Waterfront Trail

A signed long-distance route mixing waterfront paths, quiet roads, and some on-road connectors along the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence.

Time to Ride: You can dip in for an afternoon, but end-to-end is a multi-week tour. Many riders pick a one to two week slice around a lake or between major cities.

Best Time to Go: Late spring to early autumn is the main season in Ontario. Summer brings the warmest lake weather and the busiest accommodation in resort areas.

Getting there: Common start points include Sault Ste. Marie and the Toronto waterfront, with rail and bus access in many sections. The eastern end is at the Quebec border, so open-jaw trips are easy.

Costs: Costs vary widely because you can ride it as an urban day path or a full tour with hotels. Budget for accommodation in peak summer, plus occasional paid attractions and ferries if you add side trips.

Difficulty: Moderate overall: terrain is often rolling to flat near the water, but the challenge is distance, wind off the lakes, and occasional stretches on roads shared with traffic.

The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail is a 3,600 km signed route across Ontario, running between Sault Ste. Marie and the Quebec border while following the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. It links over 150 communities and First Nations, making it easy to plan shorter rides with frequent services.

Notably, it is not a single continuous off-road path. The route uses a patchwork of roads and trails, with a long-term goal of becoming as off-road and as close to the water as is ecologically feasible. In places, the network has been improved with dedicated infrastructure such as roughly 50 km of paved shoulders on Highway 17 between Sault Ste. Marie and Greater Sudbury.

Urban highlights include the waterfront riding through Toronto where the trail is called the Martin Goodman Trail. Other classic pieces include the 1000 Islands segment, where a 37 km bike path runs parallel to the Parkway between Gananoque and Brockville.

• Stage 1: Sault Ste. Marie to Greater Sudbury (multi-day section) - Big-sky riding in Northern Ontario with key on-road connections, including sections where paved shoulders have been added on Highway 17. Expect a more remote feel and longer gaps between towns than in the south.
• Stage 2: Greater Sudbury area to Georgian Bay and cottage country (multi-day section) - A mix of smaller communities, lakeside roads, and trail segments as you angle toward the busy summer belt. Plan around weekend traffic in peak season.
• Stage 3: Lake Huron and the Bruce and Grey shoreline areas (multi-day section) - Water views and parklands with frequent access to beaches and waterfront parks. The riding surface can alternate between multi-use paths and road links depending on the local segment.
• Stage 4: Niagara Region and the Lake Erie rim (multi-day section) - Warmer-weather shoreline riding with plenty of towns and services. This is a popular area in summer, so expect more riders and pedestrians on shared paths.
• Stage 5: Hamilton to Burlington and the western Lake Ontario waterfront (short-to-medium section) - Urban-suburban riding with standout waterfront parks; the trail passes Spencer Smith Park in Burlington. Watch for busy crossings and shared-use etiquette.
• Stage 6: Mississauga to Toronto (day ride or weekend section) - A heavily used commuter-friendly corridor in places, with waterfront greenspace and short street connections. Highlights include Port Credit on the Credit River.
• Stage 7: Toronto waterfront via the Martin Goodman Trail (day ride section) - One of the most continuous, path-like parts of the whole route, running along the city’s lake edge. Detour to the Toronto Islands Ferry Terminal for a car-lite island spin.
• Stage 8: Eastern Lake Ontario to the St. Lawrence River and the Quebec border (multi-day section) - As you reach the river corridor, the route becomes a string of historic towns, waterfront parks, and long, scenic shoreline miles. The 1000 Islands area is a signature stretch if you time it for good weather and clear views.

The practical riding season for the Waterfront Trail in Ontario runs from late spring through early autumn, when trail surfaces are clear and most services in smaller waterfront communities are operating.

Summer is the busiest and has the most reliable weather, but shared paths around Toronto and other lakefront cities can be crowded, and resort areas can book out on weekends. Shoulder seasons are quieter but bring cooler lake winds and shorter days, especially on more exposed shoreline sections.

Because the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail is a network, most riders choose a convenient access point rather than “the” start. For a full traverse, Sault Ste. Marie is the western end named for the route, and the eastern end is at the Quebec border along the St. Lawrence River.

Many cyclists ride west to east to finish with the river corridor and easier onward travel into Quebec, but both directions work. In the middle, Toronto is a natural entry point thanks to city transport links and the continuity of the Martin Goodman Trail section.

There is generally no special permit required to ride the trail itself, but local rules for parks, ferries or e-bike use may vary and should be checked in advance. The route is signed, but it is important to remember it is not entirely off-road: you will encounter a mix of multi-use trails, waterfront promenades, and on-road connections.

Bike hire and e-bikes are easiest to arrange in larger centres such as Toronto and other major lakefront cities, while smaller communities may have limited options. If you are planning a point-to-point tour, consider how you will handle luggage, since there is no single official luggage transfer system for the entire route and services vary by region.

With over 150 connected communities, accommodation is one of the route’s biggest advantages. Along the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail you can typically stitch together nights in city hotels (especially around Toronto), small-town motels and inns, and locally run guesthouses closer to lake resort areas.

In summer, book ahead in high-demand stretches near popular shorelines and cottage areas, and in places around festivals or major waterfront parks. If you prefer camping, look for established campgrounds near the lakes, but availability and rules vary by locality, so it is worth confirming before you commit to a long daily distance.