This past June we brought a group of cyclists on a two-day 120km rail trail ride in the Kawarthas Northumberland region. Our route took us west from Campbellford to Peterborough, and on to Lindsay then north to Fenelon Falls. This weekend ride, the Trent Severn Trail Tour, was one of our supported weekend tours, known as Ontario By Bike Rides. We’ve published the itinerary online so you can ride it on your own self-guided adventure.
We were following the approximate route of a stretch of the Trent Severn Waterway National Historic Site, a river, lake, and canal system that was originally built to bring commercial boats between Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay. The Trans Canada Trail, routed mostly on former rail lines turned rail trails, connects many communities throughout Kawarthas Northumberland known as Trent Severn Trail Towns. The Trail Towns make excellent stops on day trips or multi-day rides.
Campbellford
Our journey started in picturesque Campbellford, a historic riverside town home to the giant toonie and the awe-inspiring Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge, which connects two rugged sides of the Trent River. It’s definitely worth extending your stay in Campbellford, as there is plenty to see and do including camping at Ferris Provincial Park, concerts at Westben Theatre, and many restaurants, pubs, and shops to enjoy.
The first morning of our tour the group cycled west on the most rugged trail section of the weekend. The 20km section of the Trans Canada Trail between Campbellford and Hastings is used by ATVs and not graded regularly, but makes up for it with scenery. While you have to dodge some puddles and be careful in some loose gravel, you are rewarded with beautiful wetlands, lush forests, and pastoral views. Wildlife viewings were also excellent. We spotted a deer, an osprey, and a turtle en route to Hastings. A bike with wider tires is recommended for this part of the route—32 or 35c tires at minimum.
Hastings
Rolling into Hastings at the 20km mark, the trail connects up again with the banks of the Trent River, with forests on one side and the river on the other. We were generously invited to eat our lunch at the Kawarthas Northumberland Visitor Centre right at Lock 18. We enjoyed a filling picnic lunch from McGillicafey’s Pub & Eatery, a welcoming pub with a lockside patio located next door. We were also treated to some delicious butter tarts from Bridgewater Coffee & Pizza, a classic treat the area is known for. Everyone enjoyed our stop in Hastings, with its riverside parks and historic charm.
Lang-Hastings Trail
After a short but hilly detour through town to get back to the trail, we continued on the Lang-Hastings Trail west to Peterborough. The trail surface smooths out considerably, and riders enjoyed views of the Trent Hills and the Trent River as it widens and becomes Rice Lake. This section of trail passes through campgrounds and cottages, mixed forests, farmer’s fields, and connects to a beautiful network of country roads begging to be explored.
Just past the 40km mark of the day, riding north 2km on the gravel Nelson Road is a worthwhile detour as it will take you to Lang Pioneer Village Museum, a historic settlement and mill with a lovely setting on the Indian River. There are a number of excellent gravel road cycling loops in this area published by Wild Rock Outfitters in Peterborough, including the Southern Gravel & Hope Mill – 41km route. If basing your ride from Peterborough, Wild Rock rents both traditional bikes (gravel, comfort and fat bikes) plus pedal-assist e-bikes, all convenient for explorations of the area.
Peterborough
With rain in the forecast much of the group opted to continue on to 100 Acre Brewing Co. on the outskirts of Peterborough, about a 1km detour from the trail at the Technology Drive crossing. This was a popular stop for many in the group, with its cottage-like setting, large open green spaces, patio, live music, and delicious craft beers.
The trail connections through Peterborough are quite good, and take riders right to the shores of Little Lake, through Beavermead Park (camping), and right past the stunning new location of The Canadian Canoe Museum. The museum is a must-visit stop in the area, with the largest collection of paddled watercraft in the world, canoe rentals and workshops, bike parking, and a location of the popular Silver Bean Café with lunch options and ice cream.
After an enjoyable day of trail riding, we settled into our overnight accommodations at the bicycle-friendly Holiday Inn Peterborough – Waterfront. We were able to bring our bikes to our rooms and received a warm welcome from hotel staff. We had an enjoyable evening in vibrant downtown Peterborough—dinner and a group social at Ashburnham Ale House, and live music at Jethro’s Bar + Stage, a venue that hosts concerts almost every night of the week.
Kawartha Trans Canada Trail
On Day 2, despite some rain in the morning, the group enjoyed their ride cycling through Peterborough on excellent bike paths and infrastructure, rejoining the Trans Canada Trail at Jackson Park on the city’s west side. This section of the trail follows Jackson Creek through lush forests and wetlands and past farmer’s fields. After 5km it connects to the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail, passing more farmland, forests and the renowned Doube’s Trestle Bridge at the 16km mark just east of Omemee. This was a favourite stop of many in the group, with views of the surrounding Buttermilk Creek valley from atop this massive steel span bridge, which once saw passenger trains travelling between Lindsay and Peterborough.
(*September 2024 Update*: As a result of a fire, the Doube’s Trestle Bridge on the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail between Omemee and Peterborough is closed and is impassable. The bridge will remain closed to public use for the foreseeable future. Barricades and signage are in place. The public are asked to respect the closure and avoid the area. The trail is closed from Orange Corners to Emily Park Road. On-road detour to be posted. More info at HERE and at www.ktct.ca.)
Cycling onward, we were welcomed by local trail keepers with a lunch stop in the hamlet of Reaboro, then continued on through wide open countryside to Lindsay around the 40km mark. There are some picnic tables at Reaboro Park right on the trail that would make a great lunch stop if travelling on a self-guided ride.
Lindsay to Fenelon Falls on the Victoria Rail Trail
Cycling through Lindsay on trails beside the Scugog River was a treat, as was our rest stop at Old Mill Park at Lock 33 of the Trent Severn Waterway. Lindsay is a fantastic destination for a trailside stop, ice cream, meal or overnight stay, with a number of accommodations, shops, and restaurants in town. Olympia Restaurant is a favourite from a previous Ontario By Bike Ride. If you’re visiting the city and just need a bike for the day, Lindsay has a community bike share program you can take advantage of.
After a few trail detours in town (follows signs) we connected with the Victoria Rail Trail. Even with ATV use, this is a very well maintained and scenic rail trail connecting Lindsay and Fenelon Falls along the Trent Severn Waterway. Highlights of this trail were the beautiful views over Sturgeon Lake and the expansive marshlands at Ken Reid Conservation Area.
Fenelon Falls
The trail connects easily into Fenelon Falls, the last stop on our Trent Severn Trail Tour. We loved the summer afternoon buzz in town, strolling alongside cottagers, boaters, and day trippers taking in the water views, shops, and restaurants. Our riders enjoyed Kawartha Dairy ice cream from Slices N’ Scoops and some beverages on the patio at Murphy’s Lockside Pub & Patio and Fenelon Falls Brewing Co. We were impressed to see a local bike share system that visitors can make use of right next to the lock.
Others enjoyed strolling through Garnet Graham Beach Park with its beach, lookout point over Cameron Lake and the Fenelon River, and the Maryboro Lodge Museum. This year the museum is celebrating the town’s 150th anniversary with activities, exhibits, documentaries and community events.
If travelling onwards from Fenelon Falls, the Victoria Rail Trail continues north to Kinmount and Haliburton, with the full length of the trail 85km from end to end. The condition of the trail is smoothest on the 53km between Lindsay, Fenelon Falls, and Kinmount.
Return to Campbellford
From here our group had organized a school bus charter back to our start location in Campbellford. Everyone was proud of the accomplishment of riding about 60km each day and cycling through some inclement weather, and were filled with the memories of the experiences they had had along the way.
Planning Your Own Trent Severn Trail Adventure
If you want to do this ride yourself, we have published our itinerary online, but keep in mind this is a one-way linear ride. There are a number of transportation operators in the area that you could contact to organize a shuttle, including taxis. We used Century Transportation for a school bus charter and rented a large truck to transport our bikes. Alternatively, a personal vehicle shuttle with multiple vehicles could be organized, parking a vehicle at either end. Or you could make any one of the communities we visited your home base for a couple days exploring the area on looped and out-and-back rides. Or take advantage of GO Transit service to Peterborough and do a looped multi-day trail ride starting and ending from there. However you do it, we hope we’ve inspired you to visit a Trent Severn Trail Town and plan a cycling trip in the Kawarthas Northumberland region!
Additional Information
Visit www.kawarthasnorthumberland.ca for more information on cycling and other outdoor activities in the region.
- Trent Severn Trail Tour – Ontario By Bike Ride – Self-guided Itinerary
- Peterborough & The Kawarthas – Cycling
- Northumberland County – Cycling
- Kawartha Lakes – Cycling
- Blog – No Bike, No Problem: Rent a Ride in Kawarthas Northumberland
- Ontario By Bike Great Places to Cycle – Northumberland County, Peterborough & the Kawarthas, Kawartha Lakes
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Sponsored Content Partner: Kawarthas Northumberland / Regional Tourism Organization 8
Article by Ontario By Bike. Photo credits: 1, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12 – Ontario By Bike, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10 – RTO8-Kawarthas Northumberland / Rodney Fuentes, 3 – Parks Canada
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