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Port Hope

You are here: Home / Community Profiles / Communities / Port Hope

Port Hope is a charming heritage town in Northumberland County with an excellent selection of B&Bs, shopping, theatre and restaurants.  The Trail itself features the dedicated handiwork of volunteers that made this Trail possible including benches, bird feeders, a gazebo and tributes to the community leaders who played key roles in the Trail’s development-The Keith Richan Walkway, Peter Hoffman Trail and the A.K. Sculthorpe Memorial Woodland Marsh.

Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny is one of the most popular annual events on the Trail. Join the fun by crafting a homemade boat to float down the Gananraska River to Lake Ontario or stand on the riverbanks to cheer them on.

Trail highlights:

  • Clear vistas of Lake Ontario from rolling rural roads.
  • Port Hope heritage downtown.
  • Crazy Cookie at Dreamers’ Cafe.
  • Walk from the Keith Richan Bridge along the Peter Huffman Trail to A.K. Sculthrope Marsh. Check out this trip description https://2oldguyswalking.wordpress.com/2015/06/17/the-port-hope-lakeshore-trail-review/
  • Wesleyville Church (14 km west of downtown Port Hope). A volunteer group named the Friends of Wesleyville are restoring the 1860 heritage structure with help from OPG and other sponsors. Plans include making this a rest stop for passing trail users.

Port Hope Waterfront Trail has a junction at Mill Street with the Greenbelt Route.

Download Printable Map

Port-Hope

Trail Attributes

Distance: 16 km.

12 km (east of Clarington) on quiet rural roads through a rolling landscape.  Lakeshore Road does not have shoulders and is posted at 60km/h.

Trail passes through Port Hope’s Heritage downtown.

2 km east of downtown trail continues on paved shoulders of County Rd 2.

1.6 km dedicated footpath that is great for families and walkers at the water’s edge ending at the A.K. Sculthorpe Memorial Woodland Marsh and Gage’s Creek. At this time, this part of the Trail is a spur.

Beaches: Port Hope East and Port Hope West

Local Maps and ConnectionsStaging AreasAmenities and TransitBeach Water Test ResultsHelpful LinksMunicipal Waterfront Planning Docs.

Links to Local Maps

Port Hope Tourism- For accommodations, things to do and local information on walking and cycling the Port Hope’s Waterfront Trail. Check out the beaches and events tabs as well.

  • http://visitporthope.ca/hiking

Northumberland Tourism produces an excellent trails map that shows 5 suggested cycling routes. The routes range in distance from the fairly flat 30km Glorious Ganaraska Route to the challenging 74km Rice Lake Ramble. A map can be found on their website here:

  • http://www.northumberlandtourism.com/en/see-do/cycling-routes-and-trails.aspx

Connections

Ganaraska Hiking Trail – intersects with the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail in downtown Port Hope: www.ganaraska-hiking-trail.ca

The Ganaraska Hiking Trail extends 500 km+ to the Bruce Trail, with side trails to Wasaga Beach and Midland. Nine member clubs of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association maintain the 500 km-long trail.

Greenbelt Route – The Waterfront Trail and Greenbelt use much of the same route in Port Hope. Where the Waterfront Trail heads east on Sherburne, the Greenbelt Route continues north along the Ganaraska River. Itineraries and trips suggestions are available.

Highland Hustle – Do the hustle on this 196km multi-day cycling adventure connecting Port Hope to Cobourg and Whitby. One of many signature loops on the Lake Ontario Watershed Network linking the Greenbelt Route and Great Lakes Waterfront Trail between Niagara and Northumberland.

Staging Areas

  • Parking lot across from the Ruth Clarke Activity Centre. 74 Mill St S, Port Hope, ON L1A 2S9. There are two other lots south on Mill Street as well. (Great spot to park if you are visiting the Keith Richan Bridge and the A.K. Sculthrope Marsh or Port Hope East Beach).
  • Municipal Parking by Port Hope Town Hall–56 Queen St, Port Hope, ON L1A 3Z9. Great central access to downtown and trail.
  • Downtown parking in Port Hope allows for southerly access to the Waterfront Trail with municipal parking areas
  • Port Hope West Beach Parking Lot-35 Marsh St, Campbellcroft, ON L0A 1B0

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

VIA Rail – National Passenger Rail service.
Bike racks are available on all trains equipped with baggage cars. www.viarail.ca
–
Port Hope Transit
www.porthope.ca/en/residentservices/Transit.asp

Beach Water Test results:

Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit
http://www.hkpr.on.ca/InfoSet/Environments/BeachWaterTesting/BeachesNorthumberlandCounty.aspx

Swim Guide:
https://www.theswimguide.org/search/?q=port+hope

Helpful Links

Regional Tourism Organization
kawarthasnorthumberland.ca

Port Hope Tourism
www.visitporthope.ca/visit

Port Hope Tourism-Waterfront
https://visitporthope.ca/waterfront

Port Hope Tourism-Hiking
https://visitporthope.ca/hiking

Northumberland County
http://www.northumberlandtourism.com/en/see-do/cycling-routes-and-trails.aspx

Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority
www.grca.on.ca

Ontario By Bike – Cycle Friendly Businesses and Trip Ideas

Links to Waterfront planning documents are available from the Municipality of Port Hope’s website:

http://www.porthope.ca/municipal-publications

Partners

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

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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

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