Ontario East (Toronto – Montreal & Ottawa)
2026 UPDATE:
Ottawa / Quebec City – In June 2026 bike transportation resumed. Cyclists can now reserve a space for their bike on trains for $25.
Toronto / Montreal – We regret to inform you that bike transportation is currently not available using VIA Rail.
VIA Rail states that there will be a progressive rollout after they ensure there is a smooth passenger experience from Ottawa / Quebec City route.
For service updates see information posted under VIA Rail HERE (www.biketrain.ca) or contact VIA Rail directly at: www.viarail.ca/en/contact-us
Options to Consider: Renting bikes at destination; travelling with a support vehicle; using a taxi hire service; inquiring about services provided by St. Lawrence By Bike / Voyager a velo or Vélo Québec Voyages.
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RIDE IDEAS:
South Eastern Ontario has a wide range of bicycle routes that take cyclists across the region through vibrant communities, alongside scenic waterways and to quiet rural and naturalized settings. Explore from Quinte West, Belleville and Prince Edward County, continue eastward via Kingston and Gananoque, the 1000 Islands and the Waterfront Trail, Brockville, the St. Lawrence Seaway to Cornwall and the Quebec border.
Find info and maps for road and gravel routes – trails – mountain biking plus bicycle friendly businesses at:
www.ontariobybike.ca/southeasternontario
Ottawa is an incredible city to explore by bike, with over 800km of on-road cycling lanes, multi-use and country pathways to connect to all the attractions and countryside just outside of the downtown core.
Find info and maps for road and gravel routes – trails – mountain biking plus bicycle friendly businesses at:
www.ontariobybike.ca/ottawa
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FEATURE DESTINATION:
Ontario East — Cycle the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail!
Bike Train service on this route connects cyclists to destinations along Lake Ontario’s waterfront and the St. Lawrence Seaway. These communities offer excellent cycling and a summer full of events. From the rolling hills of Northumberland County, to the bike paths along the shores of the St. Lawrence Parks System, Eastern Ontario offers countless opportunities for recreational and avid cyclists alike.
The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail follows Lake Ontario from the US border at Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Quebec border near Cornwall. Along it you will find a 900km celebration of nature and culture – where peaceful countryside, small and big cities share a common bond through Lake Ontario.
Made up of both paved and unpaved off-road paths as well as on road routes, the Waterfront Trail provides cycling routes for everyone from families and recreational cyclists to long-distance road cyclists. The Waterfront Trail links up with La Route Verte at the Quebec border, allowing cyclists to continue on to Montreal and beyond.VIA Rail provides easy access to many sections of the trail.
Resources: Great Lakes Waterfront Trail website – Full colour trail maps, free to download and interactive map.
Ontario East Destinations
Cobourg and Northumberland County
Northumberland County, accessible from the Cobourg train station, encompasses the communities of Port Hope, Cobourg, Colborne and Brighton. They celebrate their rolling hills and quiet, undulating paved country roads with 5 signed, looped routes with peaceful views of Lake Ontario and Rice Lake. New is the Greenbelt Route that begins in Alderville stretching west to Niagara.
www.northumberlandtourism.com/cycling
Prince Edward County
A bending and curving shoreline, vast marshes and wetlands, a bevy of agricultural delights and the largest freshwater dune system in the world at Sandbanks are just some of the natural treasures you will enjoy. Prince Edward County is accessible from Cobourg or Kingston.
www.visitthecounty.com
Kingston
Kingston offers a lively downtown filled with great pubs, restaurants and accommodations.Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Fort Henry and the Rideau Heritage Route. For those looking to cover more ground, use Kingston as the launching ground for trips east to the Loyalist Parkway, west to Prince Edward County, or a loop on the Rideau Heritage Route.
www.visitkingston.ca
Wolfe Island
Wolfe Island is the largest of the world-renowned Thousand Islands. Located where Lake Ontario ends and the St. Lawrence River begins its flow to the Atlantic, its beautiful sunrises, breath-taking sunsets and spectacular night-time skies are a big part of its charm. The island features 4 signed bike routes on rural country roads. Maps are available online or at the tourist information centre in the town of Marysville. Free ferries run hourly from downtown Kingston so you can stay for the day or weekend.
www.visitfrontenac.ca
Brockville and the Thousand Islands
Charming heritage homes and buildings,Canada’s first railway tunnel, and beautifully landscaped waterfront parks define Brockville’s contribution to the shores of the St. Lawrence River. See the Thousand Islands and cycle the WaterfrontTrail.
www.brockvilletourism.com
Cornwall, SDG and the Parks of the St. Lawrence
Cornwall has a well developed waterfront trail with 75 km of off-road paved trails.The path takes cyclists west towards the Parks of the St. Lawrence, Stormont, Dundas ,Glengarry and the Long Sault Parkway. Discover the St. Lawrence Parks, campgrounds, scenic waterside vistas and historic towns. Cycling east will connect you with cycling routes into Quebec.
www.cornwalltourism.com
www.whereontariobegan.ca
www.parks.on.ca
Ottawa
Ottawa has a vibrant cycling culture and over 800 km of on-road cycling lanes, multi-use and country pathways, as well as thousands of bike parking spaces making sightseeing stops around the city easy. While visiting Ottawa, cyclists shouldn’t miss a ride on the Capital Pathway network which includes: Ottawa River Pathway, as well as the Rideau Canal Western and Eastern Pathways, which hug the Rideau River and the Rideau Canal, Ontario’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the city’s scenic routes connecting to world-class museums, art galleries, and other attractions. Ottawa is also surrounded by beautiful rural areas and fantastic cycling destinations, criss-crossed by quiet roads and showcased through a series of rural cycling routes.
www.ottawatourism.ca
