Come for the Food, Go for a Ride: Your 2026 Hastings Highlands Hilly Hundred Weekend
Their buds are barely visible right now, but by the time the last Saturday of September rolls around, the maples in North Hastings will be turning. The long summer days will have given way to crisp mornings and golden afternoons made for long rides. And the stunning vistas of the Hastings Highlands Hilly Hundred (HHHH) will be waiting for you.
While the annual HHHH, one of Ontario’s classic fall cycling events is on pause for 2026, you can still see their past routes and easily plan a ride from Bancroft area and through northern Hastings County at any time. Well worth the drive, you can expect incredible gravel riding, stunning fall colours, and plenty to do and see that will makes you want to stick around long after the ride is done.
NOTE: The Hastings Highlands Hilly Hundred will not be held in 2026, check back for 2027 event dates.
The Routes
The classic 100 mile and 100 kilometre courses are for riders chasing the full HHHH experience.
The classic HHHH courses wind through the best of North Hastings: remote lakes, deep woods, cottage country gravel roads, and panoramic fall vistas that make every climb worth the effort.
Gravel riders will tackle a section of the Hastings Heritage Trail, the aptly-named “Hillsview Road” and a climb up Eagle’s Nest itself. The road century crosses east-west through the hills north of Bancroft, up to Maynooth via the rolling Graphite Road grind, along the beautiful Peterson Road past Elephant Lake, and back into town via fresh pavement on Baptiste Lake Road. Both courses have several built-in escape routes back to the starting point, so you can start with ambition and adjust as the day unfolds.
Whichever route you choose, be sure to pack what you need for hydration and nutrition to enjoy at scenic rest stops you will be sure to find along the way.
Where to Stay
Bancroft sits about two and a half hours from both Toronto and Ottawa, which makes Friday evening an easy arrival for a weekend of riding. Build your weekend plans from your home base and be sure to book in advance for ride weekend.
- For cyclists, bed & breakfasts, Airbnb and Vrbo rentals are often ideal. You can ask your host about bike storage in advance, and setups tend to be more spacious and secure than a typical hotel room. Bancroft has a network of both, in town and tucked into the surrounding countryside like the Cedarhaus B&B. Pro tip: lots of spots offer amenities like saunas and hot tubs, but you’ll want to do your research and lock in your booking well in advance if you have pre- or post-ride relaxation on your agenda.
- Motels like Sword Inn and Bancroft Inn & Suites offer convenience for riders who just want a clean, cozy room and an easy morning commute to breakfast and the start line.
- Don’t overlook cottage country lodges and cabin rentals. Locally-owned spots like Limerick Lake Lodge, Somerset Lakeside Resort, and Baptiste Lake Lodge deliver a classic Ontario shoulder-season experience. Many rural accommodations are a short drive from Bancroft on ride morning, but the lakeside views and opportunities to build in a paddle session more than earn it.
- And for campers: late September in North Hastings can deliver some of the best weather of the year, with the appeal of far fewer insects than in spring and summer. Nearby provincial parks and private camping and glamping spots like West Pines Campground and Maynooth Station Lodge are worth checking early, since shoulder-season availability tightens up as the season winds down.
Where to Eat
Before the ride: A proper breakfast in Bancroft sets the tone. Cafe BC and Dave’s Place are both early-morning favourites that know how to handle a hungry pre-ride crowd.
After the ride: The Granite in downtown Bancroft is the classic landing spot for a proper dinner. It’s the local favourite for a reason: expect a full patio if the weather cooperates, and plan to linger. Nearby, Bancroft Brew Pub offers everything you need to refuel your legs after cresting the climbs, with both patio and indoor ambiance (if you’ve had your fill of fresh air on the ride). Pro tip: check in with Bancroft Brewing Co. on social media to find out about new seasonal brews and live music to cap off your big ride.
Make a Weekend of It
If you arrive Friday afternoon, the Eagle’s Nest Park and Hawkwatch Lookout just outside town is a perfect warm-up. A short hike up the rock face gives you a sweeping view of the York River valley and a preview of the kind of terrain and fall colour you’ll be riding through the next day.
For a non bike day, you’ll find easy hiking trails through mixed forest and wetlands at Nellie Lunn Park near Coe Hill, a perfect leg-stretcher to take on with a thermos of coffee or tea before the drive home.
And if the ride leaves you wanting more time on two wheels, the surrounding area has no shortage of options. Hastings.bike is the local hub for route inspiration, trip ideas, and cyclist-friendly itineraries around the county, whether you’re building out your HHHH weekend or planning your next trip north.
Find more Hastings County cycling routes, local perspective, and trip inspiration at hastings.bike
Plan Your Cycling Trip in Hastings County
- Hastings County – Adventures – Find more adventures and things to do in Hastings, on or off the bike
- Hastings County – Where to Stay – Find local accommodations around the county, from bed & breakfasts to cozy cottages to luxury retreats and picturesque campsites
- Hastings County – Where to Eat – Find the best places to eat around Hastings County
- Hastings County – Ride with GPS Cycling Route Collection – Find routes created by local cyclists
- Ontario By Bike – Great Places to Cycle – Hastings County – Find certified bicycle friendly businesses and more route and ride ideas
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Sponsored Content Partner: Hastings County
Article written by Laura Voskamp. All photos c/o Hastings Highlands Hilly Hundred
About the Author: Guest
