This is a trip I’ve wanted to do for a while and finally had a chance to give it a try in the middle of August. The various sections go by several names. For the first 32km it is called the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail. South from Brantford it is called the L.E. & N. (Lake Erie and Northern), T.H. & B. (Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo) and Lynn Valley Trail. Overall, I rode about 92km to Port Dover, plus about 14km back to my motel in Simcoe.
I had previously ridden the Hamilton->Brantford section twice, both as round-trip day trips with lunch in Brantford. This is a recommend ride if you only have time for a one day trip with lots of options for restaurants or picnic parks.
This trip started with an early morning GO train ride from Toronto to Hamilton’s West Harbour station. From West Harbour, there was about 5km of quiet city roads to the start of the rail trail near Chedoke Park. My particular route through the streets had me join the trail at Emerson Street.
Once on the trail, I joined morning runners, bikers and dog walkers as the trail cut past the community of Dundas and started climbing through the Dundas Valley Conservation Area.
The climb through Dundas Valley including the curves to Summit Station is the biggest hill of the day because the trail is climbing the Niagara Escarpment. The Dundas Valley Trail Centre has a washroom and snacks if you are looking for a break.
At Summit Station, about 15km along the trail from Hamilton, there is a historical sign showing a water tower and station that used to be there to support passing trains. From here it is mostly a gradual downhill all the way to Port Dover!
Approaching Brantford, there are some great views across the fields but there was almost no one else on the trail. There is a short steep dip and climb as the trail goes under the Highway 403.
In Brantford, there are a variety of trails and bike lanes with major trails going north to Paris and south to Port Dover. I went straight through the south part of the city directly to the start of the L.E. & N. trail off Veterans Memorial Parkway after crossing the Grand River.
From Brantford, large sections are paved, which makes for easy riding. In Waterford, the “Black Bridge” was the largest structure of the day, with great views down to the ponds and lake.
From the town of Simcoe, the trail is marked as the Lynn Valley Trail and has a beautiful section meandering along the Lynn River approaching Port Dover.
I rolled right down to the public beach for my finish-line photo after the 92km ride.
After grabbing a late lunch, I rode the 14km back to Simcoe, where I had arranged a motel. There were limited options available mid-summer in the popular beach community of Port Dover.
I had planned to ride back to Toronto the next day, but Marianne decided to drive down and join me for a sunset dinner on Lake Erie. It felt like a tropical evening on the water!
And then she gave me a ride back home!