The best walks and hikes around Windsor

John’s Pond is a small wetland feature along the Little River Corridor, surrounded by naturalized grassland and trees. It’s a quiet spot to pause along the trail, with the pond adding another habitat for birds and other wildlife within the corridor. The water is for viewing only: fishing, swimming and ice skating are not permitted, so stick to the surrounding paths and enjoy it from the shore.

Little River Corridor Trail runs through a broad naturalized green space linking the Ganatchio Trail with neighbourhoods further south. The route passes wildflower meadows, ponds and pockets of Carolinian woodland, with bridges crossing the Little River East Marsh Tap Drain along the way. Keep an eye out for turtles, birds and bats around the wetter sections. The wider Little River route extends for about 7.5 kilometres through Windsor’s east side.

Sandpoint Beach sits where the Detroit River opens into Lake St. Clair, with a broad sandy shoreline and wide views across the water. The surrounding parkland remains open and connects directly with the Ganatchio Trail, with picnic areas, a playground, parking and washrooms nearby. Water access is currently closed indefinitely, so treat this as a waterfront stop rather than a swimming beach and follow the barriers and posted signs.

Malden Park Visitor's Centre serves as a chalet-style rental facility within Windsor, Ontario's 175-acre Malden Park, home to the highest hill in Essex County. The facility itself provides a main-floor banquet hall with cathedral ceilings, a gas fireplace, and expansive windows, seating up to 64 guests indoors, connected to a covered outdoor patio overlooking a naturalized pond that can host another 120 people outside.

Malden Park Trails run part of the perimeter of the park, are wider than other trails and paved. The trail is partly shaded by trees, but close to Highway 401, so there is some soft background noise from the traffic, but it's still a super scenic way to explore Malden Park and connects with multiple other trails.

Malden Park spans 70 hectares and is made up of a network of mountain bike and gravel trails, all open to hiking and biking. Park near the Malden Park Visitor Centre and enjoy this public park's concert centre, picnic areas with tables and barbecues, dog park, playground, pond, toboggan hill and restrooms. There's another parking area on Malden Park's western end at the junction of Carmichael Road and Matchett Road.

Malden Pond sits a few yards south of the Malden Park Visitor’s Centre, a scenic man-made pond with a fountain in the middle. The pond is not huge, but can be walked around on a mix of paved and unpaved trails, with some marshlands on its southern end.

The trails at Black Oak Heritage Park are informal and mostly unmarked, winding through rare oak savanna, tallgrass prairie, and Carolinian forest. Surfaces range from dirt to grass and sand, with gentle terrain that’s walkable but not groomed for accessibility. You’ll find several paths that connect to the main loop, offering plenty of options to choose from and create your own adventure, whether it’s a short or extended hike through this beautiful area. These quiet paths provide close-up views of native plants and wildlife, making the park an ideal destination for nature walks and birdwatching.