How about a trailway from Guelph to Goderich?

You'll be able to ride (or walk or cross-country ski) the 124 kilometres from Guelph to Goderich if a group formed this January can help it.

The G2G Rail Trail Advisory Committee is a small group drawn from trail-interested parties in the Counties of Huron, Perth and Wellington, and the Region of Waterloo. Their plan is to ensure that the abandoned CPR rail right-of-way, from Guelph to Goderich, is maintained as a recreational trail, open to all non-motorized uses (and in the winter, snowmobiles).

Chair Doug Cota, of Only Sports in Listowel, says that Huron and Perth counties already have the papers in hand to lease the rights-of-way from the province of Ontario (which holds the land in trust). And Wellington already has an involvement with the trail through the Kissing Bridge Trailway from Guelph to Millbank.

G2G Rail Trail was created to encourage and develop the process of a unified trail system from Guelph to the Lake Huron shores. That development could include the marketing of the trail as a destination trip, with links to nearby accommodation and eateries. A major undertaking will be the four bridges needed for the trail. Some hefty sponsorship and willing municipal governments will be needed to make those happen. That's why the G2G committee is looking for many voices to join the chorus.

Cota says that G2G also hopes to attract members who will be the core of volunteer maintenance committees along the trail, as has been done with the Kissing Bridge Trailway.

G2G is still in its formative stages. You can have a groundfloor involvement. The next meeting of the G2G committee is at the Queens Bakery in Blyth on Wednesday, March 13 at 7 p.m. You can go to the website and see the Google mapping of the route, or go to the Facebook page and see photos from last fall's trip along the trail. And if you're a hardcore rider, you can join the Waterloo Cycling Club's Steaming Nostril event on March 24, which will include part of the Kissing Bridge Trailway. Some of the proceeds from the event will help the G2G committee.

Email Cota at info@cycleontario.com or call him at 519-291-9675

 

Comments

[Kdmarshall]

This is a wonderful idea. I hope we can get it done.

[Michael L]

I love the idea of another long-distance rail trail in the area.

With regards to the kissing-bridge trailway, which would be a part of this proposed trail, I wish they'd complete a bridge over the Grand River. The current detour due to a lack of bridge is rather arduous.

In other words, I'd be happier if they completed existing trail infrastructure first.

[Sotty]

Yes! Building Bridges - Connecting Communities is the goal of our annual fundraising event held for the Kissing Bridge Trailway! We are proposing suspended bridges over the Grand and Conestoga Rivers. The cost for bridges is substantial compared to opening up the next 70KM of trail!

You can Participate, Sponsor or Volunteer with Spring on the Trail | 2013. We challenge everyone to Get of the Couch and On the Trail! www.sprigonthetrail.ca