Photo credit: Tour de Headwaters
Peel Region and Greenbelt areas (including Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon) have a number excellent cycling destinations and off road bicycle trails attracting a variety of cyclists. Quiet rail trails through urban settings as well as natural and rural areas, challenging escarpment road riding and a variety of mountain biking trails can easily be found with the detail route planning information resources available for this area.
Note: The Ontario By Bike Network only certifies bicycle friendly accommodations in Toronto, although there are many other places to eat and visit in neighbourhoods across the city.
Mississauga and Brampton are major urban centres, both with a mix of on road cycling infrastructure. To plan a route and find out which roads are best to use see the maps for each city below under Information Sources and Maps.
In the north end of Peel Region, there are many quiet county roads that are suitable for cyclists with road riding experience and map in-hand.
- Caledon area
- Road Routes – Several signed on-road routes have been established and are shown on the Caledon Trails and Cycling Routes Map
- Gravel Routes – Several gravel road routes have been compiled based on input from local cyclists. See article HERE for route maps and descriptions.
- Caledon Trailway – This multi-use, 35km gravel trail, takes you through rolling hills, farm fields, woodlots and beaver dams. The trail crosses the deep Humber RiverValley, west of Palgrave, the Credit River near Inglewood and several smaller creeks. It also forms part of the Greenbelt Route and Trans Canada Trail.
- Elora Cataract Trail – 47 km trail linking Grand River watershed & Elora area to Credit River watershed. This former CN rail bed links the multi-use trail to numerous parks, conservation areas, historic communities and unspoilt countryside.
- Forks of the Credit Provincial Park & Mono Cliffs Provincial Parks – Both parks offer multi use unpaved trails and park roadways thru naturalized areas. The Elora Cataract Trailway begins in Forks of the Credit Park. Self-service pay parking.
- Palgrave Forest & Wildlife Area (TRCA) – A part of the Oak Ridges Moraine, this forested area tied to the heritage of the Humber River, has numerous dirt trails and athways which may be suitable for mountain bikes, a full trail use plan is currently nderway.
- Brampton Trails – The following 3 off-road and primarily paved trails are an excellent way to explore the parklands and naturalized areas in Bramption. Etobicoke Creek (14 km), Chinguacousy (8 km), Professor’s Lake Trail (11 km)
- Orangeville Trails – Work continues to reach goal of 15 km off-road paved trail loop around the town. Incorporating rail trail and parkland over 8km are already complete.
- Mississauga Trails – Numerous off road trails and pathways of various lengths, across the city. Longer trails include Burnhamthorpe, Culham (along the Credit River), Glen Erin, and Etobicoke Creek trails. Download the Mississauga Trails Map here.
- Albion Hills Conservation Area (TRCA) – Over 50km of mountain biking trails thru beautifully rugged natural areas, with options available for all ages and skill levels. Extra amenities include bikewash station and camping. Also hosts mountain biking events. Park entry fee.
- City of Brampton – The city manages multiple BMX bike parks including Chinguacousy Skatepark, Jim Archdekin Skatepark and Memorial Skatepark.
- Ellis Leuschner MTB Challenge Park, Mississauga – This centrally located mountain bike riding area, utilizing a large hydro corridor, features various routes and obstacles including a cross country loop, rock garden and elevated ladder bridges. The park can be accessed by bike from the Culham Trail.
- Erindale Park – Mississauga’s largest park consists of a number of officially graded mountain bike trails with different berms, jumps, bridges and drops. Over 30 different routes are available, totalling at around 30km of rideable trails. With most single-track offered as multi-use trails, riders should be cautious of hikers and other non-cyclists.
- Etobicoke Creek, Mississauga – There are a number of single track mountain bike trails that branch of the 11km long main Etobicoke Creek Trail from Willowcreek Park north to the border of Brampton. The route can be extended all the way to Marie Curties Park south on Lake Ontario along a single track on the east or west side of the creek starting at Dundas. The Markland woods golf course breaks up the south and north sections of the trail from Dundas to Burnhamthorpe.
Greenbelt Route – More than 475 kilometres 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 travels through Peel Region between the communities of Terra Cotta and Palgrave.
- Plan your trip by accessing downloadable and printable paper maps or visit www.greenbelt/cycling
- Day trip itinerary in Peel Region – Credit River Ride (30km)
- Great Lakes to Greenbelt – Showcasing Ontario’s best trails and two signature cycling routes – the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and The Greenbelt Route. One cross-regional loop is available in the Peel Region.
- Caledon Lakeside Ride (173km) – A multiday loop that lets you take in some of the best of Caledon, the Etobicoke Creek, and the Mississauga and Oakville shores.
Great Lakes Waterfront Trail – 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 Waterfront Trail crosses Peel region using trails and roadways along side or close to Lake Ontario, in Mississauga and through Port Credit.
Trans Canada Trail – A portion of this cross Canada trail runs through the Peel Region. The following multi use trails with various surface types are a part of this trail system: Caledon Trailway (TCT); Elora Cataract Trail (TCT); Trail-Link (TCT) – On-road link between the Caledon and Elora-Cataract Trailways. Use the Trans Canada Trail website’s “Explore The Trail” feature to find access points.
Oak Ridges Trail – Portions of the 250 km trail across the Moraine are open to cyclists. Cyclists need to check and respect posted signs of permitted use at trail entry points. The trail starts near Palgrave.
Walk and Roll Peel. Website and interactive map. Region of Peel. This on-line resource combines maps of trails and paths in the City of Brampton, City of Mississauga, and Town of Caledon into a region-wide map. This comprehensive guide to walking and cycling provides lots of useful information.- Explore Caledon Trails Map.
Town of Caledon. Downloadable map highlights Caledon’s 260 km of publicly accessible trails and popular road routes. Print copies available at Caledon businesses or request at 905-584-2272. Interactive map available online here. - Mississauga Cycling Map. Map. City of Mississauga & Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee. 2021. Print versions: Mississauga Civic Centre, Parks & Urban Forestry, Community Centres, Library Branches, and select bike stores (Gears Bike Shop, The Bike Zone, Cyclepath Missiauga).
- Elora Cataract Trailway Map. Downloadable map available online.
- Toronto Region & Conservation Authority. Site map for locations including Albion Hills (pdf) and Palgrave Forest. Print versions: Available at Conservation Areas or call 905-880-4855.
- Ontario Parks – Site maps for all locations including Forks of the Credit and Mono Hills Provincial Parks Provincial Parks. Print versions: Available at park locations.
- Brampton Cycling Map. Map. 2019. City of Brampton. This resource shows cycling infrastructure across Brampton, including three main trail systems that run N-S through the City: the Etobicoke Creek, Chinguacousy and Professor’s Lake Trails.
- Orangeville Parks & Trails Map. PDF map. Town of Orangeville. The town has completed 8 km of a proposed 15 km recreational loop that will link to trails to Island Lake, Monora Park and the Credit River.
- Cycle the Greenbelt Route. Digital map. The Greenbelt Foundation. Print and digital versions of maps are available.
Please note there are many additional map guides for the region that may be of interest and useful to cyclists. New maps and guides are available yearly, and the information above may change.
Thank you to our Greenbelt Network Area Project Partner:
& Workshop Event Partners:
Hamilton: City of Hamilton, Tourism Hamilton. Halton: Region: Conservation Halton, Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce, Milton Chamber of Commerce. Peel Region: The Hills of Headwaters Tourism Association, Town of Caledon. York Region: York Region Tourism. Durham Region: Durham Region Tourism. County of Northumberland: Northumberland Tourism.