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

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 Connections Staging Areas Amenities and Transit Beach Water Test Results Helpful Links Municipal 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