Autumn air tastes of urgency. The creeping chill and trees’ spectacular descent into hibernation note the passing days with the same inevitability as a ticking clock. As each expiration of breath becomes more and more visible, we are reminded of nature’s steady countdown to winter. Change is everywhere and inescapable. Rather than reject it, autumn invites us to embrace it. For the me the peak of autumnal anticipation is the start of the school year in September. There’s something magical about those first few weeks of school: not yet besieged with assignment upon assignment, the temperature imperceptibly dipping, reacquainting yourself with the faces, new and old, and all that has changed about them over the summer. At that age, it feels like every small event has the potential to completely change life as you know it. The highs are high, and the lows are low, but above all there is an instinctive craving to try new things and experience as never before.
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| Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash |
I say all this to show how the first months of autumn can bring about an incredible atmosphere of excitement that foreshadows change, fresh experiences, and dynamic journeys. Bike rides in the fall came to embody this feeling for me. The mysterious sensation of biking in new places, letting only the trail and my imagination shape where I end up—it’s addicting. At times I feel like I can recapture that innate hope and wonderment I took for granted in my youth. Because even as each autumn sunrise and sunset bring us closer to the deep slumber of winter, isn’t the season a celebration? Harvest festivals, Halloween, bonfire parties, they celebrate resilience, the defiance of humans in the face of nature—in short, life. Taking change by the horns and bending destiny to our will.
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| Photo by Peter Oslanec on Unsplash |
Poetic ravings aside, below are two of my favourite bike trails in Southern Ontario and two more I plan to ride in the future. The embedded links will lead you to more information about the trails, including maps, terrain details, and the history of how the pathways came to be. Enjoy!
My Favourite Bike Trails
Uxbridge Rail Trail
The Uxbridge Rail Trail is a 60+ kilometre gravel trail stretching from Uxbridge to as far as Lindsay. However, saying that the trail ends in Lindsay is a bit misleading; several other bike trails lie adjacent to the Lindsay trailhead, spiderwebbing all over northwestern Ontario. Some reach as far as Haliburton or Belleville. Despite its expansive reach, my experience with the Uxbridge Rail Trail was rather brief. I began my journey in Uxbridge, parking by the curb in a quaint residential neighborhood adjacent to a trail entrance. After riding through the initial forest and shrubbery that skulks through the town’s outskirts, I reached the premier portion of the trail, delighting in spectacular wetland views.
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| Uxbridge Rail Trail, November 2020 - Before the Blackwater Junction |
The bulk of the trail from Uxbridge to Blackwater cuts through a network of rivers and marshy wetland, interrupted infrequently by barren country roads. My experience on this trail was in November, thus the trees were leafless and vegetation sparse, but the immenseness of the encompassing scenery was staggering. Surrounded by impassable wetland with an armada of towering trees in the distance, a sense of isolation pervades this bygone trail. And I say that with sincere compliments.
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| Uxbridge Rail Trail, November 2020 - Before the Blackwater Junction |
At Blackwater I took the left fork of the trail to Sunderland. The entirety of the trail's left fork is depicted below, with the right fork shown in the first Google Map.
I intended to ride further
once reaching Sunderland but was unable to find where the trail
continued. Google Maps indicated that the continuing trailhead is obscured
within an imposing construction-looking area (the Sunderland Cooperative), and,
not wanting to get run over by a dump truck trespass, I decided not to
delve too deeply into the region.
I can attest that the trailhead is not located anywhere in the environs of the Sunderland Cooperative—not further up Centre Street, nor further east on Concession Road 6, nor off Doble Street or another connecting side road. Trust me, I did a thorough search. At that point I was an hour and a half or so into my bike ride, and I decided to head back to Uxbridge lest my quads spontaneously gelatinize. On a crisp November afternoon, needing to get out of the house for a few hours, I thoroughly enjoyed my journey on the Uxbridge Rail Trail.
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| Uxbridge Rail Trail, November 2020 - Before the Blackwater Fork |
Tiny Trail
The name “Tiny Trail” belies its length, traversing 20+ kilometres in a near-straightway that stretches from cottage country in Penetanguishene to Elmvale. I have also seen the path referred to as the Trans-Canada Trail or North Simcoe Rail Trail. In fact, a short distance from the Elmvale trailhead, another trail officially termed the North Simcoe Rail Trail begins, carving a path all the way to the outskirts of Barrie and extending the Tiny Trail's unofficial distance to over 50 kilometres. My family is lucky enough to own a cottage in the Penetanguishene area, so I have many fond childhood memories of walking Tiny Trail. Or at least the trail’s paved and heavily forested first few kilometres. It was only more recently that I grew brave enough to journey further and tackle the gravel path that makes up the trail’s majority.
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| The backyard of my family's cottage - October 2020 |
The few times I've biked Tiny Trail, I started my journey from our cottage, which, unfortunately, is an 8-kilometre ride from the closest trailhead. And between the killer hills and a certain biker’s propensity for making wrong turns, it feels like a lot longer. As such, I haven’t been able to bike as much of the trail as I've wanted to. My latest foray was last fall, and wow, this trail is *perfect* for an autumn bike ride.
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| Tiny Trail, October 2020 - Paved portion |
It’s hard to get past the first few forested kilometres because it’s so damn gorgeous. Temptations to stop lay at every turn, whether to take a moment to admire the swift river winding along the path or venture off-road to explore a particularly interesting corner of the forest. Once you escape the enchanting forest (and I haven’t even gotten started about the autumn foliage), the trail turns to gravel, passing by the Balm Beachway Golf Club and several tracts of farmland. The half-naked trees loom over the path, playing the role of both brooding augur and comforting guardian.
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| Tiny Trail, October 2020 - Gravel path |
It’s impossible not to perceive vestiges of what was as you speed along—intermittently appearing railway supports rotting in the riverbed being the big giveaway. From the late 1800s to the 1960s, a railway occupied what is now Tiny Trail. According to the Town of Tiny website, it was first used to transport lumber, grain, cattle, and other goods before transitioning to providing human access to the various towns in the area. The history of the path adds a spectral touch to Tiny Trail; its passage is rank with rural poignancy and the air of forgotten times. It is a contradiction that this anachronistic ambience imbues my autumn bike rides with life.
Worrying again about the state of my legs, I made it to Concession Road 8 before deciding to turn back. I really must stop trying to finish my rides the *exact* moment before my legs implode.
My Next Trails
Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail
Bridges! If 130+ kilometres of bike path wasn’t enough to entice you to ride the Goderich to Guelph trail, the bridges just might. From Menesetung Bridge in the heart of Goderich to the infamous West Montrose Covered Bridge, also known as the "Kissing Bridge", the trail is dotted with bridges big and small. The gravel path tracks primarily through farmland, interposed by a few forested sections, and is maintained by G2G Rail Trail Inc. volunteers. The volunteers also run a website that maps the length of the trail, provides updates on collapsed bridges, construction, weather damage, and offers suggested detours. As any biker knows, being aware of these otherwise unforeseen obstacles is a massive help when trekking far from a car or populated area.
Goderich is a quaint coastal town on the shores of Lake Huron and a welcome destination at the end of a long bike ride. I can almost taste the fish and chips I would have while enjoying the lakeside views. I can see myself tackling this trail in several expeditions (because Lord knows I’m not going to bike the whole thing in one go). One potential trip would begin in Guelph and end at the aforementioned “Kissing Bridge”. I would recommend parking at Guelph's outskirts to avoid unnecessary city biking. Depending on how energetic I'm feeling that day, I may push on a bit further, but keep in mind that I would have to traverse the same route back to my car.
A second trip would start either in Blyth or Auburn, depending on one’s ride distance preferences, ending with a stop in Goderich for food and exploration before heading back to the car.
Caledon Trailway
The Caledon Trailway is a font of explorative opportunity. From the Davis Family Farm Sunflower Fields (admittedly more of a summer activity) to Albion Hills Conservation Park, the 35+ kilometre path is rife with attractions to stir the adventurer within. If the allure of the G2G trail (aside from the bridges 😉) is traversing its immense distance, then the allure of the Caledon Trailway is exploring one of the many magnificent distractions along its length. The gravel trailway has a much more even split between farmland and forested trail than the G2G, hopefully providing some stunning fall foliage and increased viewings of wildlife.
I’ve been to Albion Hills Conservation Park and give my full recommendation for those seeking a gorgeous, lengthy hike in a dense forest. The Cheltenham Badlands, with its remarkable ridged, rust-coloured shale, is somewhere I’ve wanted to visit for a long time and seems like an ideal companion to a bracing fall bike ride. Check out the below Google Map for a few other nature reserves located adjacent to the Caledon Trailway!
Not to end on a macabre note, but several cemeteries lie along the trail’s passage, and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention them. A brisk cemetery walk is an excellent autumn activity—especially small-town cemeteries steeped in that atmosphere of olden eeriness. Just don’t linger too long…
If you've biked on any of these trails share your experiences in the comments below! Any other Southern Ontario bike trail recommendations? I would love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
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