Photo Credit: Dudek Photography/Tourism Oxford
With relatively flat agricultural land, picturesque lakefronts and meandering rivers, as well as quaint country towns, Southwest Ontario offers cyclists experiences of all kinds. Road riding in Southwest Ontario is second to none, with rural roads criss-crossing through farmlands with opportunities to stop at agri-tourism businesses, interesting heritage sites, artists’ studios, and communities while cycling these quiet country roads and enjoying a spectacularly scenic landscape.
With a growing collection of rail trails and off-road sections of the Trans Canada Trail, as well as boasting multiple mountain biking facilities including Boler Mountain, The Pines and Wildwood Conservation Area, Southwest Ontario is also an attractive destination for downhill and cross-country trail riding.
The opening of the Lake Erie portion of the Great Lakes Waterfront Traill in 2013 has linked the region to the existing Lake Ontario portion and offers cyclists a signed route with stops at the communities along the northern shore of Lake Erie.
Great Lakes Waterfront Trail (Lake Erie) – Stretching over 3600km, the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail is a route connecting over 151 communities and First Nations along the Canadian shores of the Great Lakes: Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, Lake Erie, Detroit River and Lake St Clair, Lake Huron, Georgian Bay and the North Channel. The fully signed Trail uses the safest infrastructure possible, a mix of both on-road and off-road facilities, and is primarily paved, with sections of unpaved path and gravel roads. It can be enjoyed for as part of a day trip or on a multi-day long distance cycling adventure.The Lake Erie trail connects with the Waterfront Trail via the Niagara River Recreation Trail. For information and to access downloadable maps visit www.WaterfrontTrail.org
Trans Canada Trail/TCT –This cross-Canada trail system runs through south west Ontario connecting many communities and Counties. The TCT is a four-season, multi-use trail system with various surface types, on-road and off-road segments and is suitable for a variety of users. Visit Trans Canada Trail “Explore The Trail” for information www.tctrail.ca
- Whistlestop Trail – This off-road newly paved route incorporates paved shoulders and bike path that follows a heritage rail line, 12.5km between St Thomas, Railway City, and Port Stanley, beachside resort town.
St. Thomas & Four Ports Tour – One of Ontario’s Southwest’s multi-day cycling itineraries, this four-day, 184km journey, begins and ends in St. Thomas and takes riders along quiet rural roads and the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, along Lake Erie’s northern shoreline and through communities with rich maritime heritage and vast agricultural lands. Downloadable pdf itinerary, GPS routing and more information.- Amish Country Tour – This 37km route is featured on the Elgin County Cycling and Hiking Map. Enjoy the sights of farming and industry of the Amish community.
- Sparta Wine Tour – A 35 km route featuring stops at Skye Chase Winery Winery, the Historic Village of Sparta, nearby Sparta Lavender Farm & Gay Lea Dairy Heritage Museum.
- Aylmer Kinsmen Trail –This 11km trail passes through the town of Aylmer and heads south towards the Springwater Conservation Area. It is now part of the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) and connects the Elgin TCT and the Brouers Line TCT.
- Dutton Cycling Route – This short recreational loop offers cyclists a safe route to view some of the historical and heritage buildings and attractio ns through the Dutton/Dunwich area.
- Port Burwell – Vienna Cycling Route – This 18km loop starts at, and loops back to the Port Burwell Provincial Park. Visitor attractions are identified on the map, including historical lighthouses, museums, and more.
- Historic Port Stanley Route – Cyclist can explore this 2.5km historic ride through the heart of Port Stanley, taking in historic sites, heritage properties and the shoreline of Lake Erie.
- West Elgin Cycling Route – Cyclists explore the western portions of Elgin County, as well as portions of Lake Erie’s shoreline. This route includes historical villages and other points of interest.
Elgin-St. Thomas Cycling & Hiking Trail Map (2024). The map is available at the St.Thomas Tourism office, Elgin County Tourism office, Port Stanley Visitor Centre, or phone 519-631-1460 to receive a copy in the mail.- Bike Repair Station – Available at St Thomas Public Library, 153 Curtis Street, adjacent to Whistlestop Trail and close to Railway City Tourism Office.
- Fantastic Summer Bike Rides Around London – Blog – London Bicycle Cafe – London local bicycle shop and cafe put together a blog that showcases some of the fantastic trails, city streets, and country roads in southwestern Ontario near London, from family rides to longer bike tours.
- Ilderton Rail Trail – The Ilderton Rail Trail was once a part of an active rail line that ran from London to Goderich. This 3.1km trail offers both granular and natural dirt trail surfaces. Start at Junction Park in Ilderton.
- St. Clair Conservation Authority Trails – Both the Strathroy Conservation Area and the Clark Wright Conservation Area offer mixed use trail systems and are located within or close to the town of Strathroy.
- AW Campbell Conservation Area – Approximately 300 acres with over 8km of trails available to cyclists and has 140 campsites, 2 washrooms (seasonal), laundry facilities and 20-acre reservoir open for canoeing. Trails lead you along Morrough Creek where a host of wildflowers and interesting tree species can be observed such as the blue ash.
Middlesex County Trails Guide. Online Guide. This trails guide information on off-road trails, including details on parks and rail trails open to hikers, cyclists, and other recreational users.- Strathroy Visitor and Adventure Guides. Online PDF Maps. Developed in partnership with the Strathroy Business Improvement Area, the Rotary Club, and St. Clair Conservation Authority, these visitor guides offers details on parks and trails within the downtown. See ‘Maps’ under ‘Visiting’.
Road Routes*
- Oxford Century Ride – Challenge yourself on the ultimate milestone ride and this 100 mile (156km) tour across Oxford County. This route is ideal for goal setters and those training for longer distances.
- Thamesford North – 50km – Taking the quiet country back road out of Thamesford, ride onto Cobble Hills Road. On one of the most scenic roads in the County, enjoy wide sweeping views interspersed with dense forest lining the way. Low traffic volumes continue all the way around this loop, including the turn towards Lakeside riding along Oxford Road 92/25.
- Drumbo Innerkip Plattsville – This 67km route is a real tour, highlighting the small quaint communities and scenic roads that represent Oxford County so well. This route is on paved roads with mulitple options to either shorten or increase the route length.
- Oxford County – Cheese Trail By Bike – The Oxford County Cheese Trail is an incredible culinary tourism route that connects visitors to the wealth of cheese makers and cheese and dairy markets across the county. The Cheese Trail By Bike combines two of the county’s paved cycling routes with some of the top stops on the Cheese Trail.
- Oxford South – Cheese Trail By Bike – 97km – this route visits three local cheese makers – Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese Ltd., New Galma Dairy and Red Dragon Dairy, the unique Ingersoll Cheese & Agricultural Museum, and tons of local markets and restaurants selling local cheese and dairy products.
- Woodstock-Ingersoll – Cheese Trail By Bike – 33km – enjoy a pleasant countryside pedal passing picturesque farmsteads between Woodstock and Ingersoll. Discover local cheeses, chocolate and craft beer in downtown Woodstock. Continue to downtown Ingersoll to explore five more Cheese Trail stops.
- Additional Road Routes – There are 11 routes (including 3 above) mapped around the County, using quiet country scenic roads, connecting communities and varying in length from 16km to 156km.
Itineraries*
- Ontario By Bike Self Guided Ride Itinerary – Oxford Rural Road Ride – In 2019 and 2023, Ontario hosted a 173km small group looped road tour, over 2 days. Enjoy the excellent road riding in Canada’s Diary Capital through rural landscapes, past working farms and along the Cheese Trail. Find a self-guided itinerary, detailed digital maps and additional information here.
Gravel Routes*
Oxford Gravel Grazer Routes – Inaugurated in 2019 with 5 new routes added to in 2023, there are 9 gravel road routes of various lengths, featuring rolling hills, gorgeous farmscapes and fresh rural air.
Trails
- Oxford County Trans Canada Trail – 17km rail trail near Tillsonburg, part of the Trans Canada Trail. Note that horseback riding is allowed on the trail. Explore the side trails in Tillsonburg while you’re in the area.
- Hickson Trail – This 7.3km rail line from Woodstock to Hickson is now used by cyclists, walkers, and birdwatchers. This trail brings cyclists from Pittock Park Rd., north to Braemar Side Rd. Parking available on Fredrick Street.
- Husky Trail – Located in the Pittock Conservation Area this is a 5km trail system that also has picnic and overnight camping facilities on the north side of Pittock Lake. The park is open from late April to Thanksgiving weekend in October. There is an admission fee. The path consists of both paved surfaces with secondary trails comprising of hard packed dirt.
- Ingersoll Trails – The Thomas Ingersoll Scenic Trail and John Lawson Park and Trail range in lengths of 2 to 3km and offer cyclists great off-road options in Ingersoll.
- The Millennium Trail – This trail system includes both road and pathway riding and offers 6km of trails that follow the banks of the Thames River, through mixed hardwood and softwood forests. Though all of the trails are not connected at this time, they are in close proximity to each other.
- Roth Park Trail – The trail is located on the south side of Pittock Lake and is approximately 7km long. The main trail is wide with hard packed dirt and granular surface. Side trails link back to the main trail.
* Routes can be navigated for free with turn by turn directions and detailed maps using the Ride With GPS app. If new to Ride With GPS, an app popular with cyclists, search for free app in your app store and download app on your smartphone. Easily create a free account. Click on route links from above pages and see map displayed in app. Select ‘Navigate’ to start route and get turn by turn directions as you ride.
Ride Oxford – Cycling Map (2019) This printed map has 11 cycling routes, including both on-road and trail riding experiences. Available online and on printed map. Visit www.rideoxford.ca for more details and to request a printed map.- Tourism Oxford – Oxford Outdoors – Trail Map Details of trails available to cyclists and hikers located throughout Oxford County. Available online and on printed map.
Komoka Provincial Park (Middlesex) – Owned and managed by Ontario Parks as a day-use area, there are over 11km trails for recreational users, but only 7 km have been specifically designated as terrain for mixed use, including mountain biking and equestrian riders.- The Pines (Oxford) – These biking trails are open to Woodstock Cycling Club members only (membership is open to all for a fee), who construct and maintain the trails. With a total 3 sets of trails; Green (Family), Red (Intermediate), Black (Technical). Helmets are mandatory.
- “The Pines” Mountain Bike Itinerary – This one-page mountain bike itinerary for “The Pines” curates the ‘best of’ restaurants and cafes, as well as places to lay your head! This is an Ontario’s Southwest Cycling Itinerary.
- Wildwood Conservation Area Trails (Oxford) – Wildwood’s four hiking and biking trails range in length from 1.2km to the 24km lake trail. All trails are multi-purpose and can be used by both hikers and cyclists, by permit only.
- Wildwood Conservation Area Mountain Bike Itinerary – This one-page mountain bike itinerary for Wildwood Conservation Area curates the ‘best of’ restaurants and cafes, as well as places to lay your head! This is an Ontario’s Southwest Cycling Itinerary.
Consider extending your cycling holiday by visiting some of these great cycling destinations also located in Southwest Ontario:
- City of London – Explore London, Ontario, a bike friendly city with more than 40km of paved riverside paths, and over 350km of bike lanes connecting its dynamic neighbourhoods. You could easily spend multiple day exploring the city by bike. Discover farmers’ markets, unique businesses and culinary delights all accessible by bike.
- Chatham Kent – There are a number of trails suitable for recreational cyclists in the Chatham-Kent region, including trails along waterfronts, wetlands and in natural settings. Road riding is also promenent along the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and Lake Erie shoreline.
- Haldimand & Norfolk Counties – Haldimand and Norfolk Counties offer cyclists appealing on-road cycling routes and off-road trails, whether along the north shore of Lake Erie, following the Grand River or through agricultural communities.
- Windsor, Essex & Pelee Island – Surrounded on three sides by water, the warm humid weather is perfect for a long cycling season and Essex County has fantastic cycling destination in Ontario. Pelee Island is a popular tourist destination and its quiet back-country roads and excellent sightseeing are perfect for the recreational cyclist.
- Sarnia-Lambton County – Head to Sarnia-Lambton in Ontario’s southwest to explore Ontario’s Blue Coast. Enjoy plenty of scenic waterfront riding along the St. Clair River and shores of Lake Huron as well as long stretches of quiet hinterland cruising through southern Ontario’s flat farmlands.
* Please note there are may be additional trails, routes, events and information resources for the region that may be of interest and useful to cyclists. Changes to the above links, listings and cycling routes may occur.
Southwest Ontario – Related Blogs:
A Million Reasons to Keep Biking: How One Man’s Biking Journey Turned into a Win for the Entire MS Community
Barry Travnicek has built an enduring legacy for his sister, and he’s not finished yet. Push your limits, track your miles, and fund life-changing research by joining Barry and Ontario’s bike riding community. Take the MS Bike Challenge.
Ingersoll – Your Bike Friendly Basecamp in Oxford County
No matter which direction your two wheels turn in Oxford County, you’ll encounter farm stands, cheese makers, and restaurant and cafe menus celebrating local ingredients. With beautiful wide-open countryside and so many rural attractions, it’s the perfect place for a spring ride weekend.
2026 Cycling In Ontario / Le vélo en Ontario Guide
We are excited to share that the 14th annual 2026 Cycling in Ontario / Le vélo en Ontario guide is now available in both print and digital formats! This year's magazine is packed with ideas, inspirations and articles for this year's cycling day trips and multi-day getaways.
Oxford Cheese Trail By Bike – Weekend Cycle Touring in Ontario’s Dairy Capital
Looking for a weekend bike tour complete with beautiful paved rural roads, historic towns and inns, and opportunities to enjoy the bounty of local farmland? The Oxford Cheese Trail By Bike should top your list.
Destination and Regional Partners:
Event Partners: Ontario’s Southwest, Railway City Tourism, Tourism Oxford, Elgin County, Visit Middlesex,