Completing the End-To-End Experience on the trail is something to be proud of and we want to recognize all our users who take it on! If you completed an E2E on the G2G (starting in Guelph or at Marden Tract and ending at the boardwalk in Goderich OR vice versa) fill out the form below so we can add you to completion list and share your experience (if you wish)!
Walked E2E
“Walking sections of the G2G trail became my outdoor exercise response to the COVID 19 lock-downs. It started in August 2020 as walks on the Goderich end when I was at a cottage north of Goderich. These walks continued through the fall until early December from my home base in Listowel either as solo walking or joining with Elora friends who favored the eastern part of the trail. I finished this past spring completing the last segment east from Walton in early May 2021. I have had wonderful conversations with the many interesting people that I met on the trail and enjoyed the varied rural landscapes through which the trail passes. Since I was walking sections from and back to a parked car, I have actually covered the trail from Goderich to Road 39 north of Guelph twice.” – Warren Howard
“I started hiking the G2G last year in May as continued preparation for a future walk in Spain. I finished the last stretch from the Maitland River (Auburn) to Goderich, almost exactly a year later. It was a wonderful experience and I thank all the volunteers for the hard work they have put in to maintain and improve the trail.” – Sandra Salter
“G2G – E2E – July 2021
This is a hike I’ve wanted to to do for a long time. I chose to do it in July of 2021 as part of the inaugural Paws in Motion awareness and fundraising campaign for National Service Dogs. I live in Benmiller, near Goderich. I’ve walked the section from the Maitland River to the Goderich Boardwalk with my walking buddy and his dog a couple of times through the pandemic. As a warm up to the E2E we walked the short section from Blyth to the Maitland River on June 17, after that I was hooked – I was determined to complete the E2E in July. On July 7, I walked alone from McNaught (#19) to Blyth and fed the many hungry mosquitoes along the way that day. I decided I had to select my walking days more carefully to avoid getting so bug bitten. On July 19, I started at Central station in Guelph and walked to West Montrose. I got to see Guelph from a different perspective, what a beautiful city. July 21, I walked from West Montrose to Millbank, I enjoyed this section very much. I was so lucky to witness a team of horses pulling a cart across the bridge just after I crossed. July 30, I completed my last section, the quiet middle section, going from Millbank to McNaught. I worked my way from the outer edges to the middle largely due to availability of people willing to drop me at my starting points early in the morning, I’d leave my vehicle at the exit points so I wouldn’t have to rely on taxiing at the end of my walks. What a wonderful trail and experience this has been and in support of such a great cause. Thank you G2G and NSD!” – Gina McDonnell
“We started hiking in Blyth, completing the sections of the Trail towards Goderich to complete that end first. Then we focused on the Blyth to Guelph sections. We drove to the beginning of an un-hiked section that we wanted to start at and would hike to a certain km marker or side road and then hike back to where we had parked our Jeep, averaging 8 km /hike. We have actually completed the Rail Trail twice because of the way we structured our hikes coming back to our starting point each time. 264 km. On our last day to complete the end-to-end, we actually hiked 24 km in one day! An amazing end to our incredible journey! The experience has been amazing. We had always been keen supporters of the G2G prior to hiking it ourselves. We promoted it regularly but had never had the time to commit to hiking it. We really wanted to experience the trail so we could promote it even more with a better sense of what it really was. We gained inspiration from becoming acquainted with Lynda & Doug Wilson and learning about their story of hiking the G2G. Lynda’s book “Walking Home” was an amazing read as she told the story of hiking the trail and learning along the way. The G2G Trail is an integral part of all of the communities that surround it. It is an absolute gift to have it in our midst. We will hike on it again and enjoy!” – Anne (Elliott) & Les Cook
Cycled E2E
“Long ride but can feel shorter if you bring a friend. Trail is well maintained and marked. Can’t think of a better way to see Ontario’s farmland and meet interesting people along the way. Thank You Liz for your guidance during the river crossing!!! Soaking ones feet in the blue water of Lake Huron is worth the adventure. Refuel stops are evenly spaced along the way. G2G should be on every adventure rider’s to-do list. Thanks to good folks at G2G for making this trail the gem that it is!” – Mike Gryczan (Total KM: 289)
“Still on high from an epic adventure over the weekend riding the Guelph to Goderich and vice versa! It’s the longest I’ve been in a saddle in one day. Amazing trail conditions, scenery was great it was a treat to dip your feet in the river crossing and in the cold waters of Lake Huron once you get to Goderich. Not to mention the laughs and memories made with a good friend. 10/10 would ride the route again and perhaps make it a weekend trip with the boss lady. Thanks to the folks who maintain this trail and to the wonderful people/cyclists/trail users you meet along the way!” – Ash Albano (Total KM: 289)
“Compared to my last long ride of the G2G in 2019, the trails have SIGNIFICANTLY improved. Signage was fantastic. It was a challenging day at 270km but made better by the trails, the sights along the way, the “pop stands”, the rest areas, and the great Fish and Chips in Goderich.” – Julia Poelstra (Total KM: 270)
“Part I- My buddy Phil and I attempted a G2G in October 2020. Goderich had tornado warnings and severe thunderstorms that afternoon. By the time we made it from Guelph to Blyth, the skies were really black and the winds were picking up. We high-tailed it back to Cowbell for a great beverage and got picked up after 105km. Part II- I rode solo from Martin Line from Sunshine (near Brussels) to Goderich to complete the entire trail in May 2021! I rode about 20k around Goderich and returned to my start point for a 106km total! I crossed the Maitland River each direction. Water was just over my knees for about 20′, however the current was manageable with my bike on my shoulder. 32C on this day, make sure you bring lots of fluids or can stop for refills! I love the scenery along the trail, especially near the Maitland River.” – Dale Marsh (Total KM: 212)
“What an experience! I biked the entire trail with my dad. We started in Guelph and went towards Goderich, crossing the Maitland River in Auburn. As new cyclists this trail has helped us through the pandemic. It was our goal to go E2E, we experienced a strong headwind, rain and sun and we did it!! We are very thankful to all of those who look after the trail and put so much time into making it what it is.” – Anonymus
“During the summer of 2020, a group of friends, and my partner Sylvain and I, decided to try the first section of the G2G trail from Guelph (Kissing bridge section). I live with paraplegia following an accident nearly 18 years ago and my plan was to use my 3 wheeled handcycle. Although it has 27 gears, it is designed more for road cycling than trails. I wasn’t sure how I’d manage on the trail but we found that it was quite hard-packed and well-groomed. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and decided to attempt the whole trail as a challenge and a way for us to safely spend time together during the pandemic.” – Cyndy McLean
“As we looked at the whole trail and knowing the physical challenge of handcyling, we decided we would divide the trail into segments that were a maximum of 25 km long. We ended up dividing the trail into 9 sections – 6 were return trips (Marden-Katherine St., West Montrose to Wallestein, Wallenstein to Linwood, Linwood to Millbank, Millbank to Milverton, and Milverton to Monkton) and 3 were one-way trips thanks to some car jockeying (Monkton to Walton, Auburn to Walton, and Auburn to Goderich). The last 3 were point to point as we were getting into October and the weather was getting less predictable. I would encourage people to try the G2G trail and do as little or as much of it as they can. It will be an amazing experience. We are very proud of our E2E accomplishment.” – Cyndy McLean (Total KM: 178)
https://vacay.ca/2021/06/the-restorative-power-of-cycling-ontarios-g2g-rail-trail/ – Diana Ballon & Felix Eckley
“I came from Edmonton to be part of the inaugural (I believe), Canada Day Weekend Bike and Camp Tour in July 2018. It was 30+ degrees. A lot of the trail was grown over so the groundhogs could hide their work well. It was a blast though and the food was great. And I never used the sag wagon! I’d love to do it again and I applaud the hard work and volunteer hours!” – Robin Knight
“I started at home in Kitchener, then the road to Marden Tract, took the trail to Goderich, had lunch, and rode back to Kitchener (got off the trail at Middlebrook Rd). 300km start to finish. Such a great trail, thank you to everyone that has put so much time and effort into making this possible. While it was a tiring ride I never got tired of the views across the fields and then down the tree tunnels. It was great seeing so many people out enjoying the trail too, perfect way to spend Canada Day!” – Mark VanderVeen
“Toward the end of the summer of 2020, a friend of mine inspired me to take on a very large bike touring adventure. It was a very exciting notion given the year we were all having and was thrilled to have something to look forward to – yet I was not ready to jump into the big adventure yet. I felt I needed a smaller, but sufficiently challenging, trip to test myself and give me something to build towards. Conveniently, a few months later the answer came when someone tweeted about the G2G and I realized this was perfect! A there-and-back-again approach to the trail would be long enough and physically demanding enough to really put myself to the test. After considering the distance, I figured four days (2 days there, 2 days back) was just about right. It was a grey, cloud-covered morning when I set out and, after a few hours of riding, turned into a steady downpour of rain. Thankfully, the weather was still warm despite the rain so the experience was merely uncomfortable (who likes being soaked?) instead of unpleasant. The trail was exactly as promised – flat, straight, and well marked most of the way. Even after hours of rain I had no issues riding on the crushed gravel surface. To whoever maintains this trail, thank you! Hour after hour I rode. The fresh air, green landscape, and smooth journey allowed me to drift into a meditative state. While I peddled my way over the kilometres, I contemplated the value of letting go of past pain and embracing the experience of being in the moment. This trail gave me the time and space to both challenge myself physically but also reflect on my life and choices. Along the way, animals popped up to say hello and go about their business – deer leaping in front of me, startled ground hogs and rabbits, a surprising number of song birds (shout out to the remarkably cool-looking black and orange oriels!), the curious but cautious field cats, and the lone snake that shocked me as much as I shocked it! My approach to the detour south of Auburn was not well planned resulting in riding many extra kilometres and caused me numerous moments of frustration. I recommend for those of you planning to travel through this area to consider your approach to this detour and plan accordingly. This unhappy moment reversed itself when I arrived triumphantly into the town of Goderich, collapsing on the beach overlooking the blues of Lake Huron. Towering thunderclouds approaching from over the water could not diminish my sense of success – in fact, they provided an epic backdrop as I settled in for a well-deserved pint of cider and hot meal (thank you to the awesome folks at the Beach Street Station for setting up a table for me despite the treat of rain!). The weather improved for my return journey and saw the sun for the first time in days. I corrected a few of the mistakes I had made on the outbound journey making for an even smoother return trip. Despite it being exactly the same distance, the hours passed more smoothly and quickly. I returned to Guelph right on schedule and settled into a patio under the blaze of the afternoon sun, enjoying a scrumptious burger while I reflected on the journey I just completed. The Guelph to Goderich trail is a beautifully maintained path through picturesque rural Ontario. While I did the full route, any section would be great for a walk or bike ride. Thanks again to the people who manage and maintain this route – please keep up the great work allowing us to all enjoy this path!” – Matthew Devine
“A few weeks prior my partner and I set off to do and end to end and return. We came up 15km short and had run out of time. Crossing the high river waters wasn’t a safe option and the detour dragged on way longer than anticipated. The following week a friend and I took on the full thing again which my partner was very envious of so a 3rd attempt needed to happen. Anna Mae’s made for a great refueling stop each time and cowbell gave us the final push to get to the lake and after a nice refreshing dip in the lake, we would jump back on the bikes and head back to cowbell for a little more refreshing then push all the way home. I think spreading the whole thing over an extra day would be nice just to soak in some of the other things to do once you’re there. All in all a great experience and worth all of the effort. Thanks to all the contributors! Cheers!” – Kevin McLean
“We started our journey at the train station in downtown Guelph. We ended at the Goderich train station. Amazing day. We were blessed with a generous tailwind on our trip. We stopped at Anna Maes to refuel. 6 of us made the journey starting in Guelph at 7 am and celebrating with a cold beverage in Goderich shortly before 4. Was an amazing trip and the weather certainly made it much better.” – Curtis Meyers
“I retired in June 2020 and was looking to keep busy and get fit during COVID. I had ridden the whole trail in sections last Fall so I was familiar with it. I rode solo and stopped for breaks in Elmira, Millbank (Anna Mae’s for breakfast!), Monkton and Blyth. It was in June 2021 so the weather was sunny and warm, but there was a VERY strong northwesterly headwind which made it more of a challenge. I enjoyed many sights such as the tidy farms in Waterloo County, the American Goldfinches who inhabit the trees, and the old stations/mills in Monkton and Blyth. After struggling somewhat with the seemingly endless section from Monkton to Blyth and after crossing the Maitland River, it was all downhill to Goderich. When I reached the Hwy 21bridge, I knew I was almost there. My husband met me and we went for dinner at the Beach Station. It was very rewarding to be able to go end to end.” – Elizabeth Davidson
“Summer 2020: I discovered the “Kissing Bridge Trailway” (Guelph to Millbank) in Summer 2020. I biked with a buddy starting in Guelph all the way to Millbank and back with a few detours (100 KM). We were very ill-prepared and ran out of water halfway through the ride in Millbank and it was a Sunday so the Mennonite shops in Millbank were all closed! I started to pay attention to the G2G signs along the route: “100 KM to Goderich”, “99 KM to Goderich”, “98 KM to Goderich”. They were a series of post-it signs placed at every kilometer along the G2G route that tells you your current distance from Goderich. I remember thinking “where the heck is Goderich?”. We then ran out of food on our way back to Guelph in Elmira. We experienced what cyclists call “the bonk” and we had to start picking apples off the wild apple trees in Elmira. I went home and google searched “G2G” and was amazed. It turns out the “Kissing Bridge Trailway” is only a section of a longer trail called G2G, Guelph to Goderich. I’m a man of curiosity and adventure, so it did not sit well with me that I only did a section of a trail. “I have to do the whole thing,” I told myself. Summer 2021: So I began to train for G2G starting in January 2021 until mid-June 2021. Even if it was -20 degrees outside I would go out and bike in preparation for G2G. The time finally came. It was June 20, 2021, and this time I was very well packed. I had with me 5500 calories of food, and 4L of water, and a GoPro so I can show the people what an epic trail this was. I started around 8 AM in Guelph and arrived in Goderich around 6 PM. I had to take a dip in the water but man was it freezing. Lake Huron is beautiful but very cold. The most emotional part of this journey was not the actual day that I biked G2G but the 6 months of preparation and the documentation afterward.” – Abdel Rahman Abuawad
My Full G2G Experience Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWWKk2Ql5Ww (skip to 1:04 if you don’t want to watch the intro)
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftCbBOFsywo Map: https://www.strava.com/activities/5503892026
“Joshua Pol, Roberto Lorusso, and William Pol completed an E2E on the G2G in beautiful weather on August 3, 2021 from Guelph to Goderich. We saw beautiful rural Ontario scenery, especially views of the Maitland River. The trail conditions were EXCELLENT!!! Great work on chips\dust surface, markers, and trail maintenance. We enjoyed food at well-known rest stops along the way. Here is a photo of 123 KM sponsored by the Renegade Cyclists of London. See you again on the trail next year. ” – William Pol
“We departed from the via rail station in Guelph around 730am. Both of us on bikes that are really just for the road. I ride a fixed gear and my partner rides a road bike. Both with the smallest tires possible 700 23c. We knew this would be a challenge in some sections. But that was half the fun. We struggled on the freshly groomed sections, sliding and spinning out in a few spots. But we pushed hard. The first detour was a little bit hectic on the roads in Guelph but we made it to the trailhead safe. Then we pushed for 40km ish and had a nice break at a cooler stop. They had chocolate bars! The weather was super nice, some good cloud cover most of the way. Our next major stop was in Blyth for some much needed refreshments. I know the last section very well. I ride it at least once a week. So I was on autopilot. The river crossing was such a blessing and we both had a little dip before the final push. My wife and kids meet us at the finish line and then we fished off the trip with a swim.” – Clayton and Emileo
“It was amazing! The trails were fast and stunningly beautiful. The edges were teeming with the sights and sounds of so much life. It was an amazing experience, and I can’t wait to do it better and faster next time!!! Ooof, that Balls Bridge trail detour though… haha! flat track the whole way, but we had the pistons pumping and max wattage available to make it up those edgy, hilly bits. I sure did serenade the flag with a little “Oh!! Canada!!” Bursting with pride! Shout out to the innumerable folks who ‘paved’ the way for the Glydesdales to get down and gravelly. Can’t wait for the sequel.” – Anonymous
“My affinity for the G2G trail started the summer of 2020 when our family took up a seasonal site at Auburn Riverside Retreat in Auburn (near Blyth) and literally a 5 min bike ride from our trailer site, up Highway 8 to the trail crossing. It has become a beloved part of my personal fitness journey that sees me riding at least 17km every single day between when the snow flies and a part of the reason I am down almost 60lbs since I started getting more serious about my health. I ride the G2G every single day we are at the trailer.
“I had wanted to do my Second Annual G2G2SB* on June 30 and July 1, 2023, as I had last year, starting at the Trailhead at Wellington Road 39 in Guelph through to Goderich and on the second day north to Sauble Beach. Alas, the weather prevented that launch date, and so I reluctantly canceled. Happily, by July 6 weather forecasts revealed nothing but perfect forecasts and so on Friday morning, July 7, 2023 there I was at 7:45am at the trailhead on Wellington Road 39, heading yet again westward along the G2G trail.As always, I researched every step of the way using the excellent interactive map @G2G in conjunction with separate Google Maps searches. There really were no problems except I discovered the Monkton Diner has closed. The anticipation of a Monkton Diner Cheeseburger Special (With Fries) had motivated me since Milverton. No worries! I had a delicious high-carb meal of two butter tarts and a can of Hungarian Lager from T&J Variety in the shade of the Monkton G2G Kiosk.
None of the 7 Detours was disagreeable except for the 7th and last detour at the Maitland River near Auburn. Last year I did the nearly 9km detour along gravel roads with hills which, at kilometer 85 of my trip, I vowed never to do again. This year I rode north through Auburn and then along Blyth Road and down Lucknow Line to the trail.
Neither of these is a satisfactory detour. From what I’ve seen on my internet searches, including video from the G2G site, the original site of the Thompson Bridge crossing shows a reasonable ford of the Maitland River.
Another option appears to be a dirt path carved by ATV traffic along the Maitland River’s west bank which seems to be accessible from Pinery Line along a laneway on the right, about 310m north of Pinery Line’s terminus when it reaches the Maitland River. This laneway appears to lead to School Road which leads westbound to Heron Line (about 500 meters). Turning south (left) leads in about 720m to the G2G.
The road to Sauble Beach includes a stretch of Highway 21. This year and last I started early (5:45am) and so there was very little traffic. This route also includes the Bruce County Rail Trail (17km from Concession 6 to Port Elgin) and the Saugeen Rail Trail to Southampton.
Anyway, I sincerely appreciate the work of the G2G Board of Directors and volunteers for their excellent work on the G2G Trail. My 2022 and 2023 experiences will be surpassed I’m sure only be the succeeding years. Thank you for a great ride. I’ll be back again next year!
*Sauble Beach”
Ran E2E
“I’m really excited to have set the unsupported FKT of the 138 km Guelph to Goderich (G2G) trail this weekend! My time was 19 h 26 m and I filtered all of my water from natural sources and carried all of my food. I’ve included a short write-up, with photos and a link to my Garmin stats in my blog – jordanwickett.com. A massive thank you to my wife, Lindsay for all of her support. This project wouldn’t have happened without you. Another big thank you to my friend and running role model, @rayzahab for the invaluable advice leading up to the run. Finally, thank you to @miahsommer , who holds the supported FKT of the G2G trail. Miah gave me some great advice about the trail and came to the finish, even though it was 11:45pm.” – Jordan Wickett
Made E2E
“Being active outdoors is great for both physical and mental health. This is an amazing trail to travel on skis! The countryside is so beautiful when carpeted with snow and there are many lovely farms in the area. Sometimes we saw Mennonites with their horses and buggies, always a visual treat. We also came across wild turkeys, chipmunks venturing out of hibernation and even some snowy owls.” – Louise L. & Rosemary Z.
