Ontario By Bike Ride – September 2024

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.

Huron Coast Explorer

When: Anytime. It’s a self-guided itinerary.
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Ontario By Bike Ride Hosted: Friday, Sept 20-Sunday Sept 22, 2024

Total Distance: 177km

The Ride: Discover Ontario’s stunning Lake Huron coast and the beautiful communities that make up the town of Saugeen Shores – Port Elgin, Southampton, plus the neighbouring communities of Sauble Beach, Kincardine, Paisley and Ripley. Explore endless sandy beaches, historic lighthouses, and vibrant towns filled with local shops, cafes and restaurants. This ride will be great for cyclists who love varied riding terrain and scenery – including smooth paved waterfront trails, rail trails, and cottage and country roads. This ride will be based out of Port Elgin for two nights, and includes a half-day, Day 1 ride based from Kincardine.

Experience Level and Ride Guide: Moderate to experienced. Riders on this ride need to have some experience riding on roads with higher speed vehicle traffic as much of the route follows paved roads, plus paved and unpaved off-road trails. There is some elevation and rolling hills that may present a challenge to some riders. The majority of the route follows paved country roads and trails, with some busier highway segments with paved shoulders. Off-road trails include paved trails and stonedust rail trails. All bikes are suitable for this ride, however ensure your bike is comfortable for full days in the saddle and between 200-400m of climbing each day.

View Digital Routes:
Day 1 – 51km – ridewithgps.com/routes/45190985
Day 2 – 60km – ridewithgps.com/routes/45386346
Day 3 – 62km – ridewithgps.com/routes/45194364
*Above links provide free navigation, when using RidewithGPS app

Day 1 (Half Day): Kincardine Start, Ripley & Point Clark – 51km

Day 1 of our ride weekend is a half-day afternoon ride based from the well-known beach town of Kincardine on Lake Huron. The route primarily follows paved country roads through relatively flat farmland, with expansive views of the surrounding countryside and wind mills. Visit the botanical gardens in the quaint town of Ripley before looping around and returning to the Huron shoreline, marvelling at the Point Clark lighthouse, a National Historic Site set on a picturesque sandy beach. Return on pretty cottage roads back to Kincardine. Enjoy dinner or a refreshment downtown, before driving about 30 minutes north to our overnight accommodations for the weekend at the award winning bicycle friendly Super 8 in Port Elgin.

Day 2: Port Elgin, Southampton & Sauble Beach – 60km

Cycling from our hotel in Port Elgin, riders will be treated in the morning to the North Shore Trail, a separated paved waterfront trail with breathtaking views of Lake Huron, Chantry Island, and opportunities for bird and wildlife spotting. The trail connects Port Elgin to Southampton, another historic port and cottage community on Lake Huron with sandy beach and boardwalk and lots cafes and restaurants downtown to enjoy. Visit the Bruce County Museum for a taste of local history before continuing on cottage roads and highway paved shoulders to the town of Sauble Beach, with 7km of white sand beach and where riders will enjoy a catered picnic lunch. Ride back to Port Elgin part on the road and on the Saugeen Rail Trail and enjoy another night at Super 8.

Day 3: Port Elgin to Paisley & MacGregor Point Provincial Park– 62km

Enjoy a morning ride on rolling and scenic country roads through the Saugeen River valley, from Port Elgin to the picturesque town of Paisley, a former mill town situated at the convergence of the Saugeen and Teeswater Rivers. In town, enjoy lunch and a cafe stop, take in the river views and stop to take a look at the old Paisley Mill. Ride west back to Lake Huron on quiet country roads, cycling past the forested MacGregor Provincial Park. Detour to explore the park, or continue to incredibly scenic Saugeen Beach Rd, following the shoreline and endless sandy beaches, back to Port Elgin and the end of our ride weekend.

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:
Kincardine (Day 1 afternoon ride start) is an approximately 3.5 hour drive northwest of downtown Toronto, or 2 hours north of  London, ON.

Arriving Early / Staying Late:
Consider an overnight option at one of Ontario By Bike’s certified bicycle friendly accommodations in the region.

For More Information Contact:

Ontario By Bike
Phone: 416-827-2772 / 1-866-701-2774
Email: booking (at) ontariobybike.ca

Presented in Partnership With:

CAASCO

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

See our other 2024 Ontario By Bike Rides

www.ontariobybike.ca/rides