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Brampton has many bicycle trails all over the city. The three main ones are Chinguacousy Trail, Professor’s Lake Trail, and the longest one - the Etobicoke Creek Trail. All three run south/north. The trail description runs from the southern end at Kennedy Rd near the 407 to Mayfield in the north. Many have said the Brampton trails are confusing and even though people have lived or grew up in Brampton, many have not explored the full length of the trails. Some tips to keep on the main path are to follow the lighting standards along the path or to look for trail arrows painted directly on the path. Sometimes the trail follows straight through, at other times you need to follow what seems to be a branch instead.

Etobicoke Creek Trail

The trail begins just north of the 407 Highway on the west side of Kennedy Rd, across from the north tip of the Sports Park. The entrance is at the northern edge of the Brampton Golf course - just north of the Etobicoke Creek bridge.

The path runs beside the Golf Course (separated by a fence and thick bushes!) then continues to run along side and behind neighboring back yards. Eventually you'll come up beside the Peel Village Golf club house and parking lot just before Hartford Cr. Turn west and cross in front of the parked cars, (notice the path in front of the parked cars seems wider than normal). Follow that path into the woods, but watch your brakes...once in the woods the path has a few sudden drops and climbs compared with the trail so far. Continue to follow the trail out of the woods, then exit Winchester park onto Austin Drive.

Steeles Ave Kiwanis Park

Head west along Austin but look for a break in the link fence on the north side to cross and join up with the sidewalk on Steeles Ave adjacent to Austin Dr. Head west on the south sidewalk of Steeles Ave. as it crosses over the creek then make a sharp 'U' turn down on the west side of the bridge as it heads down and under Steeles Ave. where it runs north along the creek's west bank.

Now that your north of Steeles, the path heads north, curves west a little, then continues under Bartley Bull overpass then through the Kiwanis Memorial Park. Past the Kiwanis pavilion, the path crosses over the creek on a raised concrete walkway. On the north side of the creek there are flower displays (Brampton is know for it flowers!) in small parkette. The bike path though, turns immediately back and west before the park follow the creek west and to head under the Hurontario St and continues on the west side of Hurontario/Main running along side the creek.

Achdekin and Meadowland Park

Continue to follow that path north past Achdekin Park where the trail is raised slightly and continue along northward as it curves to heads under Main and enters Meadowland park. Continue north through the park keeping along side the creek as the path heads under Clarence St. and into Centennial Park.

Past the courts and at the end of the park the trail makes a turn west to cross over the creek. Pause on the narrow bridge and see the sharp contrast of the channel to your north and the creek bed to the south. On the west bank the path turns back and heads south a short distance. Keep you eyes peeled for the stairs just after you cross the bridge. Head up the stairs onto James St. On James turn north (right) to meet up with Queen St. Queen is a busy street, so cross at the lights if traffic is busy. The trail continues on the north side of Queen along Scott St about one block east of James.

Vodden St.

Here the trail crosses through Rosalea Park, runs into and through a parking lot to cross Church Street where it picks up again and enters Duggan Park. The paths runs beside Ken Whillans up to the corner of Vodden and Whillans. Cross Vodden at the lights and head east on the sidewalk where the paths starts up again on the creek's east bank entering Calvert Park.

From here on the path gently winds its way through Valley brook and Sheffield parks then across the pedestrian bridge and under Bovaird Drive.

Bovaird Drive

Past Bovaird and further through Wexford Park then Camden Park cycle under Sandalwood Parkway where it enters at the south end of Loafers lake. I've never seen a traffic circle along a recreational path, but I guess during the rush hour traffic must be busy!

Loafers Lake

Cycle around the lake as paths continues it northern run under Conservation Dr and eventually exists onto Mayfield Rd. As of 2004, Mayfield is under re-construction and there is an alternate exit onto Inder Heights Drive where the trail ends.

As a side trip, from Mayfield you can visit the Heart Lake Conservation area and rest along the sandy beach before heading back southbound along the Etobicoke Creek trail. Heart Lake has long been a recreational getaway and fishing spot. Now it's a conservation area with sports fields, picnic areas, boating, fishing, walking trails and a beach with a shallow area for children to swim.

There are no real bicycle routes that connect from Mississauga into Brampton! Even on road, it's quite a challenge to pick the least dangerous route. If you're an adult experienced with busy high speed traffic, you can come up by Kennedy and begin just north of the 407. Suggest you try it on a Sunday when traffic is light.

If you're coming from the Lakeshore, you'll be riding mostly on road past the 407. One route (the one I followed) was up the Hurontario bike path, along the Cooksville creek path up to Central Parkway. Central parkway goes past Bloor then curves north and becomes Kennedy Rd. Kennedy is ok on a Sunday, but crossing the 401 and especially the 407 is tricky, as you have to ride for the most part either along the west sidewalk or endure the gravel on the east. Kennedy however does not have any access ramps onto any of the highways. Still, it's only usable on weekends since it is mostly a trucking route on weekdays.

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The trails in Brampton are mostly north/south and unconnected by any major east/ west path. The city, by design, blocks through traffic in neighborhoods and instead routes traffic to busy major parkways. From what I've seen, most Brampton cyclists just ride on sidewalk to access the major bike paths where traffic us busy.

Towns in Ontario are often named after or by the first postmaster, or are named after the city of the same name from where the founder originated. Bramton was named by John Elliot of Brampton England but the area was also know as Buffys corner after Mr Buffy's tavern opened on Queen and Main in 1822! In days gone by, Brampton had many flower nurseries and in particular was known for raising roses and orchids.

Even today, as you cycle through the bike paths in Brampton you will notice the city remains 'The Flower City' by the many beautiful park displays.