Ontario By Bike Ride Essex Windsor Loop June 2022

Ontario By Bike Ride – Essex Windsor Loop June 2022

This ride is now over.

The detailed itinerary for this ride is available below for download. Enjoy great trail and road riding with a self-guided ride experience.

Download Ride Itinerary

Essex Windsor Loop

When: Anytime. It’s a self-guided itinerary.

Total Distance: 193km

The Ride: Make the most of a long weekend, cycling waterways and past wineries on this three day tour in Canada’s southernmost region. Enjoy a beautiful and scenic ride following the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail west along the southern shore of Lake St. Clair and riverfront in Windsor. Plan to slow down the pace to take in the scenery and waterfront rest stops and villages. Enjoy a night in Windsor before pedalling through EPIC Wine Country and on to Leamington, exploring the natural beauty and beaches of Point Pelee National Park before looping back to the start in Comber.

Experience Level and Ride Guide: Moderate. Riders on this ride need to have some experience riding on roads with vehicle traffic as the route is a mix of paved roads and trails or park roads. Not all roads have bike lanes or paved shoulders to ride on. Some of the road route is on very quiet country roads, other segments are busier. Off-road trails incorporate a mix of paved and unpaved surfaces, however unpaved segments are hard packed and easy to ride. This route has limited elevation changes and the flat terrain makes this ride suitable for hybrid bikes, mountain bikes or road bikes with wider tires. Enjoy a group ride option or ride at your own pace using detailed maps and information provided.

View Route: RidewithGPS
* Ride distances and final route subject to change

Day 1: Saturday, June 11 – Comber to Windsor – 54km

Starting in Comber from the designated parking lot enjoy a short ride north through lush agricultural lands to Lake St. Clair. Head west on rural roads, following the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, and lake shoreline with plenty of opportunities to stop at beaches or lakeside communities to explore more. Continue along a mix of quiet suburban roads onto city trails into Windsor, taking in the spectacular riverfront parkland and sculpture gardens enroute to overnight accommodations downtown Windsor. Visit urban neighbourhoods with lively restaurants and a number of craft distilleries and breweries, embracing the city’s prohibition past.

Day 2: Sunday, June 12 – Windsor to Leamington – 73km

Follow the paved path alongside the Detroit River with views across to ‘Motor City.’ From the arches of the Ambassador Bridge in old Sandwich Town, ride on quiet city streets and park paths to the spectacular and relatively new Herb Gray Parkway, a paved multi-use trail with community art installations along the way. Connect on to the well-maintained Chrysler Canada Greenway, a 42km rail trail that travels south through rural landscapes into the heart of one of Ontario’s popular wine regions. Stop for a refreshment break in Harrow or at any one of the many wineries that are a short jaunt off the main trail. The trail stretches east past farms and through the town of Kingsville with its boutique shops and restaurants, heading towards the day’s end destination, Leamington and overnight accommodations. Settle into the hotel, explore Leamington or enjoy a short ride or walk to the beautiful waterfront promenade to catch a sunset or perhaps watch a ferry arrive in the harbour.

Day 3: Monday, June 13 – Leamington to Comber – 65km

Combining a day of riding quiet roads and off-road trails, from Leamington follow the sandy shores of Lake Erie to Point Pelee National Park. Ride out along a crushed stone park path, connecting further south along a quiet park road to the southernmost tip of Canada’s mainland for perhaps a dip to cool off or to take in the view. Stop at the visitor centre to learn more about the park and its part as an important bird and butterfly migration corridor, and stroll out onto the floating marsh boardwalk to experience nature unspoilt. Ride back to Leamington for lunch overlooking the water before the final stretch of the ride, through the bountiful agricultural lands of Essex County, returning to start location in Comber.

Additional Visitor Information:

Use below to find out more about ride areas and plan an extra day or two to see more.

Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island- www.visitwindsoressex.com
Ontario By Bike Windsor Essex Pelee Island – www.ontariobybike.ca/windsoressexpelee
Ontario’s Southwest- www.ontariossouthwest.com
Great Lakes Waterfront Trail – www.waterfronttrail.org

Getting To/From Start:
Comber is conveniently located just south of the County Road 77 exit (#77) on Hwy 401. 35 minutes east of Windsor, 1.5 hours west of London. Exact start times and location will be sent to all riders two weeks prior to ride. Exact start times and location in Comber will be sent to all riders two weeks prior to ride.

Arriving Early / Staying Late:
Consider an overnight option at certified bicycle friendly accommodations a part of the Ontario By Bike Network in Windsor Essex or Chatham-Kent.

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