7 Enchanting Cabin Rentals Near Bike Trails & Routes in Ontario
Make your next bike vacation even more fun by booking a stay in a cabin with great bike trails and routes nearby. You’ll spend days exploring the region on two wheels, soaking up the natural beauty on the go. And evenings cozied up around the campfire while stargazing, or indoors watching movies and eating popcorn.
Below you’ll find our roundup of best cabin rentals for cyclists in Ontario, with a whole range of options from rustic to chic depending what your style is.
Wolf Den Nature Retreats, Algonquin
Wolf Den Nature Retreat’s eco-cabins are cozy and secluded and better yet are less than 20 kilometres from the bike trails in Algonquin Park. Four cabins have nature themed names: Green Cabin is the most private, located on the Oxtongue River; across the road from the hostel is Snowy Owl Cabin; then there’s The Black-Capped Chickadee Cabin which is mobility accessible; and lastly there’s The River Otter Cabin, the largest of the cabins able to host seven people. The fifth cabin on the property is called the Nan and Jack’s Cabin, named after co-owner Jen’s grandparents.
The bike trails in Algonquin include the Old Railway Bike Trail, which runs parallel to Highway 60 and offers family-friendly riding. The Minnesing Mountain Bike Trail consists of four connected loops offering rugged riding and views of Canisbay, Polly and Linda lakes. Note that the Minnesing Mountain Bike Trail is closed for 2024 for construction.
For road cyclists, the shoulder along Highway 60 is safe and rideable and spans about 100 kilometres.
Great Escape Cabins, Alban
Almost equal distance from Sudbury to North Bay, Great Escape Cabins in Alban are a quiet reprieve on the Murdock River. Six cabins can sleep up to 12 guests and include full kitchens to cook up your fish.
While you can catch perch, bass, pike and more on the private lake, or paddle into the historic fur trading route of the French River, the cycling around here is just as good. The town of Alban is a good jumping-off point for an epic road ride called Vive le Nord!, which pays homage to the Francophone heritage in the area.
Road cyclists can feel safe and nourished along the 178-kilometre loop. If that’s too ambitious for one day, cyclists can set out to ride on either the south or north sides of the loop.
The north side has fewer amenities and is more secluded, but be sure to stop in at La Belle Vie Farm for tart haskap berries and ice cream. If you want more stops, the south has Sucrerie Seguin Sugarbush, Dalew Farms and the many farms that participate in the Barn Quilt Trail, where barns feature larger-than-life sized quilt panels.
Driftwood Valley Chalets, Searchmont
Thirty minutes north of Sault Ste. Marie, Driftwood Valley Chalets in Searchmont are cozy outposts for your outdoor adventures, especially mountain biking. Self-sufficient kitchen cabins are super cozy with woodburning stoves, stone chimneys, log cabin walls, and “wild” decor.
The Searchmont region has many gravel roads and singletrack trails. Take an epic ride from King Mountain to Searchmont along a gravel road. The 25-kilometre blue climb, about 608 metres of elevation, is a good 2.5-hour ride in the secluded woods. Pack enough water and snacks as there are few amenities.
Anupaya Cabin Co., Deep River
On the border of Ontario and Quebec is a little town called Deep River. And in Deep River, you can find the most unexpected chic cabins at Anupaya Cabin Co. Located in the upper Ottawa Valley, east of the Algonquin Park border, the cabins sit on the Ottawa River.
The cabins are boutique style, but some, including the original built in 1930, have log walls and overlook the Laurentian Mountains. Enjoy the firepit and barbecue outside on the white sand beach. The cabins also include unique amenities such as a tea ceremony, charcuterie boards and morning scones.
About half an hour’s drive south, you can find a little pocket of mostly blue mountain bike trails in Forest Lea. There are about 30 kilometres of rocky and rooty trails, mostly slabs of Canadian Shield singletrack.
For roadies, drive the 20 minutes to Pembroke, and then ride 14 kilometres (one way) to Petawawa on a portion of the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail called the Algonquin Trail. On the trail, you’ll get great views of the Ottawa River that passes through farmland and many, many hills.
The Sweet Pea, Elliot Lake
If you want privacy, then 20 minutes north of Elliot Lake is The Sweet Pea cottage. It’s one cottage that can accommodate up to 11 people situated on the remote Popeye Lake. Equipped with a kitchen, hot tub, sauna and pool table—not to mention kayaks—the three-acre property also has its own frisbee golf course with 18 holes.
Mountain bikers can head south to the Mt. Dufour Fire Tower Trail Network. With over 20 kilometres of trails ranging from black to green, local riders climb the Fire Tower Lookout Road and can then descend the 280 metres as it snakes through the thick bush. The trails cross through Mt. Dufour Ski Area and the Horne Lake Cliffs.
Avalon Eco Resort, Killarney
Located just outside beautiful Killarney Provincial Park are the remote cabins of Avalon Eco Resort.
The resort consists of six rustic and cozy cabins on Tyson Lake. The cabins have access to the water and a dock for diving. Each cabin comes with a firepit and fully stocked kitchen.
The secluded cabins also have canoes and kayaks, free for guests to use. Swimming, paddling and fishing are favourite activities. Guests also get complimentary access to Killarney Provincial Park, which has tons of hiking trails.
Cyclists looking for a great road ride should embark on the Killarney Scramble, a 135-kilometre ride from the town of Killarney on Georgian Bay to Highway 69. The ride passes by beautiful views of water over rolling hills and offers a safe road shoulder for cycling.
Pine Brae, Perth
Stay in one of two modern off-grid cabins on a secluded private lake just 20 minutes south of Perth. Pine Brae’s The Aerie Cabin sits on a granite cliff and overlooks the lake while The Coorie Cabin sits on Pine Brae Pond. Both cabins are nestled in the forest. Enjoy kayaking and hiking around the property; you can also bring your own groceries and have a feast in your cabin. Or, Perth has many gourmet restaurants, including Michael’s Table, that make classic comfort food. Order takeout and eat next to the outdoor firepit.
With a huge shoreline and wharf, guests can lounge, swim or fish. Wi-Fi is spotty, but you didn’t come to work when there are so many things to do outside, including cycling.
Lanark County is a gravel cyclist’s dream. There are over 22 mapped routes along quiet country roads that span 15 to over 100 kilometres long.
The Tay Havelock Trail is 22 kilometres, or longer if you continue along the K&P Trail. The Tay parallels a former section of the Ontario and Quebec railway from Glen Tay and Tweed, which was abandoned in 1971. The crushed gravel path is secluded and a great place to see wildlife hop across the road. Start at the Crystal Palace/Tay Basin in Perth.
For road cyclists, there are equally as many routes. One hilly but fun 41-kilometre route is the Perth to Murphy’s Point section that is part gravel, part pavement.