Garden City Glide

St. Catharines, Ontario, CA

Route Overview

Waterfront Regeneration Trust

Routes along the waterfront for all your cycling needs

18 mi.
190 ft.

30km. 2 Beaches. Patios, ice cream and waterfront trails. This is a perfect urban ride for a summer afternoon!

Get ready to experience some of the beauty that earned the nickname "the Garden City" on this fully-signed 30km taste of St. Catharines using the Welland Canal Trail, Greenbelt Route, Merritt Trail and Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.

Starting at the famous beachfront at Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie you'll follow the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail with nearby Lake Ontario at your side. Striking out from the lake, you'll, meander along the banks of Twelve Mile Creek on the Merritt Trail into the heart of St Catharines near the unique, single-arched Burgoyne Bridge. Stop in downtown St. Catharines for a well-deserved snack before rolling out along Queenston St past the Carillon Bell Tower in Victoria Lawn Cemetery to the Welland Canal, where you'll join the Welland Canal Trail and follow the Welland Canal for a 5k downhill cruise where you'll rediscover the shores of Lake Ontario at Sunset beach. After a quick dip you'll follow the bird-leaf-fish along or near the lake before wrapping up your ride back in Port Dalhousie, where you can gnosh at at a local patio, grab an ice cream, or head back into the lake for an afternoon swim.

Note that some sections of the Merritt Trail have a crushed gravel surface. All other sections of the route make use of paved roads and multi-use paths.

Parking at Lakeside Park or Sunset Beach requires an hourly fee for non-residents.

This is one of 9 cycling itineraries showcasing Ontario’s best trails and two signature cycling routes–the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and The Greenbelt Route. Celebrate the Lake Ontario watershed and cycling while supporting rural communities and local businesses.

For more information on the Greenbelt Route and Ontario's Greenbelt including more recommended itineraries, visit greenbelt.ca/cycling

For more information on the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail including free downloadable maps and itineraries visit waterfronttrail.org

Share your trips with the #greenbeltroute and #waterfronttrail hashtags. We'd love to hear more about your experience!

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