Grand River Country | Trails Take Flight

RIM Trail - Walter Bean Grand River Trail - Waterloo

Latitude/Longitude: 43° 31' 4" N , 80° 30' 1" W

This is a wonderfully different trail, unique and rich in several ways. It is approximately 3.5 km long, very winding and flat. It begins near the major recreational centre in Waterloo’s RIM Park. It is entirely paved, almost entirely level, and ends at Grand River Drive south east of Conestogo. There is a parking lot at the start, but only a disabled parking spot at the end. You will therefore normally have to retrace your steps to end your walk. There are many small bridges crossing a very shallow creek, and many benches. Several signs mark various areas of importance along the trail. The Grand River is in view on the south side from 1.7 km along to the end of the trail.

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A very informative sign post marks the beginning of the trail. There are open natural fields, a creek, a beaver pond with cattails and bulrushes, and groves of cedar and aspen. On the left shortly after is the historical Elam Martin Farmstead. After 850 metres at the bottom of a short steep hill (the only one), the trail begins to wind through a rich lowland habitat.

The trail for the most part is wide enough to allow for the use of golf carts as well as hikers and cyclists. After approximately one km, the trail passes the first hole of the Grey Silo Golf Course. At 1.5 km, there is access to the 18th hole. Soon after, there is an open view of the river on the south side of the trail. After this the golf course continues on the north side and later on the west side of the trail only.

The riverbank on the south side consists of a steeply banked that is a majestic maple/mixed forest. The north side consists mostly of open fields with many trees, an occasional line of willows, some planted white pine and spruce. Easily visible are many vines and wildflowers, a special plant called the Canada Anemone, Jerusalem Artichoke, giant ragweed, jewel weed, and native ninebark shrubs. At 2.7 km, there are a large number of bitternut hickory trees.

Birding on the RIM trail will be a very pleasing experience for experienced and novice birders alike. Spring and summer birds will include swallows such as Northern Rough-winged, Tree, and Barn; warblers including Black-throated Green, American Redstart, Yellow, Nashville and Common Yellowthroat; vireos such as Red-eyed and Warbling; waterfowl such as Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron and American Black Duck; sparrows including Song, Savannah, Field, and Swamp; also Indigo Bunting, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Bluebird and Eastern Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole as well as Belted Kingfisher and Ring-billed Gull.

Raptor species will include Turkey Vulture, Coopers Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk. Bald Eagles and Osprey may also be seen along the river. During migration one is likely to find rare warblers such as Blackpoll and Orange-crowned, as well as the more common Bay-breasted, Cape May, Blackburnian, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped and Black-throated Blue warblers and Philadelphia and White-eyed Vireos. On the river one may find Greater and Lesser Scaup, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teal, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye and Common Merganser.

Trail Affiliation: Walter Bean Grand River Trail