Grand River Country | Trails Take Flight

Linear Trail - Cambridge (Preston)

Latitude/Longitude: 43° 23' 16" N , 80° 20' 54" W

Linear Trail is located in the Preston area of Cambridge. This four-season trail extends from the intersection of Hamilton Street and Chopin Drive to Preston Auditorium at the intersection of Hamilton and Bishop Streets, and is open dawn to dusk. Parking is available at both entrances of the trail. Linear Trail, with its stone dust surface, follows the shorelines of the Speed and Grand Rivers for approximately 3 km and provides easy walking, cycling and is both baby carriage and wheelchair friendly. Benches are located at several places along the trail. At the Preston Auditorium entrance, an asphalt surface covers a short and fairly steep-sloped section of the trail; a railing is provided.

For more information click to expand

At its mid-way point, the trail overlooks the confluence of the Grand and Speed Rivers – the Speed River is the largest by volume of the tributaries of the Grand. Excellent interpretive signage highlights the (i) Grand River watershed; (ii) 1802 arrival of Pennsylvania Mennonites who settled the immediate lands; (iii) cultural and natural heritage of the Confluence. As well, a few hard-packed nature trails extend from the main trail: a 500-m trail extends along the berm of a mill-race constructed by Jacob Hespeler; a 300-m trail runs under tree canopy at the base of a forested slope; and several short extensions from the main trail provide access to the rivers.

The view from the Confluence is a panoramic vista of an expansive flood plain and forested slopes defining the edge of the river valley. Downstream of the Confluence, on the opposite shoreline, dolostone cliffs extend more than 3 km along the river. Much of the landscape viewed across the river from Linear Trail belongs to the rare Charitable Research Reserve, a 913-acre (370 hectares) nature reserve established in 2002 for environmental education, ecological research and restoration. Many trail users return time and again to view sunsets at the Confluence.

Perennial vegetation dominates the floodplain with the purples and pinks of dames rocket in the spring and the yellows of Jerusalem artichoke and goldenrod in autumn. Large crack willows spread their limbs along the shoreline and the islands in the Grand. The south-facing slopes along the Grand, that extend for much of the trail’s length, are treed with a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs including hackberry, hawthorn, maples, hickories and oaks.

Since 1971, more than 200 species of birds have been observed along the Linear Trail. All seasons offer interesting bird watching. In early spring, hundreds of waterfowl roost nightly upstream of the Confluence: Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Mallard and American Black Duck are joined by migrating Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser and Wood Duck. Over the years, 25 waterfowl species have been recorded. During spring migration, more than 100 bird species including two dozen species of warbler can be listed along this trail. During nesting season, Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, Song Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Willow Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing and American Redstart are often observed along the trail. Nesting riparian species include Osprey, Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher and Common Yellowthroat. Exceptional breeding birds include Orchard Oriole, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Aerial foragers on the river include Chimney Swift, five species of swallows including Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Other sightings may include Eastern Kingbird and Eastern Towhee. In late summer, herons – Great Blue, Green and Black-crowned Night-Heron – feed along the shorelines while Caspian Terns patrol the river. When the river levels are low, shorebirds stop over on migration in small numbers – Killdeer, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe, Solitary Sandpiper and both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs.

During fall migration frequent visits and patience reveal many species of warblers, sparrows and finches. In late fall, after agricultural fields in the region are harvested, upwards of 2000 waterfowl – mainly Canada Geese and Mallards – congregate about the Confluence. With the first cold front of winter, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser and Bufflehead ducks arrive; many remain for the winter. Open water about the Confluence throughout the winter provides waterfowl with habitat for feeding and resting. Early morning and late afternoon are best viewing times. Since the 1990s, Bald Eagles have frequented the river above and below the Confluence with as many as six eagles observed at one time. Bald Eagles are winter visitors, arriving in mid to late November and leaving in late March. Birding with a telescope is recommended at the Confluence.

Trail Owner and Manager: City of Cambridge