Cycling Ontario’s Best Abandoned Rail Trails

I'm no mountain biker or long-distance cyclist, but I do enjoy exploring places on two wheels. Especially places without hills or traffic. I've traveled the province of Ontario, Canada, extensively and have found it an ideal place for hill-averse cyclists like me who enjoy their cycling on the gentler side.

Ontario's rail trail network is extremely well-suited for folks like me. And when you add in the fact that many of these routes are a part of the vast Trans Canada Trail network, the possibilities for cycling adventures are endless.

While I've only just started enjoying the carefree and car-free pleasure of biking old railway lines, I've come to enjoy the peace and tranquility. All you hear is the sound of bird song and the occasional greeting from those you pass along the way. I've also been exposed to a diverse array of countryside, from marshland to forests, farmland to meadows, much of it hidden from view when you travel by road.

Ontario's Rail Trails

Ontario is a vast province, and many of its first settlements were located near once remote natural resources. Getting these resources to the markets where they were needed was a tricky business, and the advent of railways in the 1800s was the perfect solution.

Abandoned after resources dried up or markets and modes of transportation changed with the times, many of these old routes have now been repurposed by forward-thinking communities as leisure space. Long, straight, and usually level, these old railway lines offer an excellent opportunity for both casual and serious bikers (and hikers) to get outside and exercise.

The big appeal for me is the fact that these easy-to-pedal routes usually feature only gradual inclines. This, along with their gentle curves (no sharp bends here!), enables you to find a comfortable cruising speed that you can stick to for mile after mile, with only the occasional road crossing to slow down for.

The very best of these rail trails are well-maintained, with firm railbeds, and are usually gravel-lined. Some areas, especially near towns and cities, even offer paved surfaces. Sure, some of the most remote may be overgrown or obstructed, but with a little advance planning on tools like Ontario Bike Trails, you can avoid these altogether... unless, of course, you prefer a challenge.

Getting Started in Muskoka

Ontario rail trail options are almost limitless, and you'd be hard pressed to find a major town or city in south and central Ontario that isn't within striking distance of a decent rail trail to experience.

I'm a resident of Muskoka, an area once only accessible from Toronto and the USA by train and steamship. When logging dried up and tourists started driving here instead, some sections of the once-busy rail routes that connected the region to Toronto saw new life as multi-purpose leisure trails, including a pleasant 1.5-kilometer (1-mile) section that connects the town of Gravenhurst to the Muskoka Wharf and Lake Muskoka.

This short former tourist and logging railway line merely whetted my appetite, and I soon looked for longer trails close by. Two of the best follow the former rail line connecting the city of Barrie with the town of Orillia, just 25 minutes south of Muskoka, and 90 minutes north of the Greater Toronto Area.

Rail Trail Adventures on Barrie's Waterfront

Together, the Barrie North Shore Trail and the Oro-Medonte Rail Trail cover 31 kilometers (19 miles). This scenic journey skirts past scenic Lake Simcoe and passes close by several small communities, some pretty farmland, as well as a few wooded sections, and takes two hours at a steady, comfortable pace. It's an especially fun ride for me as it was on this very route that I once traveled by train to and from Toronto before the line was closed some 20 years ago.

The best lake views can be enjoyed across Kempenfelt Bay as you enter Barrie's waterfront area. And they only get better as you get closer to the city's downtown area, where you can stop, lock up your bike, and go for a bite at Homestead Artisan Bakery and Café or (a personal favorite) Tara Indian Cuisine.

Push yourself a little harder, and you'll join the paved section of the old railway line that extends around Kempenfelt Bay. It's only a short jaunt around the bay to Southshore Park, where you'll find a series of interesting displays marking the spot where Barrie's old rail yards and roundhouse once stood. It's a fitting end to your Orillia to Barrie rail line adventure.

Also at this end of the trail is the General John Hayter Southshore Community Center with its clean washroom facilities. After freshening up, stop for a picnic at one of the many tables or benches located here, soak up the views, and psyche yourself up for the journey back to Orillia.

Orillia and Beyond

Back at the other end of the Oro-Medonte trail, another section of the same railway line passes along Orillia's equally pretty waterfront. It's also a pleasant place to stop to check out the town marina and the larger yachts that made their way here from the Great Lakes. From Orillia, you can sail all the way to the Intracoastal Waterway and to the Gulf of Mexico.

Here, you can also pick up another 28-kilometer (17-mile) stretch of the old railway route. Known as the Uhthoff Trail, this fun, usually quiet trail connects Orillia to the smaller community of Coldwater and only takes a couple of hours to tackle at a steady pace.

If you're visiting and don't have a bike, plan on starting in Orillia. Here you can rent a suitable trail bike for the day from The Crank & Sprocket, or even an electric bike if you don't feel like breaking into a sweat.

The Georgian Trail

Having done the Orillia to Barrie rail line a few times, I ventured over to Collingwood to tackle what's rapidly becoming my new favorite route: the Georgian Trail. Stretching 34 kilometers (21 miles) between Collingwood and Meaford, it takes in the Blue Mountains community of Thornbury and follows the Georgian Bay shoreline, with superb water views along the way.

I usually combine this route with two of my favorite things: a stop at Blue Mountain Village for a cold brew at Northwinds Brewpub, and another stop in Thornbury for a sweet treat and a coffee to wash it down from the Thornbury Bakery.

If you need a bike rental, the helpful staff at Little Ed's Ski & Bike Shop in Collingwood's Harbourview Park can set you up. Connected to the Georgian Trail, here you can rent regular trail bikes as well as e-bikes. They also rent out kayaks and paddleboards for use on Georgian Bay.

What's next? Well, I'm eager to get out on the Old Railway Bike Trail, one of the best trails in Algonquin Park. Then there's the big one, the epic 296-kilometer (184-mile) Ottawa Valley Rail Trail. Just opened to the public in 2022, this one is going to take a little more planning... and a lot more time.