Hike Rating: Up to 7km out and back.
Level 1: Mostly level walk partly on unpaved, rough surface.
Pretty trail with excellent views along the Speed and Grand Rivers and their confluence. Great for birdwatching!
There is a small parking lot at the Linear Trail Entryway on Chopin Drive at Hamilton St., Preston. Chopin leads off King St., near the Beer Store. The parking lot is half hidden by trees.
[GPS: 43.397530, -80.366588]
Follow the wide, wooded trail which leads to the Speed River and follows it to the confluence where it joins the Grand River, with a wonderful view from the overlook at Settlers’ Fork. Continue about 100m to the narrow trail which goes down to the Grand River, which opens up to a wide trail near the river with good views. After crossing a bridge near the end of the trail you will be in sight of housing up above, and this is a good place to turn back, as the last part is a very steep hill going up to the Preston Memorial Auditorium.
The return route can follow the same trail, or near the end you can stay on the lower, narrow, riverside trail beside the Speed River for about half a kilometre.
