Safety Guidelines for Your Elora Cataract Trailway Adventure

Safety Guidelines

• Stay on the trailway: Venturing off the trailway can lead to hazardous terrain, exposure to fallen trees and brush, encroachment on private property, and damage to the natural  habitat.
• Share the trail: Give way to allow others to pass, whether pedestrian, cyclist or equestrian.
• Direction of travel: Keep to the right and announce your intention to pass.  
• Ring bell or yell: Cyclists announce your approach and intention to pass.
• Raise or waive: Pedestrians acknowledge your awareness of an approaching cyclist or equestrian by waiving or raising your hand.
• Acknowledgment: Reinforce accepted trail behaviour by acknowledging others’ positive actions, whether moving aside, restraining their dog or horse, ringing their bell or announcing their approach.
• Ride according to trail conditions: Reduce your speed near encroaching vegetation, wildlife, equestrians, pedestrians (especially if travelling with young children or dogs or pushing a stroller), or in congested areas.
• Know your limits: Choose travel distances that match your fitness level, experience and current weather conditions. 
• Weather awareness: Check the weather forecast before setting out and prepare accordingly.
• Remain hydrated: Ensure you have sufficient water with you as there are few places to refill along the trailway.
• Communication: Never travel alone or else carry a cell phone or advise someone of your planned route and expected time of arrival should you get into difficulty.
• Wildlife encounters: Diverse wildlife roam our trailway. Keep your distance and never approach or attempt to feed them. Check for ticks.
• Leave no trace: Use trash cans or carry out what you carried in.
• Leash requirement: All dogs must be kept on a leash at all times to prevent conflicts with other dogs, wildlife and fellow travellers. Remember not everyone is comfortable near dogs.
• Waste disposal: Dog and horse owners are required to clean up after their animals.

The Credit Valley Conservation  (CVC) and the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) maintain the Elora Cataract Trailway.

The trailway is a free-access conservation property with maintenance standards different to a park. Conservation properties prioritize ecological integrity, with an emphasis on minimal impact, resulting in infrequent grass cutting and pruning during the year.

Conservation authority staff and Association members periodically check the trailway for issues.

You may help in this process by reporting any safety concerns you encounter, such as a fallen tree, a stretch of washed out trail, sinkhole, etc.