Doube’s Trestle Bridge, Kawartha Trans Canada Trail near Omemee. Photo Credit: Kawarthas Northumberland.
Explore Kawartha Lakes by bike on an extensive network of road cycling routes. With charming villages linking lightly-trafficked, farm to market back roads, the many on-road cycling routes provide a variety of cycling options for all riders. Along the way, take a break and visit a friendly country inn, intimate bed and breakfast, or a clean lakeside campground to have a complete cycling adventure.
The following routes are detailed on the Kawartha Lakes Cycling Map.
- Bexley Ramble Route – This 71 km route offers beautiful lakeside terrain on paved roads. No major climbs. Parking on paved shoulder on Victoria Road.
- Carden Ramble Route – A 67 km route that starts in Kirkfield with options to stop at the historic Kirkfield Lift Lock. offers rolling hills and flat farmland.
- Farm Country Ramble Route – There are multiple start points for this 61 km ride that is relatively flat easy to navigate due to main and connecting roads using a grid pattern.
- Mariposa Route – This 38 km recreational ride is on smooth paved, quiet rural roads.
- Emily Route – A 64 km looped ride that stretches between Lindsay and Omemee with options to extend to Emily Provincial Park, Peterborough or Northumberland County.
- Four Village Tour (A) – A relaxing 38 km route along quieter back roads with options to connect to other routes for extended rides.
- Four Village Tour (B) – A 13 km extension to the Four Village Tour (A) routing, gives a 51 km route suitable for both beginning and intermediate riders.
- North Sturgeon Route – Routing along this 38 km ride offers connections to other routes and the towns Lindsay and Fenelon Falls. Relatively flat riding.
- South Sturgeon Route – 36 km in length, this route takes in excellent views of Sturgeon Lake and surrounding areas, along smooth paved roads.
- Kawartha Trans Canada Trail – This 54 km trail stretches from Durham Region (near Uxbridge) in the west, through Kawartha Lakes to the County of Peterborough (City of Peterborough) in the east; 40 km of the trail is located on abandoned rail line, so it is relatively flat. It is a 3 m wide, multi-use, four-season trail made of smooth, packed limestone. There is plenty of signage, and lots of historic and cultural heritage linking five communities, parkland, farmland and the natural environment, including the scenic Doube’s Trestle Bridge near Omemee.
- Victoria Rail Trail – An 85 km rail trail linking Bethany to Kinmount, through Lindsay, this multi-use public trail is open year round. Some off-road riding on flat grades and gentle gradients. The gravel base would make it well suited for mountain, gravel, cross and hybrid bikes. The 22 km trail between Fenelon Falls and Lindsay has been upgraded with significant improvements. See website for suggested access points. Many sections are shared with ATVs.
- Ken Reid Conservation Area – Just north of Lindsay, this 272 acre conservation area protects forests, meadows and wetlands and contains 10 km of challenging hiking/biking trails suited to mountain bikes. Accessible from the Victoria Rail Trail. Trail maps available on their website.
- Somerville Tract – 3 trail loops offering 8.5 km of double-track trails. The rolling cottage roads and the forest tracks of the northern part of the town are ideal for mountain bikes.
- Eganridge Resort Winter Fat Biking – a heritage estate overlooking scenic Sturgeon Lake between Fenelon Falls and Bobcaygeon, in the heart of the Trent-Severn Waterway and the Kawarthas. Explore the resort’s winter fat biking trails under towering pines. Call resort for more information and to confirm when trails are open.
Greenbelt Route – More than 475 km of signed cycling adventures await in the beautiful, protected countryside of Ontario’s Greenbelt. From Niagara to Northumberland, enjoy lush forests, winding rivers, welcoming communities, and family farms as you pedal through some of southern Ontario’s diverse and stunning landscapes.
The Greenbelt Route as well as one Greenbelt Route Itinerary travel through the southern Kawartha Lakes region close to Bethany and Pontypool
For more information visit: www.greenbelt.ca/explore to view an online interactive map with digital route maps, and visit www.ontariobybike.ca/greenbelt for links to cycling itineraries and printable PDF maps of: the entire route; 7 day trip itinerary sheets; 13 Great Lakes to Greenbelt cycling itineraries, plus the larger 1000 km Grand Greenbelt and Great Lakes Route.
- Multi Day Itinerary – Oak Ridges to Lake Loop Digital Route Map for a 3-day, 2-night 200 km route
Trans Canada Trail (TCT) – A portion of this cross-Canada trail runs through the Kawartha Lakes Region on multi-use trails with a primarily smooth crushed limestone surface. Use the Trans Canada Trail website to find access points.
- Kawartha TCT – This 54 km trail stretches from Durham Region (near Uxbridge) in the west, through Kawartha Lakes to the County of Peterborough (City of Peterborough) in the east; 40 km of the trail is located on abandoned rail line, so it is relatively flat. It is a 3 m wide, multi-use, four-season trail made of packed limestone. There is plenty of signage, and lots of historic and cultural heritage linking five communities, parkland, farmland and the natural environment, including the scenic Doube’s Trestle Bridge near Omemee.
- Lindsay to Campbellford TCT – Within The City of Kawartha Lakes, City and County of Peterborough and Northumberland County, the Trans Canada Trail connects as many as 15 communities along a 120 km route, providing a scenic recreational trail through the regions.
Oak Ridges (Moraine) Trail – Approximately 70 km of the 280 km long trail across the Oak Ridges Moraine is open to cyclists. Cyclists need to check and respect posted signs of permitted use at trail entry points.
Central Ontario Loop Trail (COLT) – This 450 km loop is a popular multi-day bike packing route that incorporates the Victoria Rail Trail, The Ganaraska Trail, The Hastings Heritage Trail, The IB & O Rail Trail, and cuts through the Ganaraska Forest. Trail surfaces vary, a mountain or gravel bike is recommended. With a variety of scenic landscapes the route passes through a number of smaller communities with services and accommodation or camping options. Link provided is directed to blog article, currently best source for information.
Ontario By Bike Ride (Uxbridge-Kawarthas-Trent Severn) – For a number of years, Ontario By Bike has hosted a small group tour on two-day cycling trips along portions of the Trans Canada and other trails (total distance between 84 and 119 km, depending on finish location). One route itinerary starts in Uxbridge and takes riders through Lindsay to Peterborough/Lakefield. Another starts in Campbellford, continuing to Peterborough, Lindsay and Fenelon Falls. Ontario By Bike made available both digital and pdf mapping, as well as a self-guided itineraries to share with individuals and groups that may be interested in riding the same route.
Kawartha Lakes Cycling Map Kawartha Lakes Tourism. 2017.
- Both maps are available in print: Call 705-324-9411 ex. 1232 or 1-866-397-6673 or email tourism@city.kawarthalakes.on.ca to request a copy.
Victoria Rail Trail Cycling Map – City of Kawartha Lakes Tourism. Interactive map, online.
*Please note there are many additional map guides for the region that cyclists may find interesting or useful. New maps and guides are produced yearly, and the information listed here may change.
Kawartha Lakes – Related Blogs
A Ride for Everyone in Kawartha Lakes
When looking for your next great ride, a recommendation from a cycling friend can go a long way. Since we do not all travel in the same circles, we are here to share what we’ve heard from cyclists riding in the Kawartha Lakes, discovering trails and road routes and in the Kawartha Lakes Classic - the jury is in… with rave reviews.
Ontario’s Best Cycling Loops: Full Circle Adventures
Out-and-back or a loop? Find a collection of diverse must-ride best road and gravel loops in Ontario to help plan a two-wheel adventure.
Waterways & Wheels – Cycling Through Ontario’s Heritage
What is one of Ontario's best assets? Water, of course! Ontario is home to the Great Lakes (a mammoth 20% of the earth's fresh surface water) and thousands of inland lakes. It's also known as the province with the most canals and waterways, built originally for shipping and military reasons. So, it's no surprise Ontario has a rich maritime history just waiting to be explored.
Trent Severn Trail Tour – A Weekend to Remember
This past June we brought a group of cyclists on a two-day 120km rail trail ride in the Kawarthas Northumberland region. Our route took us west from Campbellford to Peterborough, and on to Lindsay then north to Fenelon Falls. This weekend ride, the Trent Severn Trail Tour, was one of our supported weekend tours, known as Ontario By Bike Rides. We’ve published the itinerary online so you can ride it on your own self-guided adventure.
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