Thank you for your interest in joining us on the 2025 Great Waterfront Trail Adventure (GWTA). In 2025 we will celebrate 30 years of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail with an 8 day, challenging, looped route which visits Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and Lake Huron. GWTA dates are August 8-August 15 2025.
Registration for the 2025 Great Waterfront Trail Adventure opens on January 6 2025.
Follow us on social media or join our newsletter for updates.
The sliders below provide information regarding fees, what’s included, and what isn’t.
If you have any questions please check out the FAQs or contact us at tourdirector [at] wrtrust.com or 416-943-8080.
Fees
IMPORTANT: Please note that in addition to the registration fee there will also be additional expenses in relation to accommodations and 8 day Long Term Parking . Please see our Accommodations page for further details.
Adult:
- Early Bird: 6 Jan 2025 – Mar 31 2025 – $925 + 53.16 processing fees + $120.25 HST = $1,098.41
- April 1 to May 31, 2025: $1025 + processing fee + HST =
- Lists of what is and is not included are included below.
Waterfront Trail Champion – Fundraising Option:
- $775 + $44.53 processing fee+ $100.75 HST= $920.38
- $1,000 required fundraising
- Find out more about the League of Extraordinary Waterfront Trail Champions and how to become one.
Personal Support Vehicle
- $450 + $25.85 processing fee+ $58.50 HST= $534.35
Youth rider (aged 16- 30):
- $775 + $44.53 processing fee + $100.75 HST = $920.38
Child:
The 2025 GWTA is considered unsuitable for children under the age of 16.
Meals: All seven breakfasts , two dinners and two beach celebrations are included in the 2025 registration fee. Vegan, Vegetarian and Gluten Free diets are accommodated.
All other meals are on your own in the local communities–one of the ways the GWTA supports local businesses and promotes communities. It also allows you to schedule and budget your lunches and dinners according to your needs.
Transportation & Long Term Parking
The 2025 GWTA will be riding an eight day loop which will start and end at Mohawk College, Fennell Avenue W, Hamilton, Ontario.
Long Term Parking for eight days will be available at Mohawk College. There will be a parking fee charged for each car – parking will be priced at approx. $35 per car for the duration of the GWTA. We will contact all participants 8 weeks before the GWTA to arrange parking.
Merchandise (aka "The Jersey!")
2025 SOUVENIR JERSEY
Sorry you are too early! – keep an eye on your GWTA emails for details of this years commemorative jersey or T shirt. Typically the design is announced in May.
Payment Methods
Credit Card:
Payment by credit card will be processed securely by PayPal. You do not need to have a Pay Pal account for amounts under $1,500. If registering more than one participant and total comes to more than $1500, you will be prompted to create a PayPal account for added security.
Included in Registration Fee
- 9 Meals (7 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners).
- Breakfasts from 9 August – 15 August.
- Group dinners in Guelph and Port Stanley
- Two beach celebrations – Lake Ontario and Lake Huron
- Celebration Dinner in Port Stanley
- Designated route for the week, including Ride with GPS files and printed maps
- Printed itinerary with maps.
- Programmed events and activities other than cycling (some may be subject to an additional charge).
- Luggage transfer (subject to weight & size restrictions).
- Emergency support including medical.
- A team of experienced volunteers to deliver luggage, provide on-route first aid, basic bike repair, help with navigation, and good cheer.
- Commemorative Finishers Medal.
- Tour organization and support.
- CAA Mechanical Support for on-route repairs.
- Camping is available in the communities of Blyth, Grand Bend, Port Stanley and Port Dover. Note that there is no camping in Hamilton, Guelph and London ( residence rooms are available to book at an additional cost- please see Accommodations page)
Not Included in Registration Fee
- Non-camping accommodations such as Hotels, B&Bs and Air B&B. Roofed accommodations should be booked independently see Accommodations page for a list of supported hotels.
- Camping is NOT available in Hamilton, Guelph or London- budget friendly accommodations are available at Mohawk College in Hamilton, University of Guelph and the University of Western Ontario in London. Our travel partner CAA travel is handling the booking of residence rooms – please see our Accommodations page for prices and details of how to book.
- Snacks – if you have food allergies or preferences we recommend that you bring your own cycling snacks.
- Lunches – all lunches are on your own – supporting a range of different community businesses along the route.
- Dinners – dinner is included in Guelph ( 9 August ) and Port Stanley ( 13 August)
- Optional cycling and non-cycling activities – for example a guided hike
- Commemorative cycling jerseys/ T shirt- these will be offered at an additional cost in the Spring.
Checklist
Congratulations on registering for the 2025 Great Waterfront Trail Adventure! We are excited to have you join us and want to make sure that you have everything you need in order to have a great experience. Please use this checklist to help you organize your trip.
- Completed Registration for the 2025 GWTA – 3 Great Lakes in eight days..
- Booked accommodations if planning to stay in hotels.
- Booked residence rooms in Hamilton/ Guelph/ London – both campers and non campers
- A list of what to pack can be found here.
- Order and pay for your jersey when it becomes available.
- Take your bike into the shop for a complete tune-up and purchase an extra tube or two in case of a flat. Consider changing your tires to accommodate stretches of gravel riding on the GWTA 2025.
- Check out the itinerary pages for extra activities that you may be interested in.
Tour Rules
Rules have been created to help create a safe experience for everyone. Anyone who violates the rules will have their wristband removed at the discretion of the Tour Director and will be ejected from the Tour. There will be no refunds for people ejected for public health and safety violations.
- All participants are asked to notify GWTA staff in the event of feeling unwell. We will help you arrange for your departure from the tour and conduct the necessary follow-ups with you.
- All cyclists are expected to follow the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. Bicycles are considered a vehicle as part of the Act.
- Helmets are required for all participants throughout each day of the tour.
- Drafting is extremely dangerous, and especially on a trail that will have other users present. This will not be accepted during this ride.
- Stopping; please make sure that you signal prior to stopping and move to the right of the trail, and remove your bike from the pathway to allow other people to pass. Also, make sure that no one is behind you before you come to a complete stop. When accessing areas off of the pathway along the itinerary, please make sure that your bicycle is visible for guides who are sweeping the route.
- Passing on the trail; signal with a bell or by calling out to cyclists and/or other trail users in front of you that you intend to pass on the left. Conversely when you are notified of someone’s intentions to pass, please move to the right to allow space.
- Stay to the right along the trail, this also applies to the sections that are along country roads as part of the trail. For your safety here is a link to the Hwy traffic act as it applies to cyclists (please read and understand). Staying to the right allows oncoming vehicles and cyclists alike the ability to pass safely.
- Both headphones should not be worn while riding at any time. If you need headphones to listen to Ride with GPS cues then we advise wearing one headphone only.If you like music, there are bike speakers available.
- Anyone thought to be endangering the safety of others along the route due to the consumption of alcohol will be ejected from the tour. The bicycle falls under the HWY traffic act and is treated the same way as a motorized vehicle in these circumstances.
- Obey posted signs! Cyclists like motor vehicles are required to come to a complete stop at stop signs and red lights. Also be aware of railway crossings and potential hazards in wet conditions.
- Be considerate of others while on the trail, in campgrounds, and in the communities along the route! Be a welcomed guest.
- Ebikes – all the above rules apply. Please be especially considerate of other cyclists and give a warning as you pass – remember that you may take them by surprise. All E-bike riders should be aware of their battery capacity and operate accordingly to avoid unnecessary use of the support vehicles. The GWTA cannot guarantee that adequate charging facilities will be available at facilities en-route.
- Be safe & enjoy the ride!!!
Cancellation Policy
If you must cancel your registration, the cancellation fee will be determined according to the policy outlined below.
Deadline |
Refund |
Until April 30, 2025 | Registration fee paid less $75 WRT administrative fee plus non-refundable event platform processing fees. |
May 1, 2025 to event day | No Refunds offered. |
We highly recommend that you purchase Race Roster Enhanced Refund Protection. Race Roster Protection may be purchased during your registration for the GWTA -it provides coverage for cancellations past our April 30 cancellation date – certain exemptions apply. Click to learn more. |
The fees retained reflect the costs to the Trust of administering the Tour registration and are not intended to be punitive in any way. Exceptions to the Refund policy may be made, on rare occasions, for extenuating circumstances only. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving the trip early. Please note that fees associated with the Race Roster event platform are non-refundable. These are listed on your invoice as processing fees.
What happens if the Waterfront Regeneration Trust (WRT) cancels the event? In the event the WRT cancels the event, a full refund less an administration fee will be offered to participants. Please note that fees associated with the Race Roster event platform are non-refundable.
Transfer of Registration: After May 1, 2025, the Trust will not issue refunds. However, you may sell or transfer or give your registration to someone else. The Trust will not facilitate these transactions. To transfer a registration, the Trust must have an email (tourdirector [at] wrtrust.com) from both parties (seller & purchaser) stating that the transfer has taken place and is accepted by both parties.
Registration Carry Overs: All registrations apply to the Tour year only – 2025. No year-to-year carryovers will be granted.
FAQs
Do you have questions about the tour before you register? Read our FAQ on the About page.