Monthly Update for April 2026 |
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A Word from Our President |
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Dear Members,
Last month, I asked you to keep your eyes open for the "hidden gems" on our trails… the tricky turns, the best views, and the stories that make our trails special to you and our community.
I’m happy to share that we have launched our Points of Interest Submission Form. It’s time to start pinning those spots to our map! Whether it’s a rare tree you’ve spotted or the place where you always stop for a snack, we want to know about it. Your contributions will fuel a variety of future club initiatives, including:
How to Submit:
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Open the Form: Guelph Hiking Trail Club - Community Points of Interest
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Tell the Story: Give your spot a name and tell us why it’s a point of interest.
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Drop a Pin: Let us know which trail it’s on (and GPS coordinates if you have them!).
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Tell us who you are. We might need to get in touch with questions!
What happens next?
Once you submit your idea, we’ll be reaching out to those with the most unique or helpful submissions to collect photos. These points will help us build future handbooks, scavenger hunts, and even special features for Guelph’s Bicentennial.
Our goal is still 100 points of interest by the end of May. Let's see how many we can collect this month!
Happy Trails,
Justin St-Maurice |
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Many Club members have enjoyed our Online Map, ever since it was first created in September 2021. Trail Captain Brian van Nostrand had GPS’d all our trails, and built this digital map system that summer. We remain deeply grateful for that work. Unfortunately Brian passed away in October 2024, and we’ve been unable to update this map since then.
Recently, we’ve been lucky enough to have Pat Hills step forward and take over this Online Map on behalf of the GHTC. Pat is a GPS expert, and presented a Trek ‘n Tell in February on ‘Geomatics’, where he led us through a fascinating exploration of the science behind mapping and spatial data, including the evolution of GPS technology and mobile positioning for recreational purposes. He has now developed a whole new version of the Online Map.
This is a sample screenshot of the map, as shown on my laptop. Of course it also displays on a smartphone.
Some newer Club members may not yet be familiar with this Online Map. While we’ve always had a printed mapbook, we created this digital version for hikers who’d rather have their trail map on their phone. While out on the trails, they can zoom in to wherever they’re walking at the time. Give it a try if that's how you would like to hike our trails!
The Menu on the left side shows specific waypoints (green markers), the trail segments (orange and blue segment markers), and other highlights such as bridges, parking areas, etc. Clicking on these reveals more information – similar text descriptions as in our printed Handbook. Scroll to the bottom of the menu to toggle between “street view” and “aerial imagery view” (just like in Google Maps).
There haven’t been any significant trail re-routes since October 2024, but we have done a few minor adjustments, updated a few of the text descriptions, and added some clarifications on the Menu.
This new version of the GHTC trail map is now available (as a link) in the Store on the Club website. For those who already have the link to the original map, you’ll need to delete it and get this new version. If you’re logged in as a Member, it’s free! Another benefit of Club membership. Non-members can order it for $5. Receiving this link is for your own personal use only, so please do not share the link with others!
Happy hiking! Article by Frank Schoenhoeffer |
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Last month, we shared a list of the community organizations with which the Guelph Hiking Trail Club connects as we work to make trails and nature accessible to everyone in our community. You may be interested to know that our club also works with many local landowners as well. Trail Coordinators Bill Mungall, Frank Schoenhoeffer and Mike Curtis work hard to foster relationships with all the people and groups who own the land on which our trails run. GHTC doesn't own land in our own right. We have to get permission to create trails and then maintain them on private property. And it's not only individuals who own the land our trails cross, but also bigger entities like the City of Guelph, Grand River Conservation Authority, Province of Ontario, Town of Milton, Fusion Homes Guelph, University of Guelph, Cutten Fields, and the County of Wellington. Nurturing these relationships and ensuring we comply with landowners' wishes allows all of us to hike on beautiful local trails through woods and fields, up hills and down, and along cliff tops and rivers. The generosity of our landowners and the hard work of our Trail Coordinators makes it possible for all of us to enjoy Fantastic Local Hiking! |
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Thank-you to Our Volunteers
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Volunteer Week happens in April, and The Guelph Hiking Trail Club would like to extend our very sincere thanks to all of the volunteers whose time and effort support the club throughout the year. Whether your involvement is short term or ongoing, your contributions play an important role in making our activities possible.
We are grateful to those who volunteer at specific times during the year helping at our special events, handing out snacks and water during end‑to‑end hikes, representing the club at the Farmers’ Market, and taking part in work parties to maintain and improve our trails. These efforts may be seasonal or occasional, but they make a real difference to the success of our programs and to the experience of our members and visitors.
We also wish to recognize our ongoing volunteers: our Trail Captains, Hike Leaders, and members of the Executive. Their consistent commitment, planning, leadership, and behind‑the‑scenes work are essential to the smooth operation of the club and the quality of what we offer. Thanks to their dedication - and to the many volunteers who support them - people in our community continue to have access to fantastic local hiking experiences. This work contributes in a meaningful way to the health, enjoyment, and connection to nature that make Guelph such a great place to live.
Thank you all for helping to keep our trails active, welcoming, and well cared for. |
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Guelph City Nature Challenge |
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The City Nature Challenge (CNC) is an annual four-day nature census in which cities around the world use biodiversity recording platforms like iNaturalist to document nature in their neighbourhoods. These contributions become data to understand and protect nature worldwide. Guelph is joining this census event for the first time this year!
Guelph Hiking Trail Club will be supporting the Guelph City Nature Challenge in finding and documenting wildlife in the city! On April 24, Wally will be leading a hike along the Speed River Trail to Niska Road. On April 26, Jane and Sam will be leading a birding hike along the Speed River. We will be taking pictures of native plants and animals and uploading them to iNaturalist. Join us in the City Nature Challenge and register today through the GHTC Calendar. For questions, please reach out to Samantha Gow, Membership Coordinator.
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Trek & TellOh! The Stories She Can Tell!SOLD OUT |
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Our Trek & Tell series continues to be very popular. April's event is already full. For those who registered early, Marci will take us on unforgettable adventures from around the world. Having traveled to 35 countries, she fully immerses herself in local cultures through exploration and human connection. Her journeys are rooted in self-sufficiency—favouring tent-based travel and self-propelled adventures like hiking, sea kayaking, and cycling.
She’ll share stories from iconic landscapes including Mont Blanc across France, Switzerland, and Italy, as well as Iceland, Morocco, the Azores, and Nepal. Closer to home, Marci recounts both the pain and exhilaration of backpacking British Columbia’s rugged West Coast Trail, and completing all five of Ontario’s long-distance treks, as well as walking five different Camino routes through Spain and Costa Rica.
From shivering through sub-zero winter camping in Ontario to trekking above the Arctic Circle, Marci’s experiences capture both the challenges and rewards of pushing physical and mental limits in the wild. When: 14 Apr 2026 Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (EDT) Location: Guelph Little Theatre, 176 Morris St, Guelph ON N1E 5M7 Thank you to Domino's Pizza for once again providing free pizza to participants! |
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Since 2010 GHTC has valued its being invited to participate in Doors Open Guelph, which is the first Doors Open event each year in Ontario. We try to offer a Trails Open venue close by other Doors Open sites each year. Since several DOG sites are in The Ward this year, we decided to suggest "The O.R." Sidetrail as the featured attraction this time. We hope you can join us for a beautiful, short hike on Saturday, April 25th.
The landowner, the Province, is opening up their closed parking lot south of York, just west of Elizabeth on the south side of York Road in Guelph for this event. From there, we will have hike leaders take hikes, on demand, for half hour hikes between 10 to 3:30 to see the 30 acres of ponds dug out by hand by the prisoners, the new bridge built by our work party in 2025, and possibly a loop back to see Clythe Creek.
Members and non-members are welcome to come to the event, no advance registration required.
Hike leaders are needed to lead these short hikes (training provided), as well as volunteers to greet, and to staff "the desk". If interested in volunteering, contact Bill Mungall. |
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An Evening at the Arboretum |
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Cherry trees in full bloom - April 30, 2025 - U of G Arboretum |
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Wednesday, April 29 • 6:30–8:30 PM
Arboretum Centre, University of Guelph Arboretum
For those who have registered, we are looking forward to a special spring evening celebrating nature, learning, and community partnership! For those on the waitlist, we're working with the Arboretum to try to find a way to open more spots. I can't promise anything, but stay tuned!
An Evening at the Arboretum is an event hosted in collaboration with the University of Guelph Arboretum. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the important work happening at the Arboretum, including exciting updates coming to the JC Taylor Nature Centre, and enjoy time with hikers.
Part 1: Guided Walk (6:30–7:30 PM)
Part 2: Talk with the Arboretum Director (7:30–8:30 PM)
There is no fixed fee for this event. Donations will be accepted at the door, with all contributions supporting the JC Taylor Nature Centre renovation project. Please donate what you are able. Trail Handbooks ($24 for members) and greeting cards ($10) will be for sale (cash or e-transfer only).
Beverages and light snacks will be provided. Click here to join the waitlist! |
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Speed River Trail End-to-end |
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Join us as we hike the full Speed River Trail, from Blackbridge Road in Cambridge to The Boathouse on Gordon Street in Guelph! This is a 16 km, Level 2 hike at a moderate pace (3–4 km/hr), taking approximately 4.5 hours plus travel time to the start.
A bus will be arranged if more than 25 hikers register ($10 per person).
The hike will run rain or shine and will be volunteer supported, with at least two drop‑out points along the route. Snacks and water will be provided at Niska Road. Please bring water, snacks, and a packed lunch; we’ll stop around noon. Dress for spring conditions, wear sturdy hiking boots, and bring rain gear.
Registration opens April 4 and closes April 30. Badges for this hike (which also include the Radial Line Trail end‑to‑end in September 2026) will be available for $5 at the end of the hike.
Hike Leader: Michelle Lebon
Co‑Leaders: Mira S., Tom R., Alison S., Mary M., Emily S., Mike V.
Volunteers are welcome and much appreciated—please contact Rhonda McMahon if you can help with snacks, water, or road and bridge crossings. |
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Give the Gift of Great Hiking |
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Looking for a meaningful gift that encourages fresh air, fitness, and connection to our local trails? Gift memberships to the Guelph Hiking Trail Club are now available!
An annual membership is $25, or you can bundle it with our Trail Handbook for $45 to make a perfect introduction to fantastic local hiking. Gift memberships make a wonderful choice for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, teachers, or anyone who loves spending time outdoors.
We’re currently working on adding online ordering to our website. In the meantime, if you’d like to purchase a gift membership, please email Jane Bibby to get started.
Share the joy of hiking and help someone discover the trails around Guelph! |
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Volunteer Tree Planting Day |
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Help us support ecological restoration with the City of Guelph at Arkell Spring Grounds. Meet at Gate C on Watson Road, Arkell Spring Grounds.
Wednesday, May 6 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Join us for a meaningful day of land stewardship. Help restore and protect the lands we hike by participating in hands-on ecological activities in the new pit-and-mound reforestation field at Gate C, and meet the new land manager for the property, Nigel Finney.
Activities Include:
- Tree planting
- Native seeding
- Mulching and more!
What to Bring:
- Weather-appropriate clothing to stay warm
- Your own work gloves
- A positive, community-minded spirit!
Let’s give back to the property that gives us so much!
Refreshments will be provided.
Thank you to everyone who has already signed up! We only have a few more available spaces on the list! Please reply to RLT Trail Coordinator Frank Schoenhoeffer if you're interested. |
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Upcoming Film Screenings - The Art of Adventure |
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Good Measure Productions is pleased to share news of upcoming Guelph screenings of the award‑winning Canadian documentary The Art of Adventure, directed by Alison Reid, beginning April 10, 2026.
This inspiring and deeply human film tells the story of a remarkable lifelong friendship between world‑renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman and fearless biologist Bristol Foster. The documentary follows their epic 1957 journey around the world in a Land Rover—armed with a 16mm camera and an artist’s brush—capturing a rare glimpse of a planet once wild and unscarred, and a bond built on curiosity, courage, and a shared love of nature.
As part of a limited series of screenings across Canada during Earth Month, The Art of Adventure celebrates two Canadian icons while supporting independent filmmaking.
Several screenings will take place right here in Guelph at the Bookshelf Cinema. Calendar and ticket information is available through the Bookshelf website.
This is a wonderful opportunity to experience a film that resonates deeply with those who love nature, adventure, and the outdoors. |
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Photograph by Alex Jacobs-Blum |
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On the evening of Thursday, April 23, you are invited to join a community walk from the rivers who meet in Guelph (Speed and Eramosa) to the hilltop where the Museum is located. The walk is guided by Jordan Jamieson and Edebwed Ogichidaa / Valarie King. Jordan Jamieson is an Anishinaabe knowledge keeper, leader and youth ambassador from Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, who is passionate about fostering productive dialogue between Indigenous and settler communities. Edebwed Ogichidaa / Valarie King is a knowledge keeper, educator, and elder from Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
Participants will walk together, pausing in specific locations to reflect on past and present experiences in the place we call Guelph, and to imagine a shared future. Reflect and learn at the rivers and on the land through First Nations perspectives.
The walking tour ends on the hilltop overlooking downtown Guelph. Witness a 30-foot-wide projection on the east-facing wall of the St. Agnes School, engaging in a dialogue with the land and the surrounding architecture. The video compilation features “The Archive of Steampunk Mishoomis,” created by longtime Guelph resident, Anishinaabemowin speaker, and residential school Survivor, Rene Meshake, who incorporated expressions of Anishinaabe identity and pride into his work.
This event is offered in conjunction with the feature exhibition Maawnjidyang Maa: We Come Together Here, curated by the Decolonizing Place Narratives Collective. Registration is required and includes access to the exhibition.
Please note that the walk will take approximately 60-75 minutes at a moderate pace, with stops for storytelling and reflection at specific locations along the route. Much, but not all, the route is paved. Walkers will climb the steps from Gordon Street to the hilltop, where the Basilica and the Museum are located. Please wear comfortable shoes. Note that there are no washroom facilities until the walkers reach the Guelph Civic Museum.
Participants are welcome to park in the Museum’s lot (entrance off Cork Street) and then walk to the meeting location at the conjunction of the rivers. The Museum’s parking lot is free of charge for participants in the event. |
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Check out the GHTC calendar regularly for updates on all hikes!
Wednesdays - Arboretum afternoon hikes are offered every Wednesday afternoon. For more information contact Christa at arb.naturalist@uoguelph.ca or ext. 53615. Level: easy. Speed: slow.
Upcoming Hikes
April 11 - BT Iroquoia E2E - Day 5
April 13 - Happy Tails Hike
April 12 - Cataract, Museum, and Trestle Bridge Trails
April 15 - Wednesday Hike
April 15 - Sunset Hike
April 18 - RLT and Side Trails Series #2
April 19 - Brighten the Gap Spring Hike April 20 - Happy Tails Hike
April 21 - Hungry Hollow Loop April 22 - Wednesday Hike
April 24 - Guelph City Nature Challenge: SRT to Niska Road
April 25 - BT Iroquoia Section E2E - Day 6
April 25 - Trails Open
April 26 - Guelph City Nature Challenge: Early Birds Speed River Hike
April 26 - Photo Hike - Breithaupt Park April 27 - Happy Tails Hike
April 28 - Limehouse Figure Eight Loop April 29 - Wednesday Hike
May 2 - SRT E2E May 4 - Happy Tails Hike May 6 - Wednesday Hike
May 9 - BT Iroquoia E3E - Day 7
May 10 - Hilton Falls Mother's Day Hike May 11 - Happy Tails Hike May 13 - Happy Tails Hike
Thanks to our VOLUNTEER hike leaders
for building these hikes.
We appreciate your time and efforts! |
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GHTC Trail Users' Code
As a member you agree to follow the GHTC Trail Users' Code when on the trails:
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April 14 - Trek & Tell April 19-25 - Volunteer Appreciation Week April 24-27 - City Nature Challenge April 24 - City Nature Challenge Hike - Speed River Trail April 25 - Doors Open/Trails Open April 26 - City Nature Challenge Hike - Early Birds April 29 - An Evening at the Arboretum May 2 - SRT E2E May 6 - Ecological Restoration Work Party June 21 - First annual Summer Members' BBQ July 19 - Annual Blue Jays Hike |
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Other Hiking and Outdoor News
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PO Box 1, Guelph, ON, N1H 6J6
www.guelphhiking.com |
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