Discover Guelph: Trails, art and history

Guelph is well suited to a stay that can focus on different interests, from green spaces and trails to art and city history. The city has an extensive trail network, while the market, sculpture park, art gallery and museum offer specific points of interest for a range of visitors. You can therefore match your hotel choice to the kind of city visit that matters to you: river trails and gardens, local produce or cultural attractions.

Green spaces and trails in the Arboretum

With more than 1,000 hectares of parks and open spaces, as well as over 150 kilometres of trails and paths, Guelph places a clear emphasis on green spaces and places to get active. The Arboretum has more than 12.5 kilometres of trails through natural woodlands, fields, plant collections and gardens. Visitors interested in the variety of these landscapes will find woodlands and fields, as well as collections and garden areas.

The 1.1-kilometre Ivey Trail in the Arboretum is a wheelchair-accessible walking trail through the grounds and plant collections. Its length, purpose and wheelchair accessibility provide concrete details to help you plan your visit. While the Arboretum trails pass through woodlands, fields, collections and gardens, the Arboretum Recreational Side Trail connects to the City of Guelph’s trail network.

River trails and specific routes

The Speed River Trail is 3.4 kilometres long and runs from Speedvale Avenue East, through Riverside Park, to Victoria Road North. The Downtown Trail/Trans Canada Trail is 4.3 kilometres long; it begins at Heritage Park and ends at Woodlawn Cemetery. Along the way, it follows the Speed River, passes through Riverside Park and runs alongside the railway corridor.

The Eramosa River Trail is 4.1 kilometres long and runs from the Covered Bridge, via Victoria Road South, to Stone Road. Of the three trails listed, the Speed River Trail is the shortest; at 4.1 and 4.3 kilometres respectively, the Eramosa River Trail and Downtown Trail are close in length. Comparing the distances side by side can help you weigh your options, while the named starting and ending points make each route choice more specific.

Before setting out, check municipal notices for temporary work or changes to access.

Market, art and city history

The Guelph Farmers’ Market has been a central part of community life in Guelph since 1827. It offers fresh local food and handcrafted products year-round; individual vendors’ availability may vary. The market adds a connection to local products and a long-standing tradition to the trails and cultural attractions.

The Donald Forster Sculpture Park is next to the Art Gallery of Guelph building and features 41 permanently installed artworks across two and a half acres. The number may change if artworks are added or moved. The Art Gallery of Guelph is one of Canada’s leading public art spaces and introduces visitors to innovative artists and ideas from around the world.

The Guelph Civic Museum houses a collection of more than 30,000 artefacts illustrating Guelph’s past. The size of the collection may change as its holdings change. McCrae House was designated a site of national significance by the Government of Canada through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. Together, an extensive artefact collection and a site of national significance offer distinct points of historical interest.

Discover more destinations: Palmerston, Fergus, Rockwood, Elora, Erin, Belwood.

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