The Elora Cataract Trailway is owned by the Credit Valley and Grand River Conservation Authorities and is managed by them in cooperation with the Elora Cataract Trailway Association.
The Village of Elora has many amenities that draw visitors, the trailway being one of them. The trailway starts at the eastern fringe of Elora, where the Grand River Conservation Authority has constructed a parking lot and kiosk. The trailway surface is stone dust about 3 metres wide, and is about as close to flat as you will find.
After about 2 km the trailway enters the Town of Fergus. Signs direct the cyclist or walker along local streets.
On the eastern boundary of Fergus the gravelled trailway resumes. There are a few road crossings, but otherwise the trailway is continuous to the Shand Dam. As you cross the dam, you will see Lake Belwood on the left and to your right is the picturesque valley of the Grand River. This entire area is part of the GRCA’s Belwood Lake Conservation Area, where there are washrooms and a host of recreational features such as boating and fishing. As a trailway user, you are permitted to pass through without admission charges, though you are asked to pay should you wish to stop and use the amenities of the conservation area.
At the eastern end of the trailway is the community of Cataract. It is named for a waterfall on the Credit River, located within the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park. The trailway begins within this park and is well worth a visit. The scenery is wonderful and there are many hiking trails in the park that are worth exploring. Walk your bike if it is busy along the hiking trails, and some cyclists may feel more comfortable walking their bikes along the cycling trailway where it skirts the gorge.
Outside the park the trailway heads westward along a narrow but smooth track. It soon gets wider and is a pleasant ride to Erin. The village centre is about 500 metres to the south, a pleasant village and worth a visit. The trailway continues west of Erin to Hillsburgh, then on to Orton, Belwood and the Belwood Conservation area.