7 Best Bike Towns in Ontario

About a century ago, northern Ontario was revered for its mining, logging and extensive railway. Today, the railways tracks are mostly gone, many of the mines have been closed and the logging roads are fewer.

Then, Covid happened and people started riding their bikes more. Mountain bike networks grew and grew. Clubs and associations fundraised, then dug into the dirt and expanded a network of world-class trails. Municipalities banded together to make commuting safer and easier downtown. They brought in bike share programs and created more races and family events. 

To create a list of Ontario’s best bike towns, I asked dozens of cyclists, relied on my extensive experiences travelling around the province to ride with locals and scoured Strava heat maps. 

As a longtime cyclist splitting my time between the west and east coasts, I have driven through these towns almost a dozen times in the past three years. When I pass through, I always reach out to local bike shops to ride with my new friends. Here are the top towns where Ontario's love for two wheels truly shines.

North Bay

A few years back, I called out to a friend to go for a ride; it was a last-minute request as I was driving out west. In a matter of hours, over a dozen women showed up decked out in elbow and knee pad protectors and brightly coloured jerseys. 

“The bike community in North Bay is well supported by volunteers in all capacities: trail keepers, coaches, event organizers, local business support and, most of all, riders!” says Connie Hergott, a Liv bike ambassador and active member of the North Bay Mountain Bike Association (NBMBA).

The NBMBA has been busy transforming its flagship mountain bike trails at Three Towers from 5 km to 13 km; they have an enduro race, women’s race bike series and youth programs. My favourite trail by far is the downhill-only Eastbound and Down; trail builders have tirelessly positioned rock beds for optimal adrenalin and skill. It’s a wild ride. 

In 2024, the town unveiled the first all-wheel park in northern Ontario. The new Kiwanis All-Wheel Park is a $1.8 million BMX and skateboard park aimed at improving the lives of children, including big adult kids.

Most of all, it’s North Bay’s kilometres of quiet country roads that I find mind-blowing: the Voyageur Trail system spans 645 km from Sudbury to Ottawa, and it’s easy for road cyclists to hop onto sections in North Bay. My favourite is the Vive le Nord. Starting in the French town of Noelville, the 70 km loop goes through historical old French towns and many scenic bridges. 

And get this: some hotels offer discounts for cyclists. The Best Western has a mountain bike package that includes 10% and a free breakfast. The Comfort Inn Lakeshore offers 15% off for cyclists, and the Residence & Conference Centre offers up to $84 off your stay. 

I also love the after-ride culture—many cafes and eateries have outdoor bike racks, and their food is tailored to the post-ride carb loading. The family run Twiggs coffee shop has baked goods and caffeine a plenty, and Terry’s Place serves cookies and crème-stuffed French toast. 

In the summer, patios are full of cyclists: celebrating almost 10 years, the New Ontario Brewing Co, expanded in recent years and has a cool patio and bar. Gateway City Brewery is also a favourite for thirsty riders. 

Bike shops are numerous in North Bay, including Cheapskates and Wheelhouse, for repairs and new bikes.

Sault St. Marie

On that same drive out west, I stopped in Sault St. Marie and reached out to the local bike shop, Velorution, who host a Tuesday night women-only ride. On short notice, a group of enthusiastic riders showed up. I loved the trails so much that I signed up for a three-day mountain bike stage race the following year. Crank the Shield makes the most of the Batchewana Bay climbs and forest trails. Post-ride, next to the cozy Stokely Lodge, there’s nothing like an icy cold bath in the chilly Goulais River. 

After our race, my girls and I stayed a few days to explore. We visited the massive Bushplane Museum, which resides in the original 1924 hanger for the Ontario Provincial Air Service. I recommend sliding into the cockpit of a vintage Saunders ST27 passenger plane. Take that, Tom Cruise! 

The Sault has many bike races in the summer. The Sault Cycling Club, the heart of the cycling community, is a great resource for local events, including the Red Rock Gravel Grinder.

The Salty Marie Trails Festival is a summertime bike festival and race in July. Fat biking is also big in the Soo, either in Hiawatha Highlands or the Crimson Ridge Trails. 

On rest days, we cycled downtown. The 22.5 km waterfront trail is a great way to discover over a dozen murals; the downtown mural project began in 2019 and includes famous painters such as graffiti artist Alex Bacon (next to the A & M Chiropractic clinic) and Metis artist Cindy Hatt, near the Low and Slow Smokehouse.

Considering the plethora of logging and backcountry roads in the region, it’s no surprise bikepacking has grown considerably in the past few years. Red Pine Tours offers a three-day tour.

Other local bike shops include the longstanding Algoma Bike Company and Duke of Windsor Sports. Between the three bike shops, there’s often a group ride a travelling rider can get in on.

Post-ride, I love the vibe of the Home Bake House & Cafe. It’s also the place to carb load with sourdoughs, rhubarb strawberry muffins and a caramelized onion brioche grilled cheese. This place is also gluten-free friendly. Take home their locally roasted coffee from Coffin Valley. But after many rides, we found ourselves drinking a cold, frosty beer downtown at Outspoken Brewery.

Thunder Bay

Driving through Ontario, I often camp at the Trowbridge Falls campground. After my morning coffee, the trails are right there. Sometimes, I play around at the Kinsman pump track, too. Then, I ride down the hill on a dedicated bike path into downtown for caffeine at St. Paul Roastery. The commuting and trails are seamless in this town. 

Sometimes, I’m alone; other times, I reach out for riding buddies at Fresh Air Experience, a huge outdoor sports shop. Ask to speak with Old Greg, or watch the short film about this local legend here. It’s okay if you cry; I did. 

A hotel tax created in 2021 was a major boost for improving the bike trails in the Trowbridge Forest Multi-Use Recreation Trail System; today, the network consists of 30 km of mountain bike singletrack trail. The trails have also become the site of major provincial and local bike races, including a weekly race series, the Shuniah Forty Miner, which garners a huge annual turnout; there is also the fun bike festival and group ride called the Ozzy 8. 

The Black Sheep Mountain Biking Club is an active and fun bunch who put on the races. From trail maintenance to events, this team is on the ball. The latest news: the completion of the new Jumbo Gardens BMX park. 

The Thunder Bay Cycling Club has got the skinny tires covered, which includes Tuesday night Women on Wheels rides, a race series, cyclocross events and even gravel rides that follow offshoots from Silver Islet and Hymers to South Gillies. 

But it’s not all riding. Downtown Thunder Bay has a cool vibe of restaurants, waterfront parks and shops. The Sweet North does sugar like no other. Their caramel sticky buns are deadly, as are their homemade pretzels. Many group rides end at the Lakehead Beer Co for Detroit-style pizza and fried goodness. 

To rent a bike or get a spare tube, there’s The Rollin’ Thunder Bike and Ski, as well as Get Out Gear Rentals.

Hamilton

When I put out the call to my Ontario friends for their favourite bike towns, hands down, they replied: Hamilton. A native of Hamilton, Jeff Landry loves the variety: “There’s loads of rail trails, paths for casual riding or connecting mountain bike and gravel rides. Plus, there is easy access to quiet(ish) roads.” 

In addition to dozens of bike shops and the many bike racks and repair stations throughout the city, the city's core has numerous connecting trails so that you’ll never have to pay for parking again. 

Speaking of free, you can ride the 2.4 km up the Keddy Access Trail to the top of the escarpment or board any bus with the Mountain Climber logo, stick your bike on the rack, and save your legs for the descent. 

Don’t have a bike? Easy. Download the Everyone Rides app for the ubiquitous bike share rentals. If you’re considering an e-bike, Hamilton Electric Bikes rents or Bike Hounds has service and repairs. 

One of the most beautiful and easily accessible trail systems is the dedicated paved path along Lake Ontario. The Waterfront Trail extends from Stoney Creek to Burlington and passes through Van Wagers Beach, Confederation Park, Windermere Basin, and the Beach Strip, to the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge, and then through Bayfront and Pier 4 Parks to the Desjardins Canal. 

If you need cycling buddies, reach out. Every Friday, Mark, a Cycle Hamilton board member, leads a ride. There’s even a mass group ride that takes you to local outdoor art spaces. Cycle Hamilton is chocked full of cycling information.

During autumn, I adore the 22 km Dundas Valley Trail; the changing colours of the Carolinian forest, coupled with stops at the abandoned train station, feel very bucolic and tranquil.

Hamilton’s mountain bike scene is blessed by its location: sitting on the Niagara Escarpment, there are plenty of undulating hills and rocks. One great spot is the Christie Lake Conservation Area, which has 10 km of trail through old Carolinian and pine forests. 

Post-ride cafes are abundant—the famous Weil’s and for heartier, think old-fashioned onion rings, fish and chips and hot dogs, Hutch’s On The Beach is classic diner fare. For hearty, and healthy meals, Paisley Coffeehouse & Eatery does veggie bowls and big mugs of coffee.

Sudbury

On another women’s-only bike trip, a week wasn’t enough to hit all the riding spots. Every day was spent at a new venue with well-signed and maintained trails, bike wash stations and places to eat nearby.

Laurentian Conservation area is open all year and has groomed fat bike trails come winter. If you haven’t tried it, it’s like riding an inner tube along smooth trails. It’s more flowy and less technical than regular mountain biking.

Walden and Kivi Park (which includes rentals) also have fat biking, and in the summer, the trails are mint. Walden Mountain Bike Club maintains the trails at Walden—and they are a bike advocacy group within the region. The Walden Trails park is located on 350 acres of rolling hills with rocky outcrops. Sudbury mountain bike features amazing rocky outcrops thanks to the Precambrian Shield, a type of glacial rock that is trademarked to Northern Ontario terrain. 

Sudbury is blessed with not only dedicated trail builders and bike parks, but also a long legacy of riders. 

Since 1974, the Sudbury Cycling Club has held organized road cycling rides. If you’re vacationing in Sudbury, check their local Facebook page for events and weekly meet-ups. 

The paved, quiet backroads are plentiful. The city has created a helpful map to create your own routes. One of my favourites is the 22.5 km Ramsey Lake Tour de Sudbury, which meanders through downtown before heading off over boardwalks and bridges in the Laurentian Conservation Area. 

Cyclists in this town love their caffeine. Kuppajoe Espresso bar (with two locations) has homemade soups and a cinnamon bun to end all cinnamon buns—with very reasonable prices. Salute Coffee is known for its locally sourced products, while Old Rock Coffee is locally roasted beans with many locations throughout northern Ontario—notably at Sessions Ride Company. Get your bike and caffeine fix at the same place. 

For rentals, reach out to Adventure 365; and for e-bikes, Sudbury e-bikes has you covered. The Outside Store has fantastic clothing brands to keep you stylish, on and off the bike, which include Lole, Canadian company Sombrio Cartel, as well as Montreal-based Fig, and Smartwool.

Kenora

I love slowly pedalling through this historical town, often stopping to admire historical murals telling the town's story, and taking in the classic architecture. None are more popular than the haunted Mather Walls House, a Queen Anne-style Victorian home, which was featured in the program Creepy Canada.

It’s also a place to find serenity. From old railway lines, to lakefront vistas to rolling hills, Kenora has made great strides to create a cycling-friendly town. The city has created six road cycling routes ranging from nine to 36 km, beginning at the Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre. These undulating country roads traverse quiet farmland, wetlands and lakes. 

Mountain bikers love the views of the Winnipeg River at the Tunnel Island. And just outside of town, the Garrow Park trails at the Mount Evergreen Ski and Recreational Area have some punchy climbs. The 4 km Ski Hill loop is fun but steep at times. 

Bike shops are rare but the Hardware Co shop has been around a long time and can help with repairs and spare tubes. For post-ride nourishment, HoJoe’s has weekly baked goods specials: Wednesdays are the sinful cinnamon buns; Fridays are apple fritters. Breakfast and lunch features loads of carbs and cheesy sandwiches. 

But the best post-ride spot is in the original fire hall—Lake of the Woods Brewing is energetic and fun, with regular live music and some wickedly tasty beers. 

Orillia

From bike repair stations to undulating routes through hundreds of kilometres of farmland and lake country—and even a free app to download the history of your ride—Orillia is a great cyclists’ destination. Plus, it’s called the Lake Country for a reason: cycle, swim, repeat.

The city has made huge efforts to create routes, especially for road cyclists, on the Cycle Simcoe site. Don’t miss the 160-km Simcoe County Loop Trail which can be done as a multiday. The Township of Severn is a sprawling agricultural region with lakes and farmland galore. One of the most beautiful trails for intermediate riders is the Carlyon Loop, which starts in the town of Washago and meanders through hilly paved roads past farmlands and parks before returning to Lake Couchiching.

If you want a guide, local Humdinger Bikes tours know these trails! Born to Ride rents bikes and offers tours–choose from custom tours to wetland trails to historical, to name a few.

Mountain bikers have two of the best options in the province: Hardwood Hills is the former site of the Canadian Pan Am games for mountain biking. It has beginner to advanced trails and a new clubhouse with an awesome food truck. Horseshoe Resort includes the trails in Copeland Forest and Simcoe County Forest. On the resort, buy a day pass to take the chair lift to the downhill trails or take a lesson. There’s also a bike park to practice your skills.

In a majestically restored 1880 blacksmith shop, The Couchiching Craft Brewing Co. is a hub for cyclists where you can catch some live music or work out the kinks at a Sip and Stretch yoga night.

But the best thing to do after a sweaty ride? Grab a Chelsea bun or a Muskoka berry pie and a couple of forks at the Mariposa Market, which includes two cafes, shops and a bakery, then head outside to sit on the grass.

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