Caledon Trailway
The Caledon Trailway has been improved significantly during the past seven years (1997 to 2004). I first
wrote this page in 1997, I revisited the western half of the trail in 2002, and the eastern half in 2004. In the meantime I have
added updates that I have received from readers, notably Chris Chornenki who cycles the trail
frequently. Thanks, Chris. You can also go to the Town of Caledon web site where there are photos,
maps, and news.
The Trail
The trail is 36 km long with
endpoints at Terra Cotta
and Highway 9 just north
of Palgrave. Road crossings
have now been gated and
are signed There are maps
at a number of major roads
(Palgrave, Caledon East,
Hwy. #10)
The western end has been much improved since I first rode it in 1997. Anything west of Caledon East has a very good surface and is enjoyable for both cyclists and walkers. As you go east from Caledon East the surface tends to get progressively rougher. Some people may not mind a rough surface, but it is generally tougher cycling.
The centre section, between Inglewood and Caledon East, includes the crossing of Highway 10, four lanes of very fast-moving
traffic. Be extra cautious here. The town is planning a bridge here that will be capable of carrying
pedestrians, bikes and horses (the bridge has now been completed).
The landscape along the trail is very pleasant.
The land is generally rolling and the trail is
bordered by farm fields, woodlots and a couple
of beaver dams. The trail crosses a deep valley
of the Humber River west of Palgrave, the
Credit River in Inglewood, and smaller creeks
at other locations.
Trail Amenities
There are signs indicating the distance to the
next community at most road crossings. There
are no water supplies, but there is a portable
toilet at Inglewood and two more in Caledon
East, east of Airport Rd.. Large signs with the
name of the trail and a map have been erected
at major road crossings.
Beyond Palgrave it is 5 km to Highway 9, which is the northern boundary of Caledon. The New Tecunseth trail continues along the same roadbed to Tottenham, and
perhaps further. I only cycled about 1 km into New Tecumseth because the surface is quite crude, but some mountain bikers and hikers may enjoy it.
Past Tottenham
the South Simcoe Railway
operates a tourist train on the roadbed.
Accessibility for Wheelchairs and Suitability for
Children
This trail is generally excellent to the west of Caledon East and quite good between that town and Palgrave. Some of the road crossings can be busy so parents
should ensure that the young children do not get too far ahead. Older children who have good cycling
skills should be fine on many sections. The trail would be excellent for hiking with the family.
How to Find
The trail runs generally east/west and therefore crosses the north/south roads and highways between
Terra Cotta and Palgrave. It is best to determine from a map approximately where the crossing will be
relative to a community or side road, then keep sharp eyes open for the trail. There are signs at some
crossings while at others you will have to spot the trail itself. There are few parking lots but you should be able
to park along most road crossings, where the shoulder is wide enough.
Thanks to Brian Pietrzyk I now have a GPS file for this trail. It is in GPX format, which you can download, then upload to your GPS device. To download the file right click on this link and select "Save Link As..." (in Firefox) or "Save Target as..." (Internet Explorer). In IE you may need to change the extension so that the saved file is Caledon Trailway Aug 2007.gpx: Caledon GPS File
In Palgrave the trail crosses Highway 50 toward the south end of town. In Terra Cotta there is an
entrance to the trail from Isabella Street, but it might be difficult to find. The Winston Churchill crossing
might be easier to locate, just north of King Road. In Caledon East it is easy to find the trail because there is a Trans-Canada Trail pavilion. Highway 10 is so busy that I would not advise
parking along there.
Click on each of 4 sections of above map (west, two central sections, east) for enlargements, suitable for printing
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Last Updated April 11, 2009 by Ken Brown