Riding In Cottage Country

For cyclists looking to escape from Canada’s biggest city for a weekend of riding, Muskoka is an easy one and a half hour drive away and offers the opportunity for either serious road mileage or some spectacular fast, technical mountain biking. With hundreds of kilometres of quiet winding roads through pine and maple forests that follow the natural, rolling terrain that is the Canadian Shield, the area is a great destination for cyclists. You can leave from any of the towns or villages in the Muskoka region and be out riding all day long.

Details
If you look at a map of Muskoka, you get a brief idea what the terrain offers. Muskoka is the size of a small European country. Combine that with 1,600 lakes and you have a recipe for a sweet riding destination. The permanent resident population of Muskoka is around 50,000, while the seasonal resident population is about three times that. Either way, it’s a small amount of competition for the wide variety of roads and trails to choose from. The main use for many of the roads in the area is for weekend cottagers.

Getting There
Coming from the Toronto area, take Hwy 400 North and then follow Hwy 11 toward Orillia. The three main towns in Muskoka are Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and Huntsville and all are just a few kilometres off of Hwy 11. Toronto’s Pearson International is the main airport serving the area.

The Riding
If you’re new to the area and don’t want to venture off on your own, visit one of the local bike shops as most of them offer group rides for all distances and ability levels. The staff at the area shops are always willing to help out with maps and directions, too.
Road – The road riding has such a large network of roads to choose from that it would be nearly impossible to list them all, but here are just a few highlights: If you are going to be staying near Gravenhurst, no ride would be complete without a trip on Muskoka Beach Road. It’s locally known as the ‘tunnel’- so windy and rolling that it will make you feel like you are riding a mountain bike trail. If you’re in the Bala area (located between Gravenhurst and Hwy 400), a ride down Torrence Barrens road is a must. The scenery along this road mimics a landscape from the moon and is home to Ontario’s only dark sky preserve. If your base is in the Bracebridge area, a ride that incorporates Falkenburg and Brackenrig roads can’t be missed. You can usually ride for an hour or two before you see anyone else. To the south, there are a few great loops that head down towards Housey’s Rapids. High Falls, just north of Bracebridge, is the highest falls in Muskoka and definitely worth riding by. From Huntsville, a ride down North and South Portage roads along the shores of the Lake of Bays has hills so steep that it’s a challenge to even the fittest riders. For more info on what rides the area has to offer, check out the Muskoka Cycling Club at bikemuskoka.ca.
Mountain – The mountain biking in the Muskoka area is fun and challenging. Here are two well-marked trail areas that will keep you busy for many hours in the saddle:
The trails at Buckwallow are like no others. They are immaculate, well maintained and signed so that even novice riders and navigators can find their way around. The 30 km of rolling, rocky terrain are marked with signs bearing one hoof print for the easiest trails and progressing to five hooves for the most technical. It is a family-friendly atmosphere and offers enough to keep everyone happy no matter their ability level. Trail passes are $10. Buckwallow is located off of Airport Road, halfway between Gravenhurst and Bracebridge. Follow signs for the KOA off the highway and the parking and trailhead are adjacent to the campground.
Also locally known as Santa’s Village, Porcupine Ridge is a tight network of North Shore-style trails that begin and end off one main trail. You can choose to do one or two of the side trails or link them all together to create a long loop. The riding is very technical with steep drops, big log rides and rock gardens and is geared towards experienced or expert riders. The price is $2 for the day with the money going back into building and maintaining the trails. To get there, follow the signs for Santa’s Village from Hwy 11.

Where to Eat
In Gravenhurst, the Gravenhurst Bakery downtown and offers some of the best baked goods in the area. For a lunch and dinner option, Regatta Steak & Seafood Grille, located at the Muskoka Wharf, offers an appealing menu in a great location. In Bracebridge, the Wabora Japanese Fusion Steakhouse has great post-ride sushi and the Old Station Restaurant is also a nice option. In Huntsville, check out the Cottage Waterfront Grill, home to a 200-seat waterfront patio. The Seven Main Cafe is a coffee shop serving up excellent java and treats.

Accommodation
Muskoka has many bed and breakfasts and most have safe bike storage. Visit bbcanada.com and follow the links for Muskoka to find options. For the frugal traveller or camper, try the KOA campground beside Buckwallow. Arrowhead Provincial Park just north of Huntsville also has many campsites available. You can also find cabins at Buckwallow and Patterson Kay Lodge. For something a bit less rustic, there are a number of resorts in the area including the Touchstone Resort on Lake Muskoka, Red Leaves Resort on Lake Rosseau or Deerhurst Resort located 10 minutes east of Huntsville.

Eric Batty is a professional cyclist who races for Trek Canada, one of Canada’s elite
mountain bike teams. When not riding, he’s a freelance writer and outdoor adventure sports photographer.