Durham Region

Durham Recreational Routes – New in 2024, head out into the country and explore the scenic landscape on the 13 on-road cycling loops designed for cyclists of all skill levels, with distances ranging from 8km to 60km, and also listing tourism businesses that are ready to Ontario By Bike certified as bicycle friendly. Find RidewithGPS and Strava digital maps online for the following loops:

Leisure Loops

• Cannington Countryside – 9km – A relaxed and fully paved ride through the charming rural landscape of Cannington, perfect for families and casual cyclists. Enjoy quiet roads, small-town hospitality, and easy access to local cafés and unique shops.
• Seagrave Countryside – 14km – A scenic gravel adventure through peaceful farmland and backroads, ideal for riders seeking a slower-paced, off-the-beaten-path experience. This route showcases Durham’s rustic beauty and wide-open countryside.

Intermediate Loops

• Down by the Lake – 12km – A smooth, lakeside ride offering refreshing waterfront views and a laid-back cycling experience. Perfect for those looking to combine light exercise with scenic shoreline moments.
• Serene Scugog – 17km – Cycle through the heart of Scugog, where picturesque farmland meets the charm of Historic Downtown Port Perry. This route blends gentle rolling terrain with inviting stops like local cafés, shops, and waterfront vistas.

Advanced Routes

• Apple Capital – 28km – Ride through Clarington’s orchard country in the Apple Capital of Canada, where rolling hills and rural roads lead you past farms, markets, and seasonal harvest experiences—especially vibrant during apple season.
• Beaverton Eastern Shore – 32km – Follow the eastern shoreline of Lake Simcoe on this scenic route featuring open water views, breezy stretches, and welcoming stops in Beaverton’s waterfront community.
• Beaverton Harbour Pro – 31km – A more challenging ride around Beaverton with rewarding lake views and smooth pavement, designed for cyclists looking to push their pace while enjoying a beautiful harbour setting.
• Clarington Countryside – 24km – A peaceful ride through Clarington’s rolling farmland, offering quiet roads, pastoral scenery, and a chance to slow down and soak in the rural atmosphere.
• Experience Uxbridge – 55km – Discover why Uxbridge is known as the Trail Capital of Canada on this diverse route featuring forests, trails, and heritage sites. A longer ride that blends nature, culture, and small-town charm.
• Good Climbs Through Goodwood – 60km – An ambitious ride through the rolling hills of Uxbridge and surrounding countryside, offering sweeping vistas and rewarding climbs for experienced cyclists.
• Newcastle Nature – 35km – Explore a mix of rural roads and natural landscapes, with opportunities to stop at orchards, farms, and local artisan spots along the way.
• Scugog Sideroads – 32km – A classic rural ride along quiet sideroads, weaving through farmland and offering a peaceful escape with occasional winery and farm gate stops.
• Trans Can Gravel Loop – 38km – A fully gravel adventure for experienced riders seeking rugged terrain and immersive nature. This route delivers a true backcountry cycling experience through Durham’s scenic landscapes.

The routes below are from the legacy Durham Region Cycle Touring Map and are listed in order of distance.

• Scugog/Caesarea Route – At 25 km this route starts in rural Enniskillen, then heads to the countryside route north through Burketon, Blackston and Nestleton to Caesarea.
• Scugog/Uxbridge – A scenic 36km loop with lots of twists and turns that takes riders from the Township of Scugog to Uxbridge and back.
• Oshawa/Courtice Loop – This 40 km begins in Lakeview Park in Oshawa and heads north along the Oshawa Creek Bike Path. Head through Oshawa and the hamlet of Mitchell before heading back along Clarington’s Waterfront Trail.
• Oshawa Urban Loop – A 22km long urban on and off road route that lets you explore the city of Oshawa by bike. The loop starts at scenic Lakeview Park and features the Joseph Kolodzie Oshawa Creek Bike Path, and the Harmony Creek Trail.
• South Brock Loop – At 46 km, this route begins in downtown Cannington, famed as the “Heart of Ontario”. The ride takes cyclists through flat rural roads with infrequent hills and light traffic.
• Whitby Loop – This 46 km loop starts at the Whitby Marina and waterfront area. Head north through the hilly hamlets of Brooklin, Ashburn and Myrtle Station before returning south again to unwind at the waterfront.
• Beaverton/North Brock Loop – Start at the mouth of the Beaverton Harbour on Lake Simcoe on this 49 km route. This loop takes cyclists through charming downtown Beaverton and south to Cannington, before several kilometers of lakeside terrain.
• Beaverton/Cannington Route – The 22km route follows the scenic rural roads, hugging the Beaver River Valley system from Beaverton to Cannington.
• Pickering / Ajax Loop – This 51 km loop starts at Pickering’s waterfront on the Waterfront Trail heading west before heading northeast, through charming rural areas.
• Uxbridge Loop – At 54 km, this route includes a series of rural roads, through Uxbridge’s charming hamlets of Sandford, Zephyr and Udora. This ride is hilly, so be prepared to climb.
• West Clarington Loop – This popular cycling route is suitable for those looking for a rolling rural ride. Start at the Bowmanville Marina, this loop includes challenging hills, stunning views of rural landscapes and stops in downtown Orono or Bowmanville.
• East Clarington Loop – A 51km ride through peaceful rural settings featuring lakeshore views of Lake Ontario, rolling hills of the Oak Ridges Moraine and the small village of Orono.