When you visit Kitchener in beautiful Ontario, Canada, you will find that it offers big-city amenities like shopping, entertainment, dining, and nightlife, while still maintaining that small-town feel. One of the most stunning features of Kitchener is that it is situated on the Grand River.
The Grand River is a Canadian Heritage River and flows through southwestern Ontario over 300 kilometers. The river isn’t just beautiful, but it’s useful too; it serves as a source of drinking water for several of the surrounding communities. The Grand River Conservation Authority manages the water, along with the other natural resources that the river provides, for 38 municipalities and almost one million residents. They are in charge of planning, regulations, resources, education, and recreation.
Speaking of recreation, the Grand River is a perfect spot for fishing, kayaking and canoeing. Kitchener also offers over 30 miles of trails for walking, jogging, bicycling, bird-watching and dog-walking. Currently under construction is the Walter Bean Grand River Trail, which will provide its visitors with environmental, educational, and recreational fulfillment for years to come.
Once completed, the trail will cover 78 kilometers along the Grand River and will extend the existing Cambridge to Hamilton trail system as one continuous pathway. It will loop through Kitchener, Waterloo, and Woolwich and will have a least 19 access points along the trail. You can check out the Map and Resources for more information on the access points, the distances between them, and the plants and animals you might see on the trail.
