Trail Profile: City of St. Thomas
In the heart of Elgin County, Ontario, the City of St. Thomas Trail spans 13 kilometres and takes trail users right through downtown St. Thomas. Hike, walk or bike along the Trail and visit several local attractions, from the beautiful CASO Station to the St. Thomas Elevated Bridge and much more, there’s plenty to see and do along or near the Trail.
What we love about this Trail section
• The St. Thomas Elevated Park — Canada’s only elevated park — is a must-visit.
• It takes Trail users through the heart of downtown St. Thomas, home to food and drink options, rich history, and even a monument to famous elephant!
• It features fascinating history as the Railway Capital of Canada.
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Exploring a rich railroad history
Positioned in a key location for the railway across North America, at one time, St. Thomas was a major hub for several railways, serving as the primary stop for the Canadian route between Detroit and Buffalo in the United States. In the early twentieth century, more than 100 trains per day were routed through St. Thomas!
The city’s railway history can be seen via the Canada Southern Railway Station, or CASO, built in the 1870s. Today, the building is home to the North American Railway Hall of Fame, and also serves as a gorgeous event venue. You can find it directly on the Trail.
Discover the St. Thomas Elevated Park
Built in 1929 for the Michigan Central Railroad, the Kettle Creek Bridge carried over 50 freight and passenger trains daily.
Today, it serves as an elevated park, featuring public art, green space, seating areas and extensive safety features. The park was opened in 2017 as a fully accessible space and enhanced in 2019. It provides beautiful views of the city and surrounding areas and is a popular spot for all ages, for residents and visitors alike.
In the coming year, with funding from our Trail Catalyst Fund and the City of St. Thomas, On Track St. Thomas will undertake a structural assessment of the elevated park, helping it to inform its maintenance planning, investment decisions and long-term stewardship of the Trail section.
Museums, monuments and more
Trail users will also find several points of interest and museums along the Trail section: the Elgin Military Museum and the St. Thomas Public Art Centre can both be found on Talbot Street, next to the Trail. Don’t miss the giant Jumbo the Elephant monument, paying homage to the star of P.T. Barnum’s “Greatest Show in Earth,” who was struck and killed by a train in 1885.
Also of interest along the Trail are shops, restaurants and cafés, ideal to stop and people watch along the route. Continue along the Trail to the CASO Trail on one side, and the Municipality of Elgin Trail on the other.
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About Trans Canada Trail
Stretching nearly 30,000 kilometres across every province and territory, the Trans Canada Trail is cared for locally by trail and community groups. As a charity, Trans Canada Trail advocates for and stewards this nationwide system. We support community-led trail projects through the Trail Catalyst Fund and we share reliable trail knowledge through the Centre for Trail Excellence.
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Main photo credit: On Track St. Thomas
