Discover Trans Canada Trail’s Southernmost Trail Experience in Windsor Essex Pelee Island
Your next Trans Canada Trail adventure is calling! Head to Windsor Essex, home to the southernmost point of the Trans Canada Trail. Windsor Essex Pelee Island offers awe-inspiring waterfront landscapes, vibrant communities, local flavours and excellent walking, hiking and cycling opportunities.
Whether you’re setting out for a short jaunt or a several-hours-long adventure, Southern Ontario marks a special place on the Trans Canada Trail. Canada’s iconic trail network meets the southern edge of mainland Ontario, connecting over thousands of kilometres with the Trail’s farthest points in the north in Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories; to the west in Victoria, British Columbia, and to the east in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
A Trail designed for everyone
The Trans Canada Trail in the Windsor Essex area offers a welcoming experience for all, ideal for walking, hiking, cycling and rolling. It includes several Trail sections, from the extensive Chrysler Canada Greenway to the City of Windsor Trail network, which takes trail users right through the city on a safe, off-road active transportation corridor.
Along the way, you’ll also enjoy spectacular views of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a recently opened bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan – and part of the Trans Canada Trail!
Photo credit: Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island
Discover nature at every turn
Experience the beauty of southern Ontario through sandy beaches, coastal wetlands and peaceful waterfront trails. Cycle on flat routes along the Windsor Essex peninsula and be sure to bring your binoculars for world-renowned birdwatching or birding (check out Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island’s excellent birding guide here). For paddling buffs, hop off the Trail for a kayak, canoe or paddleboard on one of the area’s beautiful lakes or waterways.
Photo credit: Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island
Cycle your way through beautiful spots
Windsor Essex Pelee Island is known as a cyclist’s dream, and for good reason. Ride on flat trails featuring excellent views, right in the city of Windsor or on nearby greenway trails. Get inspired by Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island’s cycle tourism map, which takes trail users and cyclists to popular spots along the waterfront, including the Windsor Sculpture Park, a free and accessible outdoor museum featuring 31 sculptures – right on the Trail!
Photo credit: Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island
Seek out Windsor’s hidden gems (and not so hidden gems)
Windsor offers family fun, public art, great food and drink, and much more, often right on the Trans Canada Trail. Guests of all ages will love Adventure Bay Family Water Park, just off the Trail, while the Ojibway Prairie Complex encompasses six natural areas in the heart of the city.
For those looking for arts and culture, Art Windsor Essex, just off the Trail, is an ideal stop. Windsor also boasts a fascinating history, which can be explored via several monuments and museums. The Tower of Freedom connects Windsor and Detroit and pays homage to the Underground Railroad, while the Chimczuk Museum features exhibits about the region’s history, Indigenous culture and more.
Photo credit: Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island
Savour the journey
No visit to Windsor Essex is complete without experiencing its renowned food and wine scene. Stop for excellent coffee, at one of several local wineries, enjoy fresh farm-to-table cuisine, or relax on a patio after a day on the trail.
Photo credit: Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island
Explore more with Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island
Designed to enhance trail-based tourism across Canada, Trans Canada Trail’s Trail Destination Framework helps communities and partners elevate trail experiences, improve infrastructure, and ensure readiness to welcome local, provincial and international visitors. Through the Framework, we partnered with Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, along with the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to promote Windsor Essex as a premier outdoor recreation and active tourism destination through the improvement of the region’s cycling infrastructure. The cycling routes in Windsor Essex are considered an Exceptional Experience on the Trans Canada Trail.
Find out more about Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island’s cycling itineraries and other tourism offerings at visitwindsoressex.com.
Main photo credit: Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island
