Ontario By Bike Ride – July 2022
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.
Uxbridge Kawarthas Rail Trail
Photo credit: Kawarthas Northumberland Tourism
When: Anytime. It’s a self-guided itinerary (2 days/1 night)
Total Distance: 85km to 100km
The Ride: Enjoy this weekend-long, quiet and safe off-road rail trail ride from Uxbridge through the Kawarthas ending at your choice destination of Peterborough or Lakefield. Note that this is a linear, one-way tour, so arranging your own ride back to the start location is required. Whether you ride independently or with friends, make the most of this linear trail. The well-maintained, hard-packed trail, with some paved sections, traverses idyllic farmlands, runs alongside waterways and canals, and through lush green forests. With plenty of stop options on bridges and in parkland, the ride between small towns and bigger city attractions plus a half-way overnight stay in Lindsay will make it seem a world away from your day-to-day.
Experience Level and Ride Guide: Easy to moderate. Off-road rail trail, hard packed limestone screening, small paved sections, level road crossings, with on-road riding limited to connections through several urban centres using bike lanes and quiet town roads. Suitable for hybrid bikes, gravel, mountain bikes, and road bikes. Enjoy a group ride option or ride at your own pace using detailed maps and information provided.
View Route: RidewithGPS
- Full Route: ridewithgps.com/routes/38489090
- Day 1 Only: ridewithgps.com/routes/40063864
- Day 2 Only: ridewithgps.com/routes/40063885
Day 1: Saturday, July 23 – Uxbridge to Lindsay – 45km
Starting in Uxbridge, just one hour from downtown Toronto, load up on supplies before meeting with the group at a parking lot conveniently located near trail head. Enjoy a leisurely ride following the Trans Canada Trail as it cuts through a variety of scenery on fairly flat terrain and straight line into cottage country and the City of Kawartha Lakes, Lindsay. Visit Lock 33 along the historic Trent-Severn Waterway, rest your legs at a local restaurant or cool down with a post-ride ice cream at Kawartha Dairy’s Barn. Enjoy a warm welcome at the suggested trailside bicycle friendly accommodation, Days Inn & Suites Lindsay.
Day 2: Sunday, July 24 – Lindsay to Peterborough or Lakefield – 40km or 55km
Rejoin the trail, and cross the Scugog River leaving town and continuing eastward on the off-road trail through quiet rural landscapes. Stop for a refreshment break in Omemee, before crossing the scenic sky high Doube’s trestle bridge just a few kilometers east of this riverside hamlet. Cruise into Peterborough on the trail, crossing over to city bike lanes for less than a kilometre before reaching riverside parkland for lunch stop at a local cafe. After lunch choose between rejoining the trail following the Trent Severn Waterway 15km into town of Lakefield or stopping in Peterborough to explore more at the Canadian Canoe Museum, Liftlock Visitor Centre, shopping downtown, or to enjoy a post-ride patio before heading back to the start location with your arranged transportation.
Additional Visitor Information:
Use below to find out more about ride areas and plan an extra day or two to see more.
- Ontario By Bike Kawarthas Northumberland – www.ontariobybike.ca/kawarthas
- Kawartha Trans Canada Trail – www.kawarthatranscanadatrail.ca
- City of Kawartha Lakes – www.explorekawarthalakes.com
- Peterborough and Kawarthas Tourism – www.thekawarthas.ca
- Kawarthas Northumberland – www.kawarthasnorthumberland.ca
- Discover Uxbridge – www.discoveruxbridge.ca/
Getting To/From Start:
This is a one-way linear route – you will need to arrange your own transportation back to start location. Suggested start location is in Uxbridge. If in a group and parking overnight, ensure you receive permission or permit. For our group tour we parked at Uxbridge Secondary School, 127 Planks Lane, Uxbridge. Contact school board for permit. For our tour we pre-arranged a private bus to transport riders back to start location. If arriving from the Greater Toronto Area, arriving by public transport to the start location and from the end location may be the easiest option to avoid arranging a car shuttle or costly taxi ride back to start location. Riders would need to carry their own gear and travel by GO Transit to start location in Uxbridge and from end location in Peterborough (downtown or from Trent University) back home. Check www.gotransit.com for up-to-date schedules and route information.
Arriving Early/Staying Late:
Consider extending your stay in the Kawarthas with numerous overnight options in Lindsay, Peterborough and other nearby Ontario By Bike Network accommodations.
Photo Credits: Kawarthas Northumberland Tourism, Ontario By Bike, Kawarthas Cycling Club
For More Information Contact:
Ontario By Bike
Phone: 416-827-2772 / 1-866-701-2774
Email: info (at) ontariobybike.ca
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See our other 2022 Ontario By Bike Rides