Ontario By Bike Ride – August 2025

This ride is now over.

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

Sarnia Lambton Loop

When: Anytime. It’s a self-guided itinerary
Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Ontario By Bike Ride Hosted: Saturday, August 23/24, 2025

Total Distance: 162km

The Ride: Head to Sarnia Lambton to explore Ontario’s Blue Coast on a 162km looped ride adventure. 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. Slow down to explore the fascinating towns of Petrolia and Oil Springs, riding by the still active rigs and the world’s first commercial oil wells. Discover Sarnia, a waterfront city perched on the narrows where Lake Huron begins its flow south to Lake Erie, with Michigan a close river crossing away. Learn about the rich local heritage in Dresden at the Josiah Henson museum and the history of the Underground Railway.

Experience Level and Ride Guide: Moderate. Riders need to be comfortable riding on roads with vehicle traffic and limited paved shoulders. The majority of the ride is on quiet country roads with little traffic outside of Sarnia. The route includes segments of paved roads, gravel roads, the paved Bluewater Trail and a 7.5km stretch on the Howard Watson Trail, a hard packed stone dust gravel trail. Thanks to the flat topography of the area, there are limited elevation changes making this a suitable ride for hybrid bikes, mountain bikes, gravel and road bikes with wider tires.

View Digital Routes* 

Day 1  – Dresden to Sarnia – ridewithgps.com/routes/51888167
Day 2 – Sarnia to Dresden – ridewithgps.com/routes/51888173

*Above links provide free navigation, when using Ride with GPS mobile app

Day 1: Dresden to Sarnia – 85km

Starting from the small farming community of Dresden, the ride begins pedalling north through flat, bucolic agricultural lands, along the quiet country roads of southwestern Ontario. Discover Lambton County’s important place in the history of the oil industry with many wells around the area including North America’s oldest oil well dating back to 1858. Learn more about the fascinating history, with a stop at the Oil Museum in Oil Springs. Continue to Petrolia for a relaxing picnic lunch. Not long after, marvel at views over the southernmost part of Lake Huron, cycling along the magnificent Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, and consider a swim stop at one of the sandy beaches along the way. Connect up with the scenic and bike-friendly Bluewater Trail as it brings us into Sarnia and under the grand Blue Water International Bridge. Reward yourself with a treat and check out some of the local shops, funky microbreweries, or enjoy a meal and sunset along the waterfront before ending the day at certified bicycle friendly accommodation in Sarnia. Our group stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Sarnia-Point Edward.

Day 2: Sarnia to Dresden – 77km

On day two, connect again to the Bluewater Trail, which will lead us to the St. Clair River Trail, a mix of trails and paved shoulders along the scenic St. Clair River. Savour unobstructed views over parkland and across the river to Michigan, passing through a number of small communities. Take in the shipping and smaller vessels and get immersed in local heritage, making stops at small-town museums and reading historical plaques along the way. After lunch, connect again onto quiet country roads as we make our way back to Dresden for the ride end. Just before Dresden, pay a visit to the Josiah Henson Museum of African Canadian History which documents the life of Josiah Henson, a central figure in the Underground Railroad, and the experience of Black refugees from slavery in Canada, many of whom settled in the area.

Additional Visitor Information:

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

Getting To/From Start:

The community of Dresden, Ontario is located approximately 3 hours drive west of Toronto, 1 hour west of London, or 1 and a half hours north of Windsor.

To travel to Dresden by public transit, you must first get to Chatham, Ontario, as there is no direct bus service to Dresden. From Chatham, you can take Chatham Area Transit (CAT)’s local route to Dresden or you can also reach Chatham using intercity bus services from larger cities like London or Hamilton. 

This is a looped ride with one overnight in Sarnia. You will park your vehicle at a parking location in Dresden or alternate start location. For overnight parking authorization in Dresden or anywhere in Chatham-Kent, please contact the municipality of Chatham-Kent and visit https://www.chatham-kent.ca/Pages/default.aspx

Arriving Early / Staying Late:

Consider an overnight at certified bicycle friendly accommodations in Sarnia Lambton or Chatham Kent.

2025 Ontario By Bike Rides Presented in Partnership With:

CAASCO

®CAA trademarks are owned by, and use is authorized by, the Canadian Automobile Association

See our other 2025 Ontario By Bike Rides

www.ontariobybike.ca/rides

Photo credits: Destination Ontario; 2 – Ed Iliescu