Preservation Park in Guelph offers spectacular hiking trails in the middle of the city. It's a natural, green space with dense forests, meandering streams, and expansive boardwalks. There are many interconnecting trails, so you can walk as little or as much as you like.
The outer loop is almost 8km in length, although it's easy to cut that in half and walk for only 3-4km if you'd like. Even if you only walk for a shorter distance, you'll encounter many beautiful spaces within Preservation Park. There are many boardwalks that wind between the tall trees, and you might even see some wildlife along the way.
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Preservation Park Guelph Trail Map
Here is an overview of some of the trails you'll find at Preservation Park in Guelph. As you can see, there are lots of paths that intertwine throughout the park. There aren't any trail markers, so it's a bit of a "choose your own adventure".
I did a loop of the northwestern side of the park for an hour or so. Through this shorter trek, I experienced lots of wooden boardwalk trails and forests filled with tall trees. It's quite amazing that this natural space exists in the middle of the city, and I still have even more places to explore on my next visit.
As there are several trails and it could be potentially easy to get turned around or even a little bit lost, I suggest using a GPS or AllTrails to track where you are on the map. Most importantly, remember where you started or parked your car. Explore and wander around, and use your online maps (Google Maps, AllTrails, or Gaia GPS) to make your way back if you need some extra assistance.
Hiking at Preservation Park Guelph
You can start hiking at any point along the trail at Preservation Park in Guelph. One of the best places to start your walk is from the small parking lot at the end of Hanlon Road. I started walking from a neighbourhood on the northeast side of Preservation Park (off Rodgers Road).
Then, I made a loop of the upper portion of the park. I headed south on the trail, and then ventured west on the path towards the opposite end of the park. This is where you'll encounter one of the longest boardwalks at Preservation Park that extends as far as you can see.
Eventually, I walked to the north where I walked past some small streams, across meadows, and ended up near the city streets. You'll have the chance to head back into the forest, forming a loop from where you started.
Of course, if you'd like to hike for a longer distance, you can make a full loop to every corner of the park. This loop is a little under 8km in length. I've outlined a few sample loop trails on the map above. There aren't any set rules as to how to hike this collection of trails. There aren't any trail markers. Simply wander around and enjoy the great outdoors.
Plan Your Visit
While there isn't a main parking lot for Preservation Park in Guelph, there are quite a few places where you can park when embarking on a hike here. The best parking lot is at the end of Hanlon Road, just south of John Gamble Park. The road hits a dead end where there are quite a few parking spaces, and this connects directly to the trails at Preservation Park.
I didn't realize this parking lot existed when I hiked here. So, I parked in a residential neighbourhood on Rodgers Road, just off Edinburgh Road South. If you look at the trail map, Preservation Park connects to quite a few neighbourhoods. You can park on the residential streets for a few hours without any issues (just pay attention to any signs that may prohibit parking).
The hiking trails at Preservation Park in Guelph are well maintained, though the area is left natural and wild. This means that there aren't any facilities or restrooms along the way. There might be a portable toilet at some point, but I wouldn't rely on it. This is a dog-friendly hiking trail, but dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
Lastly, it's completely free to visit and hike the trails here. It's a beautiful natural space in the middle of Guelph for everyone to enjoy. Plus, the boardwalk trails ensure that your shoes won't get too muddy in the spring, fall, or after a rainfall.
What to Bring on a Hike
A proper pair of hiking shoes is an absolute must. It’s also a good idea to bring sunscreen and lots of water, too. My water bottle of choice is the GRAYL Purifier because you can drink ANY water from any source, no matter what. Water from lakes, streams, rivers, public restrooms, you name it. It's the world's fastest portable purifier.
Don’t forget to pack some bug spray because there can be biting bugs depending on the time of year. Even if there aren't any signs, it’s safe to assume that ticks are all over Ontario hiking trails. Protect yourself against ticks by reading our guide to avoiding ticks on the trails.
For amazing deals on hiking products like backpacks, boots, clothing, and gear, check out the Decathlon Canada shop!
More Hiking Trails in Huron, Perth, Waterloo & Wellington Counties
Looking for more hikes southwest of Toronto? Here are some more great places to go hiking in Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington Counties.
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