Westside Trails – Waterloo’s Forest Escape

🌲 Westside Trails – Waterloo’s Forest Escape 📍 Location: Westside Trails, Waterloo (near Erb St W & Conservation Dr) 🚗 Parking: Free at Westside Sports Fields lot 📏 Trail Length: 4.7km loop (moderate due to 2 short climbs) 🚴 Bonus: Shared bike-friendly gravel paths 🌿 Why Hike Here? ✅ Tall Canopy Cover – Sunlight filters through oak & maple giants, no thorny bushes! ✅ Clean & Well-Marked – No mud pits (unlike Huron Natural Area post-rain). ✅ Wildlife Spotting – Deer at dawn, pileated woodpeckers hammering trunks. 🥾 Trail Highlights ✔ "Twin Peaks" Climb – Two steep but short hills (30m elevation gain). ✔ Creek Crossings – Wooden bridges over hidden streams. ✔ Autumn Bonus – Late September turns the trail into a golden tunnel. ⚠️ Know Before You Go 🦟 Bug Alert: Mosquitoes swarm near wetlands (DEET or long sleeves advised). 🚲 Bike Traffic: Yield to speeding cyclists on shared paths. 🐕 Dog-Friendly: Leashed pups welcome (watch for porcupines!). 📸 Best Photo Spots 📷 Hilltop Vista – Panorama of the tree canopy. 📷 Sunbeams at 4 PM – Light slices through leaves like stained glass. 🏆 Why It Beats City Parks? "Westside is where runners, bikers, and daydreamers share the trail— no crowds, just wind in the trees and the occasional ‘on your left!’." #WestsideTrails #WaterlooHikes #ForestTherapy