Finding Perfect Road and Training Routes in Ontario

A seemingly endless distance of quiet, well paved roads exists in Ontario just waiting for cyclists to put rubber to pavement. Take your pick of routes in some of the following destinations and start training for one of the events listed on our Events Page.

Oxford County – Earn bragging rights by grinding through one of Ontario’s classic century rides (100 miles / 156km) in Oxford County, a perfect destination to tackle this loftiest of road cycling goals. Smooth, paved roads with low traffic make cycling through the rural landscape a treat. There are 9 additional mapped road routes in the county. Check out the certified bicycle friendly locations  in Southwest Ontario to help make planning a weekend cycling trip easier. For more information on cycling in Oxford County visit rideoxford.ca.

Durham Region – From Lake Ontario to Lake Simcoe, Durham Region has over 420km of mapped road routes featured on the Durham Cycle Tours map. With many routes interconnected, cyclists can explore long stretches with hill climbs along the Oak Ridges Moraine and delightful views of both rural and urban landscapes. durhamtourism.ca. Th Durham Region has 93 certified bicycle friendly locations to help make your cycling trip easier. For more information on cycling in Durham Region visit our “Great Places To Cycle – Durham Region page. For tourism related information visit Durham Tourism.

Halton Region – If improving time and speed are your goals this season, then put Halton Region’s Heat Map 100 on your ride agenda; a metric ‘Century Ride’ (100km) with over half a kilometer of elevation change. Find 7 other road routes on the Halton Cycling Map and be sure to visit or test out the track at the world class velodrome in Milton. halton.ca/cycling. Halton has 40 certified bicycle friendly locations to help make your cycling trip easier. For more information on cycling in Halton visit our Great Places to Cycle – Halton Region page. For tourism information in Halton visit Discover Halton.

Ottawa Valley – Renfrew Country – Discover the rugged beauty of Ottawa Valley, with a mix of paved and gravel riding options. Explore 15 road routes that cut through granite outcrops and run alongside the many lakes and rivers of the region. Ottawa Valley and Renfrew County have 27 certified bicycle friendly locations to help make your cycling trip easier. For more information on cycling in Ottawa Valley visit our “Great Places to Cycle – Ottawa Valley . For tourism information in visit OttawaValley.travel.

Muskoka – Muskoka is a haven for road cyclists seeking demanding terrain and stunning landscapes. Road routes in this cottage county frequently pass lakes, rivers and rock cuts, and are sure to be as challenging as they are rewarding. The 130km Sprucedale-Rosseau Loop starts and ends in Huntsville and is one of many routes that will tempt road riders away from lakeside lounging. bikemuskoka.ca. For more information on cycling in Muskoka visit BikeCottageCountry.ca or BikeMuskoka.ca.

Manitoulin – As the world’s largest island in a freshwater lake, Manitoulin offers breathtaking views and well paved, meandering roads with very little traffic. The Manitoulin Island Cycling Routes and Road Map features 11 cycling routes across the island ranging from 10 to 125km. Manitoulin has 30 certified bicycle friendly locations to help make your cycling trip easier. For more information on cycling in Manitoulin visit our Great Places to Cycle – Manitoulin.

Signed Routes

The following regions and routes have signed cycling routes, as well as a variety of print and digital wayfinding to make planning and enjoying cycling trips easier:

• Peterborough & the Kawarthas – 300km of looped routes found on thekawarthas.ca/kawarthasclassics
• Northumberland County – 285km of looped routes as part of their top 5 cycling routes found onnorthumberlandtourism.com/cycling
• Greenbelt Route – 475km linear route from the Niagara Region to Northumberland CountyGreenbelt.ca/Route
• Great LakesWaterfront Trail – 1,800km linear route following rivers and the Great Lakes. waterfronttrail.org

Looking for more options? Go to Ontario By Bike’s “Great Places To Cycle” section of the website, find the region or city you’d like to ride more in and look for options that best suit your group. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, perhaps we can help. Call toll-free (1-866-701-2774) or email info (at) OntarioByBike.ca for more information.

The above is an excerpt from the annual Cycling in Ontario / Le velo en Ontario guide. View a copy online or order a print copy at ontariobybike.ca/2016