For a fairly easy and scenic trail run featuring a variety of terrain, we recommend the area around Princess Point and Cootes Paradise. Princess Point is a park on a peninsula in Cootes Paradise Nature Sanctuary, featuring trails & a canoe launch. It’s a popular skating area in winter. We’ve mapped a route of up to 7 km one-way, including a section of the Spencer Creek Trail. The trail is mainly packed earth, a bit narrow in parts.
McMaster University. Flickr: Tom Flemming
Start at the Princess Point Canoe launch (parking area), on the Princess Point Trail, and head east. Continue along the mainly wooded Ginger Valley Trail. Just shy of the 2 km mark, turns into the Ravine Road Trail (optional 1.4 km out and back to the Sassafrass Point Lookout). At 4 km, the route leaves the preserve and joins pedestrian paths through McMaster University. Option to continue east for another 2 km along the Cootes Dr./Spencer Creek Trail to the end
Add-On: This can also be combined with our Waterfront Trail route, just east of Princess Point.
For a fairly easy and scenic trail run featuring a variety of terrain, we recommend the area around Princess Point and Cootes Paradise. Princess Point is a park on a peninsula in Cootes Paradise Nature Sanctuary, featuring trails & a canoe launch. It’s a popular skating area in winter. We’ve mapped a route of up to 7 km one-way, including a section of the Spencer Creek Trail. The trail is mainly packed earth, a bit narrow in parts.
McMaster University. Flickr: Tom Flemming
Start at the Princess Point Canoe launch (parking area), on the Princess Point Trail, and head east. Continue along the mainly wooded Ginger Valley Trail. Just shy of the 2 km mark, turns into the Ravine Road Trail (optional 1.4 km out and back to the Sassafrass Point Lookout). At 4 km, the route leaves the preserve and joins pedestrian paths through McMaster University. Option to continue east for another 2 km along the Cootes Dr./Spencer Creek Trail to the end
Add-On: This can also be combined with our Waterfront Trail route, just east of Princess Point.
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Essentials
Up to 7 km one-way, or 14 km (8.6 miles) out and back, with options for longer/shorter
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Essentials
Up to 7 km one-way, or 14 km (8.6 miles) out and back, with options for longer/shorter
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Share your feedback on this route and see that of other Great Runs users. Click on the image icon to upload a photo. And please let us know if there are notes or changes we should incorporate!