Insider’s Guide to Mountain Biking in Thunder Bay

You’d be hard-pressed to find a mountain biker in Thunder Bay who doesn’t know Katherine Morency. She’s coached young shredders, raced mountain bikes and worked at a local bike shop.

Katherine has been a longstanding mountain bike coach (through the Professional Mountain Bike Association) and guide. She has worked with mountain bikers in Thunder Bay and across Canada. She has competed in cross country and enduro events locally, across Canada and the U.S.; she’s even coached up-and-coming shredders at the local high school.

There’s no one better to show you the best of Thunder Bay for cyclists. Here are some of Katherine’s favourite local trails, restaurants, scenic stops and shops in her hometown.

Best Thunder Bay trails

From the early ‘90s, when mountain biking was born, local riders from the local Black Sheep mountain biking club, the city, and other stakeholders began building a trail system. Today, the Trowbridge Forest Multi-Use Recreation Trail System has become an epic mountain bike destination. It’s still one of Katherine’s favourite places to ride.

She’s seen this park evolve tremendously since she learned to ride on one of the original trails called Grand Chasm.

“Our high school had its own race series,” she says. Grand Chasm is considered old-school mountain bike singletrack trail. In 2011, the trail was professionally redeveloped with the help of the International Mountain Bike Association, which helped improve the flow, length and sustainability of the trail. The new trail includes banked sweepy berms and even a ladder bridge.

“It’s called a tech flow trail now because it has many technical features and rock rolls,” says Katherine. Over the years, it’s helped her perfect her skills. The area is best known for natural, hand-carved tread with plenty of rocks and roots. According to Trailforks, there are “bermed corners, and plenty of optional tech features including a ladder bridge, roll-able jumps and rock features. “The new trail takes advantage of modern trail building techniques while still maintaining the "old school" feel.”

The Green Mile is another favourite because it’s more challenging: “One lapse in judgement and you’re gonna eat it,” she says of the black diamond trail. If it’s dry, the conditions are great, but if wet, it’s an entirely different trail, she adds. Multi-directional, it’s either a lung-popping steep climb, upwards of 25 percent at one section, or it’s a white-knuckle descent.

Biking to scenic views

Named Thunder Mountain, Mount McKay, (Anemki Wajiw), is located on the land of the Fort Williams First Nation and, according to Katherine, has the best views of the city and the Sleeping Giant. During grade school, her class would visit during the summer solstice to watch a traditional pow wow: “I remember the beautiful coloured beads and dancers,” she says.

Either drive up to the top or hike a challenging but short trail; there is also an Ojibwe monument to First Nations people who died in wars. “Thunder Bay is quite the hub for First Nations,” says Katherine.

Favourite Post-Ride Eats

Katherine cannot pick just one restaurant: Thunder Bay has so many choices for so many moods and tastes.

“It might be a franchise, but they really take pride in their food,” says Katherine of The Tomlin restaurant. She loves the classic ribeye steak. Most items are locally sourced, including the trout served with tikka masala. The menu is also known for its sharables, including a well-stocked charcuterie board, fried brussels sprouts and a currywurst platter with garlic aioli and a festival of sausages.

If you have a team of peeps or family to entertain, Katherine says The Foundry is “a bopping place.” The Foundry is known for its live music venue; there are tons of events, including karaoke, DJ’s, live bands and trivia night. The menu is locally sourced and gourmet pub style.

Thunder Bay’s newest spot, Pocket Change, has Gen Z all over it. “It has a cool young hip vibe that draws in the university crowd,” she says. The cocktails are next level with international inspiration—the Japanese Old Fashion is made with Yuzu bitters while Caipirinha has cachaca, a fermented sugar cane spirit from Portugal often used in tropical drinks. It’s a Brazilian favourite, and now in Thunder Bay.

Best shops for cyclists in Thunder Bay

Goods and Co is a community hub for food, arts and events. “It’s such a cool space with a roller-skating area and disco nights,” she says. Housed in the former Eaton’s Building (a classic Canadian department store), the 25,000-square-foot space is funky and vibrant on weekends. “It’s the kind of place you want to take your mom for Mother’s Day brunch,” Katherine adds.

When you’re done eating, there are 25 vendors, including art galleries such as Co-Lab Gallery, which has a rotating schedule of artists, including trendy tattoo artists; shop for super cool, and Canadian-made items such as clothing at Poplar and Birch, or get your sugar fix at Canada West Maple for homemade Northern Ontario maple goods. For a bike shop, try 3Ride Bicycle Co., Rollin’ Thunder, or Fresh Air.

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