Escarpment – Rail Trail

Length –  34 km (one way)

90% rail trail path
10% road crossings, detours

Elevation – Gradual slope up escarpment for 30 minutes, then it levels out

Terrain –  Sections of asphalt, crushed stone

Skill – Hill climb is Intermediate, the rest is easy

Maps – New map boards and signs posted

Traffic – Bicycles, joggers, hikers, dogs, X-country skiers in winter

Facilities – Parking on street, outhouse, benches

Highlights – Lookouts from the cliff, Albion Falls, Grand River

Trail Fee – Free

Phone – 905 546 2489

Website – City of Hamilton

Similar Trails – Hamilton Brantford RT,  

Local Clubs – Hamilton Cycling Club, HBMBA

Access –

• Starts at Corktown Park 
• Albion Falls 
• Chippewa trailhead 
• Gypsum Mine Tract trailhead 

History – (I no longer include train history in my free reviews. Only to be found in my published books.)

The 34 km Escarpment Rail Trail starts from the base of the bluff (“mountain”) in Hamilton. It’s a long climb up a gradual slope that gets you to the top in about 40 minutes, with a few stops added in to check out the view. It was probably more of a challenge for trains years ago than it will be for you on your bicycle to climb the 95 metres.

This rail trail to Caledonia, on the Grand River, has three sections/names. The Escarpment Rail Trail (Iron Horse) segment takes you from the inner city across the escarpment to the top, where it flattens out considerably for the rest of the route. 

Starting at Corktown Park, the path is paved and level, running alongside a set of tracks. Maybe the kids will see a freight train chug by. As the path heads up across the stony bluff for 8 km, it leaves the other tracks behind at the bottom.

This is a well-treed path that has only a few ideal lookouts. Many of the original grand views of Hamilton are now overgrown, but the trees provide some welcome shade to cyclists. The rest of the route is more open once you get to the top.

It’s a popular trail for joggers, who test their stamina by climbing the access stairs that exist in a few locations along the way.

This moderate climb turns south and takes you through a limestone…

Read the rest of this review and 59 others in my NEW book, Volume 2 of Best Bicycle Park & Rail Trails in Ontario.