A Guide to Exploring Northern Ontario by Bike

Look north for some of Ontario’s finest cycling, mountain biking and fat biking adventures. First, consider the bike routes: a dreamscape of quiet country roads that are perfect for short or long distance cycle touring within or between quaint communities. If mountain biking or fat biking is more your style, you’ll find outstanding networks of single-track trails carved through the Canadian Shield - guaranteed to get your heart pumping.

The hub communities of Thunder Bay, Kenora, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Timmins and North Bay as well as Manitoulin Island all have vibrant cycling scenes, enthusiastic cycling clubs and full service bike shops plus excellent local breweries, food and accommodations.   

So whether you road, mountain or fat bike, just bought your first bike or have a garage full of them, you’ll find a bike route, trail, event or trip that’s right for you in Northern Ontario.

Get Connected 

Cycling can be as solitary or group-oriented as you want it to be - of course, we think getting out for a bike ride with friends or family brings an extra level of fun. Whether you live in an area or are a visitor, bike clubs and events are excellent ways to meet local cyclists, connect with the community and get motivated to ride.

You can join a road cycling club, an off road cycling club, a mountain biking club and many more. You’ll benefit from shared knowledge, regular riding groups, races, skills clinics and special events. The enthusiasm is contagious. Beginners, road warriors and dirt grinders are all welcome.  

Get Out There 

No matter what type of cycling you’re looking to do or length of ride you want to go on, the resources below will help you determine the perfect destination for your next on-bike adventure.

Discover the best road cycling routes and trails, mountain bike and fat bike trails in Northern Ontario. Plus find local bike shops, bike rentals, friendly bike clubs, signature events and guided tours. Whether you already have a trip booked and want to sneak in an afternoon of biking or you want to plan a whole vacation around popular cycling spots, we have you covered. 

Northeastern Ontario is perfect for road cycling, mountain biking and backpacking vacations. Book a campsite and explore the mountain bike trails at Restoule Provincial Park or Kettle Lakes Provincial Park. Stay in a hotel room in Timmins, Sudbury or North Bay to take advantage of nearby mountain bike trails and road cycling routes.

Manitoulin Island and the LaCloche Foothills are ideal for both recreational and touring cyclists. Quiet roadways take cyclists past scenic visitas, inland lakes and tranquil meadows. Enjoy the island’s rich cultural heritage and Indigenous communities. The Manitoulin Island Cycling Advocates (MICA) have created 14 cycling routes with detailed maps. Plus they offer 5-day all-inclusive Alvar Cycle Tour vacations (June and September) and a fully supported 2-day Manitoulin Passage Ride Cycle Event (June).   

Browse below to learn about the best road and mountain bike routes, trails, events and more in Northeastern Ontario.

Visit Ontario By Bike’s Northeastern Ontario resource page to find regional road routes and mountain biking trails. Use Ontario By Bike’s interactive map to find bicycle-friendly accommodation, attractions, breweries, bike shops and rentals and places to eat.

Best Road Cycling Routes, Trails and TourS IN NE ONTARIO

Sudbury Region

• Top Places To Bike In Sudbury
• Urban Cycling – Rainbow Routes Association
• Commuter Trails – Rainbow Routes Association
• Paved & Partially Paved – Rainbow Routes Association

North Bay Region

• A Local’s Guide To Cycling In North Bay
• Voyageur Cycling Route – Sudbury to Ottawa
• Guide to Road Cycling Routes & Paved Pathways – Discovery Routes
• Spirit of the Bay Self-Guided Cycling Tour

Manitoulin Island

• Ontario By Bike – Manitoulin Island and La Cloche Foothills
• Manitoulin Island Cycling Routes and Maps
• Best Cycling Routes On Manitoulin Island
• Cycling Paradise on Manitoulin Island
• Manitoulin Passage Ride Tour – (June)
• Alvar Cycle Tour Adventure – (June or September)

Best Mountain Biking and Fat Biking Trails in Ne Ontario 

Sudbury Region

• Kivi Park Mountain Biking and Fat Biking Trails
• Walden Mountain Biking and Fat Biking Trails
• Guide to Mountain Biking Trails – Rainbow Routes Association
• Guide to Wilderness Trails – Rainbow Routes Association

North Bay Region

• Guide to Mountain Biking – Discovery Routes
• Mountain Biking Trails – Nature’s Harmony Ecolodge
• Voyageur Multi-Use Trail System
• On the Trail at Restoule Provincial Park

Timmins Region

• Hersey Lake Conservation Area

Bike Shops and Bike Rentals in Ne Ontario  

Sudbury Region

• Adventure 365
• The Outside Store
• Sessions Ride Company
• Sudbury E-Bike

North Bay Region

• Cheapskates
• Wheelhouse

Timmins Region

• O’Reilly Sports

Ontario Parks Bike Rentals

• Killarney Provincial Park
• Restoule Provincial Park
• Mikisew Provincial Park
• Finlayson Point Provincial Park
• Kettle Lakes Provincial Park
• Rene Brunelle Provincial Park

Local Bike Clubs and Trail Organizations in Ne Ontario  

Check out local bike clubs and organizations for bike trails, routes, maps, weekly rides, training opportunities and events.

• Walden Mountain Bike Club (Sudbury)
• Rainbow Routes (Sudbury)
• North Bay Mountain Bike Association (North Bay)
• Discovery Routes (North Bay)
• Manitoulin Island Cycling Advocates (MICA)

2022 Signature Events in Ne Ontario  

• Bush Pig Open 2022 – Multi-Lap Race on Walden Trails (June 7, 2022)
• XTERRA Conquer the Crater – Off-road triathlon and duathlon at Kivi Park, Sudbury (July 24, 2022)

Thunder Bay, Kenora and Ontario Parks are the hotspots for road cycling, mountain biking and fat biking in Sunset Country and Superior Country. Find easy to challenging mountain bike and fat bike trails with unparalleled scenery at the likes of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park and Trowbridge Forest among others in the Thunder Bay area. Cycle the recreational bike routes in Kenora.

Browse below to learn about the best road and mountain bike routes, trails, events and more in Northwest Ontario.

Visit Ontario By Bike’s Northwest Ontario resource page to find regional road routes and mountain biking trails. Use Ontario By Bike’s interactive map to find bicycle-friendly accommodation, attractions, breweries, bike shops and rentals and places to eat.

Best Road Cycling Routes, Trails and Tours in NW Ontario

• The All-Season Guide To Biking In Thunder Bay
• Thunder Bay Road Routes and Tours (Thunder Bay Cycling Club)
• Kenora Recreational Bicycle Routes
• Lake of the Woods Trail Guide

Best Ontario Parks for Family Bike Rides on Park Roads

• Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
• Rushing River Provincial Park
• Sioux Narrows Provincial Park
• Rainbow Falls Provincial Park
• White Lake Provincial Park
• Nagagamisis Provincial Park
• Fushimi Lake Provincial Park 

Best Mountain Biking and Fat Biking Trails in NW Ontario 

• A Guide To Year-Round Biking At Sleeping Giant
• Mountain Biking On Lake Superior’s North Shore
• Trowbridge Forest Multi-Use Recreation Trail & Shuniah Mines
• Minaki Yurt Adventures – Trails
• Ghost Lake Trails, Dryden

Bike Shops and Bike Rentals in NW Ontario

Thunder Bay Region

• Petrie’s Cycle & Sports
• Fresh Air Experience 
• Rollin’ Thunder 

Ontario Parks Bike Rentals

• Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
• Rainbow Falls Provincial Park
• White Lake Provincial Park
• Nagagamisis Provincial Park
• Fushimi Lake Provincial Park

Bike Clubs and Trail Organizations in NW Ontario 

Check out local bike clubs and organizations for bike trails, routes, maps, weekly rides, training opportunities and events.

• Thunder Bay Cycling Club
• Blacksheep Mountain Bike Club
  • Group Rides, Trail Development Days, Races, Fat Bike Group Ride
  • Summer Racing Series (5 classes) at Trowbridge Forest
  • Fat Bike Races – Mount Baldy
• Safe Cycling Thunder Bay

2022 Signature Events in NW Ontario 

• Sleeping Giant Loppet Fat Bike Race (March)
• Mini Go Ride (July)
• Shuniah Forty Miner (September)

Stay in Sault Ste. Marie or various locations in Algoma Country for access to spectacular road biking, trails and bike routes. Head north to Pancake Bay Provincial Park and Hiawatha Highlands for mountain bike trails that showcase the best natural environments the area has to offer.

Browse below to learn about the best road and mountain bike routes, trails, events and more in Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma Country.

Visit Ontario By Bike’s Algoma Country’s resource page to find regional road routes and mountain biking trails. Use Ontario By Bike’s interactive map to find bicycle-friendly accommodation, attractions, breweries, bike shops and rentals and places to eat.

Best Road Cycling Routes, Trails and Tours In SSM–Algoma 

• John Rowswell Hub Trail
• Top 8 Routes including The Lines, Gros Cap and Searchmont Highway (Bellevue Valley/Goulais River)
• 10 Reasons The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail Should Be On Your Bucket List
• Boom Camp Interpretive Trails, Blind River
• St. Joseph Island

Best Mountain Biking and Fat Biking Trails In SSM–Algoma  

• Bellevue Valley Trail Networks – Stay at Bellevue Valley Lodge
• Hiawatha Highlands Bike Trails
• Pancake Bay Provincial Park
• Algoma Highlands Mountain Bike Loop (King Mountain)
• Velorution Dirt Park
• Elliot Lake Mountain Bike Trails
• Red Pine Guided Mountain Bike Tours & Trips

Bike Shops and Bike Rentals In SSM–Algoma  

• Vélorution Bike and Ski
• Algoma Bicycle Company
• Hollywood Electric Bikes
• Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site
• Richards Landing Marina, St. Joseph Island
• Maria’s Cabins, St. Joseph Island

Bike Clubs and Trail Organizations In SSM–Algoma  

Check out local bike clubs and organizations for weekly rides, bike trails, routes, maps, training opportunities and events.

• The Sault Cycling Club
  • Sault Cycling Club Trails Fest (annually June)
  • Races, Challenges, Kids Scavenger Hunt  

2022 Signature Events In SSM–Algoma  

• Stokely Creek Fat Bike Ride – Sault Cycling Club (March)
• Crank the Shield Signature Event (July)

Plan Your Cycling Adventure Now 

No matter what type of cycling you’re looking to do or length of ride you want to go on, you’ll find the perfect destination for your next on-bike adventure in Northern Ontario.

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