnic as we celebrate our shared love of hiking and the outdoors—with a Leave No Trace mindset.

Please bring your favourite appetizer, entrée, dessert, or snack to share (enough for approximately 10 people). Electrical hook-ups will be available if you’d like to bring a crockpot.

The Club will provide hotdogs, cold beverages, and napkins.

To support our zero-waste goal, we kindly ask that you:

Bring a refillable water bottle
Bring your own plate, cup, and cutlery

Backyard Games Welcome!

Do you have any outdoor games you could bring along? We’d love to add to the fun!
Ideas include:

Hula hoops
Beach balls
Cornhole
Badminton
Lawn or table games

Afternoon Hikes & Activity

After lunch, our hike leaders will guide a variety of hikes.

As well as a scavenger hunt.

More details to follow.

We hope you’ll join us for this relaxed and enjoyable members (and guests) event!

Note: There are picnic tables for limited seating, bring a chair.

If you are available to help with the event, please contact Rhonda McMahon (email)

Guelph Lake Dam and Rotary Forest (24 Aug 2026)

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Date: Monday, August 24, 2026

Hike name: Guelph Lake Dam and Rotary Forest

Time: – 6:15 pm for check and hike starts promptly at 6:30

Hike description: Starting from Victoria Rd. N., we will enter the trail and meander through the forest along the hiking trails, walk across the top of the dam, and eventually cross Conservation Road to enter the Rotary Forest. This is a lovely loop filled with flowers, trees, and an impressive lookout. As we hike back to our cars, we will hopefully see a sunset view from the top of the dam - weather permitting.

Pace: 4 km/hr, approx. 6.3 km, 1 ¾ hrs

Parking: roadside parking along Victoria Road North, approx. 1km north of Woodlawn Rd E. – look for the pedestrian crosswalk lights by the entrance to the Guelph Lake trails

Required: hiking footwear, dress for the weather, I.D., bug protection

Recommended: water, hiking pole(s), small first aid kit, long pants

Optional: flashlight or headlamp

No dogs please.

Reminders: please register for the hike so I know you are coming.

If you cannot make the hike, please cancel or email me so we are not waiting for you.

Hike leader: Michelle Lebon: milebon231@gmail.com

Wednesday hikes (26 Aug 2026)

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Wednesday hikes by leaders: Gitta, Mary, Michelle and Tuula

About 2 hrs, speed moderate, level 1/2, starting 9:30 am. Registration will be open and details closer to the date.

Cancelled - YogaHikes with Rhonda (27 Aug 2026)

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Due to prior commitments this summer, these hikes will be cancelled until September.

Elora Cataract Trail to Forks of the Credit (29 Aug 2026)

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Elora Cataract Trail to Forks of the Credit

When: Saturday, August 29, 2026

Where: Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, Caledon, ON (Map 15)

Parking available on both sides of the road at the intersection of Mississauga Road & Cataract Road. https://w3w.co/insincere.removed.buff

Time: 9:30 AM – approximately 1:00 PM

Distance: 12 km loop hike

Pace: Moderate (4 km/hr)

Hike Rating: Level 2 (some stairs, hills, uneven surfaces, rocks & roots underfoot)

Recommended: Hiking boots & poles, water, snacks, lunch, rain gear (just in case), Health Card/ID, small personal first aid kit. Dress for the weather. No dogs please.

Description: We will begin this hike on the Elora Cataract Trail and complete a loop through the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park. It is part of the Ontario Parks system and the Niagara Escarpment biosphere and is on the Bruce Trail. We’ll cross the Credit River above the Cataract Falls, then follow the trail down into the valley to a viewpoint of the Falls itself. We’ll hike along the east bank of the Credit River, then turn east to climb the valley, then north back through the main park.

Carpool Option:Meet at 8:30 am for an 8:40 am departure from Rockmosa Community Centre, 110 Rockmosa Dr., Rockwood (south side of tennis courts)

Hike Leader:Marie Burland burlandmc@gmail.com

Please let Marie know if you are going to meet at the trailhead.

Note: There is a porta potty at the trailhead.

You’ll will have an opportunity to enjoy post hike refreshments in Belfountain.

Wednesday hikes (2 Sep 2026)

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Wednesday hikes by leaders: Gitta, Mary, Michelle and Tuula

About 2 hrs, speed moderate, level 1/2, starting 9:30 am. Registration will be open and details closer to the date.

Wednesday hikes (9 Sep 2026)

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Wednesday hikes by leaders: Gitta, Mary, Michelle and Tuula

About 2 hrs, speed moderate, level 1/2, starting 9:30 am. Registration will be open and details closer to the date.

Devil's Pulpit – Last Gasp of Summer! (13 Sep 2026)

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Devil's Pulpit – Last Gasp of Summer!

When: September 13, 2026

Time: 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Where: Trailhead is the Grange cross section, 16413 Creditview Rd, Belfountain, ON., (43.791365, -79.975163) https://w3w.co/absurd.aced.kindle

Trail:12 km - Level 3+ due to difficult terrain. The trail has long, steep climbs, with some sections of loose material or unstable surfaces. Moving time is 4 hours. Slow to moderate pace. Descent/Ascent at Devil's Pulpit: approx. 150m. A good level of fitness is required!

Spaces: 15

Carpool: Due to limited parking at the trailhead, carpooling will be the preferred option. Carpooling is possible from either Rockwood or Guelph. Please let the leader know which carpool group you will be joining. If you register and decide to travel to the trailhead on your own, you must let a hike leader know.

Rockwood: Meet Marie at 8:35 am for an 8:45 am (sharp) departure at the Rockmosa Community Centre, 110 Rockmosa Dr., Rockwood (south side of tennis courts).

Guelph: Meet Izaak at 8:05 am for an 8:15 am (sharp) departure from the Boathouse / Covered bridge parking lot, Guelph.

Hike Description:
On this very challenging out & back hike, we'll descend and later ascend steep rock faces, on treacherous stairs, (with a cable to help pull and steady yourself), scramble over big boulders, and hike three other Bruce Trail Side Trails, including Ring Kiln, Trimble and Crow’s Nest. You’ll enjoy amazing evergreen forests with large moss-covered rocks, ferns and fallen leaves. We will have lunch on the trail around the halfway point. We say challenging since there are many trip hazards and the vertical changes extend to the side trails as well.

What to Bring:
Bring at least 2 litres of water, snacks, lunch, sturdy hiking boots, hiking poles (strongly recommended), a change of clothes, rain gear (just in case), health card/ID, small personal first aid kit. Dress for the weather and in layers. No dogs please.

Hike Leaders:

Marie Burland burlandmc@gmail.com

Izaak de Rijcke izaak@izaak.ca

Option to stop at a quaint café in Belfountain post hike!

Trek & Tell - Bruce Trail Quilt Project (15 Sep 2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Join us in conversation with club members Tanya Simpraga and Lis Laustroer.

More than two million people use the Bruce Trail each year. Of those, only about 40 hikers complete an End-to-End annually. Even fewer can say they have hiked the entire trail multiple times—club member Lis is one of them.

From her very first hike in 1984, wearing jeans and a cotton T-shirt, Lis began what would become a lifelong journey on the Bruce Trail.

In the early 2000s, completion badges were introduced. That’s when Lis caught what she calls “badge disease,” and her quilt project was born. Every badge she earned was carefully placed on the quilt exactly where it was received along the trail. Each one holds a memory—of people she met, moments shared, and the many End-to-End hikes she completed along the way.

Through this conversation, Lis will bring these memories to life, sharing stories from her remarkable journey.

It promises to be an inspiring and engaging evening.

Event Sponsor: Domino's Pizza

Doors Open: 6:30pm

Event Begins: 7:00pm

Cash Bar hosted by Guelph Little Theatre

Wednesday hikes (16 Sep 2026)

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Wednesday hikes by leaders: Gitta, Mary, Michelle and Tuula

About 2 hrs, speed moderate, level 1/2, starting 9:30 am. Registration will be open and details closer to the date.

RLT E2E (19 Sep 2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Radial Line Trail E2E

One day hike, 38 km

Two day hike will be available, September 19 and 20

Please note that these dates might need to be moved as we find solutions around the closed section of trail.

Please check here and the club newsletter for updates.

Hike Leader: Wally VanderVaart

May the 4th be with you hike, 50th Anniversary (4 May 2027)

Tue, 04 May 2027 13:30:00 GMT

May the 4th be with you hike

Star Wars 50th anniversary hike.

Hike path to be determined

HIke Leader: Marie Burland

Izaak, Tom,