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Burlington Waterfront Trail

The main Waterfront trail simply heads along the Lakeshore Rd shoulder or the sidewalk trail until  the west end of Burlington, where it heads into Spencer Smith Park. A pleasant alternative I found, is to follow the abandoned rail way line trail that runs north of the lakeshore and angles down into Spencer Smith Park.

Burlington Rail Trail

Head up Burloak Dr. crossing Rubecca,  until you are in sight of the QEW Highway.  Just before the train tracks, and just after where Burloak bends east, ride along the west sidewalk path running between residential houses on the west side of Burloak, you see ( I hope) the beginning of the rail line bike path. It's starts as a crushed gravel path that runs fairly straight. At the first street crossing, the paths exits directly into a large sports complex parking entrance. Continue straight westward along the road then just after it turns north, look for a path into the woods on the west side. Follow path through the woods, then where it exits into a clearing, just after crossing the pedestrian bridge on the east side, head back into the woods. The wood trail does a 'C' curve then exits back on the trial line heading straight westward again. It loops through several parks, and crosses some busy streets, so be sure to come to a stop, look for traffic and use the cross lights . The path eventually brings you to New street. From New St. the path continues a little way, then at the lights crosses over to south side of New, and continues through parks, across streets, between houses, until it ends at Martha St. Head south on Martha to Lakeshore where you pick up the Waterfront trail heading west.

Spencer Smith Park.

Burlington has done a wonderful job at combining usage of their waterfront park. A great view of the lake, cycle along the marked lane through the park to it's west end. Turn north, back towards lakeshore to the Joseph Brant Museum, and continue southward along the path through the Burlington Beaches to the Hamilton Lift Bridge.

For a trip around Burlington bay, exit the path at the Joseph Brant museum head back on road to lakeshore and follow North shore Blvd. (lakeshore's westerly direction continues as North shore Blvd). This route will take you past the Royal Botanical Gardens and across to Dundurn Castle.

The Beach Strip

There is a section where you can choose to continue through a short sandy section or jog to a paved alternative which street bikes and inline skaters follow.

Lift Bridge

The path stops at the road across the Lift bridge. Wait for a clearing of traffic and cross over to use the lift bridge sidewalk. The first time I heard the warning horn for the bridge to raise I nearly fell of the bike! On the Hamilton side of the bridge at the end of the sidewalk, turn down the car entrance to the pier. Take the stairs beside operations tower onto the pier and go under the bridge (watch your head) and either stop to watch the ships go through or pick up the beach trail on the lake side. Often you can look up details of passing ships on the internet.

The Waterfront trail continues lakeside through Hamilton.

Burlington Bay

At the corner of Lakeshore, Maple, and North shore is the Joseph Brant Museum. Heading west, Lakeshore becomes North Shore and continues westward around Burlington Bay. From Spencer Smith Park, head north, away from the lake, onto Lakeshore. Go straight west at the lights onto North Shore Blvd. Be careful as you are on road and heading under the QEW. There are partial bike lanes, but walk keeping to the south if this section is too busy for you.

After you're past the QEW, North Shore becomes residential, with some uphill climbs, and the odd park on the lake. Continue westward for the length of North Shore until it ends and curves up to join Plains Rd. Keep to the south and continue west on Plains Rd. along beside the Cemetery, then keep westward at the end of the Cemetery by following onto Spring Gardens Rd.

Follow along Spring Gardens until it branches across the Bay bridge at Valley Inn Rd. Cycle across then climb up hill beside the train tracks then curve uphill to meet York Blvd just before the McQuesten High Bridge.

Keep to the Bay side and cross the Bridge and follow along the bike path as you head out to Dundurn 'Castle'.

Pause if you want at the castle and military museum, there are washrooms and light lunch available. By all means, if you have the time, take the tour as well. It is a worthwhile peek into upper Canada's History, Hamilton, and the people of the time.

From Dundurn there are several routes through Hamilton, I took Rolph's Gt. to Barton and followed Barton all the way down to Woodward, along Woodward over Burlington St. overpass then under the QEW onto Beach Rd to join back up with the Waterfront trail. Take care crossing over the overpass as you have to watch for traffic exiting off the QEW. This was a short route back, but is not for children.