A Local’s Guide to Road and Gravel Cycling in Caledon

Photo credit: John Bachmann

A “community of communities” stretching from the borders of Brampton to the edge of Orangeville, Caledon’s incredible landscape along the Niagara Escarpment, scenic roads, trails and its many attractions, have made it one of the best places to cycle in Southern Ontario. As with any popular destination, many of the roads in the area can be extremely busy with car traffic on weekends. The challenge, and the reward, come from knowing which roads to choose when cycling. For this blog we recruited local experts to guide you to the safest and most scenic cycling routes in Caledon.

With a growing number of excellent accommodations in the area, a weekend stay is the best way to experience all of the scenery and amazing local offerings available in Caledon. From the doorstep of many of the accommodations listed in this blog, it’s easy to stay and cycle directly onto one of the below routes.

Caledon Cycling Map

The Town of Caledon has done a lot of recent work adding to their network of safe cycling roads and routes, and have a great online mapping tool available to plan out your own route. The map shows signed, safe roads to cycle on, cycling trails including the Caledon Trailway, the Etobicoke Creek Trail, and the Elora Cataract Trail, places to eat, stay and other attractions, as well as parking and bike repair stations at key intersections throughout the area.

Caledon Gravel Routes

Generally falling outside of the excellent (mostly paved) cycling roads mapped by the Town, are lesser-known gravel cycling routes created by locals. The appeal of gravel road riding is the feeling of adventure and the undiscovered, as well as not having to worry about car traffic common on busier paved roads. The trick, however, is knowing how to connect scenic gravel roads into long enough loops, with safe crossings across major highways. With the help of Stephan Schneider, owner of Lynx and Hare Cycles in Alton, we present three adventure-inspiring gravel loops to explore on your weekend stay in Caledon.

Grange Sideroad Loop (50km, 68% gravel)

This loop has it all – scenery, epic views, hard climbs, refreshments and points of interest along the way. Alton is a great place to start, with excellent accommodation at the historic Millcroft Inn & Spa, and with coffee and treats available at two stellar cafes in town. Starting out you’re on quiet gravel sideroads with few cars, dropping down the Escarpment with your first panoramic view of the GTA.  Once on Escarpment Sideroad, you’ll cross under Highway 10 in a pedestrian/bike tunnel.  Don’t try to shortcut here on Highway 10 – avoid it like the plague. East of the 10 toward Palgrave is a wooded paradise of quiet gravel roads. You’ll get your second epic view on Horseshoe Hill Road, one of Southern Ontario’s most magnificent panoramas, then rejoining the Caledon Trailway making your way back southwest. With some great refreshment stops in Inglewood, take a break before continuing on to the scenery of the Forks of the Credit gorge, before the hardest climb of the day, a jaw-dropping 150m/500ft climb on Grange Sideroad, a rare gradient for Ontario. While difficult, loose, and long, you will get relief continuing past rolling horse farm country, before making your way back toward Alton with a stop at Goodlot Farmstead Brewing Company, with gourmet food truck fare, beer made with hops grown on site, and live music.

Interesting Stops
Alton Mills Arts Centre (Alton)
Inglewood Antique Market (Inglewood)

Where to Stay
Millcroft Inn and Spa (Alton)
Alabastre Acres (Caledon Village – beautiful farm glamping spot located off Hwy 10, so driving to route start is a must)

Food and Drink
GoodLot Farm & Farmstead Brewing Company (south of Alton)
Gather Cafe and Pizza (Alton)
The Cub Ice Cream and Smoothies (Inglewood)

Millcroft Inn & Spa, Alton. Photo credit: Destination Ontario

Belfountain Loop (38km, 64% gravel)

A more beginner friendly route, this loop takes in a great mix of Caledon’s rolling terrain without any grueling climbs, and includes the picturesque hamlet of Belfountain and the stunning Forks of the Credit gorge.  Note that the Forks of the Credit Road is extremely busy on weekends and at peak times, so plan to do this loop very early in the day. Starting on the Caledon Trailway by the historic Cheltenham Brickworks, you’ll pass through Terra Cotta before heading north on Winston Churchill for the only longer climb en-route. From there it’s secluded dirt roads all the way to beautiful Belfountain, offering coffee, snacks and even ice cream!  When you’re finished here you roll east directly into the Forks gorge, which is a serious contender for Ontario’s coolest road climb. But this way you’re making it a downhill.  Control your speed through the switchbacks and appreciate the gorgeous views without getting distracted. Once at the bottom, it’s a scenic roll along the Credit River until you cross it one last time on McLaren road heading for Inglewood, where you’ll rejoin the Caledon Trailway for a shady roll back to the start.

Interesting stops
The Common Good General Store and Café (Belfountain)
Cheltenham Badlands (Cheltenham) – famous and unique geological site
Cheltenham General Store and Café (Cheltenham)
Ken Whillans Resource Management Area (Inglewood)

Food and Drink
Coywolf Coffee (Inglewood)
Spirit Tree Estate Cidery (Cheltenham)
Terra Cotta Inn (Terra Cotta)
Higher Ground Cafe (Belfountain)

Where to stay
Peartree B&B (Terra Cotta)

Palgrave-Caledon East Loop (25km, 69% gravel)

This one starts out as a long rail trail roll where at times you’ll feel like you’re almost in the wilderness.  The loop takes you north from the Trailway on the outskirts of Caledon East, so if you’re feeling peckish head into town for a variety of food and refreshments.  Once you’re ready to get back on the road, head back to the loop and follow Innis Lake Road north up a rolling series of pavement climbs to Finnerty Sideroad, where you’ll really feel like you’re in the back of beyond.  Shady and scenic, Finnerty winds all the way back to just outside Palgrave on Duffy’s Lane, where if your bike is on the more dirt-worthy end of the spectrum, you have the option to follow some excellent singletrack back to Highway 50 and the village of Palgrave.  Either way, when you’re back in town you can swing by Caledon Hills Brewing Company and sample local beers and gourmet pub food in a restored church!  Well worth the pedal.

Interesting Stops
Albion Hills Conservation Park (Palgrave/Albion – trails, mountain biking)

Food and Drink
Four Corners Bakery (Caledon East)
Gabe’s Country Bake Shoppe (Caledon East)
Tom’s Family Restaurant (Caledon East)
Caledon Hills Brewing Company (Palgrave)
River Ridge Café (Palgrave)

Where to stay
Inn on the Moraine (Cedar Mills/Palgrave)
Forest Creek B&B (Albion/Palgrave)

Velocity Road Routes (Paved, 50 and 100km)

For those with smoother surfaces in mind, and almost exclusively using the officially-mapped cycling routes in Caledon, are the routes from this year’s Velocity Ride in Support of Caledon Seniors (July 1^st). We were able to speak with Wayne Noble, one of the chief organizers of the event and long-time community member and cycling advocate who recommended the two road rides from the event as routes anyone could follow on their own time and during a weekend stay in Caledon.

Both the 50km and 100km routes start and end officially in Caledon East at the Town Hall, where there is ample free parking on weekends. But you can start or end these rides anywhere on the route, depending on where you’re staying for the night or where you want to end the ride for refreshments. Both routes are designed for experienced riders due to the length and hilly topography along the route. But with the challenge comes great reward, with the routes passing through many scenic areas in Caledon, epic views along the Niagara Escarpment overlooking the GTA, rolling past active horse and cattle farms, and many attractions and stops along the way.

Photo credit: John Bachmann

Velocity 50km Route (Paved)

Interesting Stops
Cheltenham Badlands (Cheltenham) – famous and unique geological site
Lost Bear Market (Inglewood)
Cheltenham General Store and Cafe (Cheltenham)
Sunflower Festival (August Only) at Campbell’s Cross Farm (Campbell’s Cross)

Eat and Drink
Badland’s Brewing Company (Cheltenham)
Spirit Tree Cidery (just west of Cheltenham)
Coywolf Coffee (Inglewood)
The Cub Ice Cream and Smoothies (Inglewood)

Where to stay
Cheltenham Suites (Cheltenham) – Inn above Cheltenham General Store

Photo credit: John Bachmann

Velocity 100km Route (Paved)

This loop covers a similar region south of Caledon East but on different roads than the 50km ride, and adds a second loop north of Caledon East towards Palgrave.

Interesting Stops
Cheltenham Badlands (Cheltenham)
Cheltenham General Store and Cafe (Cheltenham)
Terra Cotta Conservation Area (Terra Cotta)
Heatherlea Farm Shop (south of Belfountain)
Ken Whillans Resource Management Area (Inglewood)
Rock Garden Farms (Caledon East)

Eat and Drink
Caledon Hills Brewing Company (Palgrave)
Spirit Tree Estate Cidery (Cheltenham)
Badlands Brewing Company (Cheltenham)
Sonnen Hill Brewing Co. (Heart Lake Road, west of Caledon Village)

Where to stay
Inn on the Moraine (Palgrave)
Peartree Bed & Breakfast (Terra Cotta)
Mount Alverno Luxury Resort (Heart Lake Road, west of Caledon Village)

Plan Your Caledon Weekend Backroads Adventure

Whether your preference is for riding paved or unpaved roads, Caledon truly packs a punch when it comes to scenic backroads, epic views and topography, and pastoral charm. We hope these routes inspire you to plan a weekend adventure in Ontario’s escarpment country.

• Visit Caledon – Cycling – Check out roads and trails and experience why Caledon is a premier cycling destination. From road, to rail trail, to mountain and fat biking, there is truly something for every type of cyclist in Caledon.
• Visit Caledon – Where to Stay  – Visit Caledon and stay a while. From historic country Inn and B&Bs to camping and glamping, Caledon offers accommodations for any taste and price point.
• Ontario By Bike, Great Places to Cycle – Peel and Greenbelt Areas – Find certified bicycle friendly businesses and more route and ride ideas for your Caledon cycling adventure
• Bike shops in Caledon – Lynx and Hare Cycles in Alton, Caledon Hills Cycling in Inglewood
• Plotaroute.com – Find more popular user-created road cycling routes in Caledon

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Sponsored Content Partner: Visit Caledon
Photos credits: 1 (Town of Caledon), 2,7,8 (John Bachmann), 3,6 (Author), 4 (Destination Ontario), 5 (Stephan Schneider)