One of the most memorable bike rides I’ve had this season was a visit to Waterloo Region, cycling from Kitchener’s bustling urban core to the pastoral backroads of Woolwich Township surrounding the village of St. Jacobs.
Waterloo Region is such a unique cycling destination as it combines big-city amenities – like bike infrastructure, transit, and a rich food scene – with the charm and bounty of surrounding farmland. It’s all easily accessible in a day or weekend.
I was excited to ride some of the Region’s new signature cycling routes, including the Woolwich Countryside Tour, which overlaps with many stops on the Fields & Flavours Trail, a new tourism route curated by Explore Waterloo Region. I connected that loop with the ride from downtown Kitchener to St. Jacobs for a total of 75km. Along the Trail, I visited the St. Jacobs Market, The Mennonite Story centre, Eby Manor Ltd., and Kitchen Kuttings. You can follow my route map on the Ontario By Bike Ride with GPS Tourism Account (allows for full navigation using free account), shown below.
As for bike choice, I rode a gravel bike – perfect for the mix of pavement and well-maintained dirt roads. A road bike with 30–32c tires or a hybrid would also work well.
Downtown Kitchener to the St. Jacobs Market – 0-9km
I parked at Centre in the Square’s underground lot and started the ride with my friend Matt. You can also start at the Kitchener GO Station (weekday train service, or weekend bus service) or in the village of St. Jacobs, further north on the route, which has free parking.
Cycling from Kitchener to the St. Jacobs Market, I was blown away by the cycling infrastructure that has been built in the Region. Most of the bike paths and lanes we cycled on were protected, connections were seamless, and with excellent wayfinding. Biking up the Iron Horse Trail at times I felt like I was in Finland, with the trail beside the ION light rail line reminding me of a recent trip and the infrastructure in northern Europe.
St. Jacobs Market – 9km
The St. Jacobs Market District is a sensory delight. We arrived on a bustling market day (open 8AM–3PM Saturdays, Thursdays, and Tuesdays from June to September), and were immediately swept up in the sights, smells, and flavours.
Fresh produce overflowed from farmers’ stalls, and inside the main building, rows of prepared food vendors made it tough to choose. We settled on some delicious pierogies and dried salami for a mid-morning snack, tempted by everything from apple fritters and butter tarts to pretzels, cheeses, and global fare. The crowd was buzzing with energy, making it a joyful summer experience.
The market is more than just food – it’s a sprawling complex filled with artisan crafts, clothing, home decor, and collectibles. You could easily spend the whole day wandering through its various buildings.
Another stop on the Fields & Flavours Trail is The Mennonite Story, also located in the Market District. This interpretive centre offers insight into the area’s old-order Mennonite community – the largest concentration in Canada. You can watch a short film, browse handmade crafts and food items, or take a wagon ride past orchards and farmsteads while learning about the region’s rich history.
Woolwich Countryside – 13-32km
We left the market feeling like we could have explored for days, but we were excited to keep pedalling and discover more unique stops. From the St. Jacobs Market, cross with caution at King Street north, and follow signs for the Trans Canada Trail north to the village of St. Jacobs, which is about 4km north of the market on a peaceful forested trail linking up to the picturesque Conestogo River. We knew we would return to St. Jacobs later in the day, so we kept riding north into the countryside, with a stop at Eby Manor Ltd. Be careful crossing the roundabout at Highway 85, and while there is a paved shoulder, be aware there are higher traffic volumes and fast-moving traffic on Sawmill Road.
Eby Manor Ltd. is a beautiful farmstead raising Guernsey cows, whose milk has a unique protein structure – great for those with sensitivities and rich in flavour. We met owner Jim Eby, who gave us a barn tour and introduced us to these beautiful animals, telling us the history of the farm and why he loves this breed of dairy cows.
Their on-site farm store sells their full range of products: milk, cheeses, ice cream, and more – we sampled the whole milk and chocolate milk and could really taste the difference and richness. If you’re interested in a tour of the farm, definitely contact them to arrange that in advance.
From there, we rode a stunning mix of smooth gravel and paved roads, enjoying big views above the Conestogo River. Soon, we reached the West Montrose Covered Bridge, affectionately known as the ‘Kissing Bridge’. One of the last covered bridges in Ontario, it’s a charming and photogenic stop – and a fun one to ride through.
Kissing Bridge Trail/G2G Rail Trail & Elmira – 32-38km
Soon we connected with the Kissing Bridge Trailway, which is a section of the Goderich to Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail, which is a lovely green corridor with trees on both sides, wildflowers lining the trail, and views to the surrounding farmland.
After about 6km, we reached Elmira, the largest community in Woolwich Township. While there are lots of great stops, we headed straight to Kitchen Kuttings, another Fields & Flavours Trail location.
Kitchen Kuttings, which also has a stall at the St. Jacobs Market, is a large cafe and food shop, grocery store and deli, with a large breakfast and lunch menu, coffee, ice cream, and a massive collection of homemade baked treats, pies, and preserves. The business is rooted in the Mennonite tradition and all the staff working were so friendly and welcoming and appeared to be from the old-order Mennonite community. We enjoyed some drinks and chicken wraps and a break from the sun. It was neat to connect with and support this community institution which is creating delicious and local food.
Elmira, Wallenstein & Return to St. Jacobs – 40-61km
The 21km from Elmira looping back south to St. Jacobs had some of my favourite scenery on the ride. These are the pastoral backroads your bike dreams of. While there is a short section of busy highway at Wallenstein to be very cautious on – Highway 10/Hergott Rd – the remainder of the ride is tranquil and idyllic. On Township Rd 2B, Broadway, and Hemlock Hill Drive and Three Bridges Road enjoy rolling, smooth dirt and paved roads passing working Mennonite farms, stands of mature trees, and so many great views over the western branch of the Conestogo River.
Make a stop and take a photo at the 3 Bridges Picnic Park, and return to the village of St. on meandering forest trails along the Trans Canada Trail Route.
Village of St. Jacobs – 61km
The Village of St. Jacobs around the 61km mark is the perfect place to stop for a beverage, meal, ice cream or coffee, or place to end the ride if you started from here.
The village has a charming, small-town feel, a pretty collection of colourful old buildings along its main street, and is perfectly set up for cycle tourism. If you spend some time here you will most certainly see the horse and buggies of old-order Mennonites rolling down the main street. The village is a certified bicycle friendly business area with Ontario By Bike, and has great bike parking options, and lots of bicycle friendly businesses to check out!
Being a hot day, we were quite thirsty from our ride, and had heard great things about Block Three Brewing Co. We stopped in for a pint and were pleasantly surprised we had arrived for trivia night run by the local library. We played a round and enjoyed stepping into the local culture.
We were hungry after and stopped in at the Stone Crock Pub for some delicious grub – I had the veggie burger and Matt had the fish and chips. Both were excellent. The Stone Crock block is a collection of businesses all under one name – we enjoyed getting some treats at the marketplace/grocery, and stepping in to check out the bakery.
Return to Kitchener 61-75km
We left St. Jacobs right at ‘golden hour’ – the light was perfect as we rolled back along the town’s riverside trails, back to the Market District, and on the excellent pathways along the ION train corridor back to Waterloo and Kitchener.
In just one day, we had experienced so much: vibrant markets, rich agricultural traditions, amazing local food, serene country trails, and friendly communities. The Fields & Flavours Trail had truly lived up to its name – showcasing the bounty, beauty, and culture of Waterloo Region.
The contrast between Kitchener-Waterloo’s high-tech urban feel and Woolwich Township’s horse-and-buggy charm made this ride truly unique and tapped into all the things I love about exploring Ontario by bike. We’ll definitely be back to explore more!
Plan Your Fields & Flavours Cycling Adventure in Waterloo Region
- Explore Waterloo Region – Cycling – Find more info on trails, mountain biking, bicycle friendly businesses, signature cycling routes, with full route maps, points of interest and staging/parking areas.
- Field & Flavours Trail – Explore Waterloo Region’s unique, delicious, and down-to-earth farm experiences
- Explore Waterloo Region – Find more things to do, places to eat and drink, and great places to stay overnight in the Region.
- Ontario by Bike – Waterloo Region – Great Places to Cycle – Find routes, trail information, maps, and bicycle-friendly businesses in the region.
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Sponsored Content Partner: Explore Waterloo Region
Article and photos by Peter McMurtry of Ontario By Bike. Photo of Kitchen Kuttings courtesy of Explore Waterloo Region.
The post Scenic Cycling in Waterloo Region: A Journey Through Fields & Flavours appeared first on Ontario By Bike.
