Cycling in Ontario/Québec
Biking tours for every interest
Ontario features a variety of terrain and biking trails. Southern Ontario is mainly gentle rolling hills and plenty of country roads. Ontario's north in contrast offers a more sparse population and rugged terrain. Bruce County, Mid-eastern Ontario and the Lake Huron shoreline are all popular regions for bike touring.
The Niagara region offers many trails on the peninsula, rough terrain on the Niagara Escarpment as well as many quiet roads for touring through Niagara-on-the-Lake's wine country. In the Kawartha Lakes region, mountain bikers can test their endurance and concentration. Ontario's many provincial parks offer a variety of terrain, trails and accommodations for those cyclists seeking a wilderness experience.
Québec boasts over 1864 miles (3,000 km) of bicycle paths. There are 300 routes in Montréal alone. The extraordinary Route Verte (Green Route) will eventually provide about 2485 miles (4,000 km) of long-distance bicycle paths and road routes throughout Québec. Most of southern Québec offers easy cycling, such as the routes along the St. Lawrence River, and Québec City has 39 miles (64 km) of bike paths. The land gradually rises up to the Laurentians in the north and the Appalachians in the south, and you can bike these mountains on specially designed paths.
Bike routes that are challenging include the one around the Gaspé Peninsula and the forest trails of James Bay in the Conquerors' Raid. Canada's longest wilderness bike ride is around James Bay. For an island adventure, visit the Iles de Madelaine (Magdalen Islands) east of PEI or Isle d'Orléans near Québec City, which offers a 40 mile (65-km) loop.
