5 Terrific Bike Trail Networks Near Timmins

Find all manner of cycling options in this excitement-filled adventure town.

Where to Bike Near Timmins

If you are visiting Timmins and looking for a great place to ride, the good news is you won’t have to pedal far to strike gold. This small city in Northeastern Ontario known for its precious metals is also crisscrossed with bike paths. The full answer to the question of where to bike near Timmins just depends on what type of biking you are looking for.

Whether its accessible single track, a rail trail, or even winter fat biking, Timmins has some fun options and offers welcoming hospitality.

Cyclists ride bicycles along a narrow dirt trail through a forest
Explore all of Timmins from the seat of your bike. Photo: Lacey Rigg

Timmins Recreation Trail Network

Connecting throughout town, and to nearby recreation sites, the Timmins Recreation Trail Network provides some 50 kilometres of gravel rail trail around the streets of Timmins.

Riders can take a leisurely pedal from the Mattagami riverfront across town and connect to a loop around local favourite Gillies Lake. From here, bikers seeking to mountain bike, or just continue a long ride, can continue east toward Porcupine Lake or north to Hersey Lake to connect deeper into the trail network surrounding Timmins.

Hersey Lake

The Hersey Lake Conservation Area offers mountain bikers rolling singletrack just a few kilometres north of the Timmins city centre.

You’ll forget you were visiting a city altogether once you start cruising along twisting, sandy trails through stands of jack pine. There are more than 12 kilometres of well-marked singletrack to enjoy at Hersey lake. All the mountain bike trails in this network are rated for beginner and intermediate, which means it’s the perfect place to share a grin for all ability levels. Nadon is the most technical trail at Hersey Lake, and it’s only 1.5-km long, making it a great choice if you want to step up the difficulty without embarking on a lengthy commitment. It finishes with a view at Grouse Point.

Two cyclists ride fat bikes in the winter
Don’t forget about the epic fat-biking on offer at Hersey Lake in the winter! Photo: Mattagami Region Conservation Authority

Little Star Lake Road

This 8.5-km unimproved road horseshoes around Little Star and Star lakes along the edge of Dana-Jowsey Lakes Provincial Park, 37 kilometres outside of Timmins. Little Star Lake Road makes for great gravel riding, or winter fat biking.

Depending on how long of a ride you are after you can take an out-and-back from highway 101. Winter fat bikers or those using a trail bike can also veer onto the Rabbit Run trail to make a loop. For an excellent side trip, take the short spur to check out a geological wonder left from the ice age at Archie’s Rock.

Pine Street/Dalton Road

Road cyclists looking to stretch their legs will enjoy some time in the saddle cruising the rural roads south of Timmins.

To head south from Timmins city centre, riders should find the lengthy Pine Street. You’ll quickly roll away from the city and find little besides the sound of your spinning hubs cruising south along this rural road. Cyclists can easily make a 50-km loop by heading west on Price Main Road, then following the Mattagami River north on Dalton Road to return back to town. If you want more, there are plenty of turns to take, but be ready to come across stretches where the pavement ends.

Mountain bike sits on kickstand on a gravel trail through an autumn forest
Weave through 22 spring-fed lakes on Kettle Lakes’ awesome trails. Photo: Ontario Parks

Kettle Lakes

If you are looking for a backcountry gravel ride or some non-technical single track in a fascinating environment, Kettle Lakes Provincial Park is a great place to bike near Timmins.

Kettle Lakes has more than 14 kilometres of biking trails winding through the 22 spring-fed lakes that give the park its name. Gravel riders and those seeking a leisurely, yet adventurous dirt road ride will enjoy McInnis Woods Road as it circles the park’s outer edge for eight kilometres. Don’t forget to make a stop at the swim beach on Slab Lake halfway around the Yellow Loop to cool off on a warm summer day.

Get Your Bike Rolling in Timmins

A visit to Timmins isn’t complete without experiencing the kilometres of biking accessible from town. The trails here are perfect for riders looking for moderately difficult bike terrain that’s surrounded by northern forests—all while staying close to some city amenities. When you arrive in Timmins, be sure to stop by a local bike shop such as Northern Sports or O’Reilly Source for Sports for all the latest riding info to get you in gear.

About Joe Potoczak

Joe Potoczak is an outdoor travel writer whose work has appeared in Paddling Magazine, Men’s Journal, and Outside among others. Joe has over 20 years of paddling and hiking experience. When he isn’t at the desk he is seeking out trails and waterways. Prior to becoming a writer, Joe worked as a professional river guide and manager at a whitewater rafting company.

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