• Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
MapsPlease Donate
Great Lakes Waterfront Trail
  • Our Work
    • Overview
    • Pauline Browes Fellowship
    • Publications
    • Our Impact
    • Board & Staff
    • Partners
    • Strategic Plan
  • The Trail
  • Maps
    • Downloadable Maps
    • Interactive Map
    • Trail GPS Data
    • Buy Map
  • Trip Ideas
    • Farm Fresh Tours
    • Featured Trips
    • Great Lakes to Greenbelt
    • 1000km Itinerary
    • Family Friendly Ideas
    • Self-Guided Cycle Tours
    • Regional Loops
    • Cycle + Transit
    • Camping
    • Distance Chart
  • Community Profiles
  • Great Waterfront Trail Adventure
    • GWTA 2025 Overview
    • 2025 Route & Itinerary
    • Registration and Fees
    • Accommodations
    • Fundraising
    • GWTA Volunteer
    • GWTA History
    • GWTA Partners
    • FAQS
  • Donate
  • Media
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Subscribe
  • Search
  • Menu

Meaford

You are here: Home / Community Profiles / Communities / Meaford

Where the mouth of the Bighead River meets Georgian Bay, you’ll find the Town of Meaford, a warm waterfront community with an inviting heritage downtown, a bevy of unique shops and eateries, and a sampling of accommodations, both under-the-sheets and under-the-stars.

Meaford’s offering of experiences range from the relaxing to the exhilarating. Heading east you’ll discover the northwestern terminus of the Georgian Trail, guiding Great Lakes Waterfront Trail users along a 34km multi-use path connecting Meaford with Thornbury, Craigleith and eventually Collingwood. You’ll find pleasant hikes along the Bighead River in addition to nearby museums and local beaches. 

Heading west you’ll join the Tom Thomson Trail, offering both hiking and cycling opportunities throughout the exuberant gravel-grinder’s paradise of the Georgian Highlands. You’ll find staggering views at both Irish Mountain and Coffin Ridge. Eventually, you’ll rejoin the water near the beaches at Hibou Conservation Area before reaching out to touch paved off-road trails in Owen Sound, 45km away. Enjoy roads and trails that wind and roll with the weft and warp of the land and water.

Download Printable Map

Meaford

Trail Attributes

Trail Distance: 66km

Follows the Georgian Trail for approximately 7km, a compact, screened limestone “rail trail.” 

Approximately 6km of scenic footpath (hikers only)

The remainder is a mix of paved residential and rural roads, the majority of which are unpaved in the Georgian Highlands area.

Local Maps and ConnectionsStaging AreasAmenities and TransitHelpful Links

Links to Local Maps

Georgian Trail (PDF):  A popular 34 km off-road trail connecting the hearts of Collingwood and Meaford through the Blue Mountains.

Tom Thomson Trail: A 41km to 44km scenic multi-use trail connecting the communities of Meaford and Owen Sound.

Apple Pie Trail: A culinary adventure trail inspired by local apple-growing history with stops in the GLWT of Collingwood, Blue Mountain, Thornbury and Meaford.

Bruce Trail: Canada’s oldest and longest footpath, connecting Queenston to Tobermory.

Staging Areas

  • Fred Raper Park: Across from 206 Bayfield St., Meaford, ON
  • Meaford and St Vincent Community Centre: 151 Collingwood St. W, Meaford, ON

Amenities

  • Accommodations, Campground
  • Accommodations, Roofed
  • Beaches
  • Groceries
  • Hospital
  • LCBO (Includes Breweries and Wineries)
  • Marinas
  • Museums
  • Outfitters
  • Restaurants
  • Shopping Areas
  • Tourist Information
  • Washrooms
  • WIFI
  • Winter Maintenance

Transit

• Grey Transit

Helpful Links

Meaford

Grey County

Grey Sauble Conservation Authority

South Georgian Bay Tourism

BruceGreySimcoe Cycling

BruceGreySimcoe Tourism

Ontario By Bike – Cycle Friendly Businesses and Trip Ideas

Apple Pie Trail

Local Arts

Protecting. Connecting. Celebrating. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

The Waterfront Regeneration Trust is a registered charity. Charitable Registration Number: 86767 9821 RR0001
Ontario Trail of Distinction

Newsletter Signup

Address

Select list(s) to subscribe to


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Waterfront Regeneration Trust, 4195 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON, M8X 1Y4, http://www.waterfronttrail.org. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Waterfront Regeneration Trust

4195 Dundas St. West - Suite 327
Toronto, Ontario M8X 1Y4
(416) 943-8080
info@wrtrust.com

Partners Resource Centre

  • 2025 Tourism Workshop Registration
  • Download our Logos
  • Signage Guidelines & Templates
  • Boiler Plate Statements
  • Resources
  • GWTA Participant Surveys
  • State of the Trail
  • 2017 Trail-Wide Partners Meeting
  • 2014 Trail-Wide Partners Meeting
  • Georgian Bay Cycling Route Expansion
  • Lake Superior Expansion
  • Pauline Browes Fellowship
  • Partner Update
  • S-GWTA
© 2018 Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. Made by 9 Lives Design.
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
Scroll to top