New to biking? Experienced rider? Find your new favourite ride and explore nature!
- Easy Loop around the Canal 🏆 Ride of the Year: 2020 Looking for a beginner-friendly cycling route in Ottawa? Look no further than my favourite ride - the one that got me hooked on cycling! This route is perfect for riders of all fitness levels. It's simple, relaxed, and can be as long or short as you want. The ride loops around the locks by the Arboretum, providing a serene and scenic experience that's sure to recharge your batteries. At a relaxed pace it takes about 45 minutes.
- East End ➡️ Petrie Island the gravel patch is the secret sauce Downtown to Orléans is a beautiful ride! I'm always a bit annoyed at the cars around Rockliffe Park, but the ride is much more bearable if you take the bike lane all the way until you're in the Ottawa River Pathway. Soon after Rockliffe Park there's a bike path that's parallel to a gravel path, it's highly recommended to take the gravel even on road tires, the views by the river are gorgeous!
- Chill Loop to Lake Leamy stay by the water and cool down by Lac-Leamy Following the Voyageurs Pathway, you can have a fantastic cycling experience and even chill by the beach at Leamy Lake Park. It's the perfect spot to relax and soak up some sun after a refreshing ride. If you're feeling adventurous and want to explore more, there are other routes you can take. For example, you can extend your journey towards the beautiful Pink Lake. It's a scenic route that will leave you in awe of nature's wonders. Another option is the Vincent Massey and Beyond route, which offers a flatter and easier ride.
- Britannia 🌳 by Ottawa River Pathway 🏆 Ride of the Year: 2021 Ready to pedal your way into an easy breezy escapade? Buckle up for a delightful ride along the Ottawa River Pathway, a journey that caters to all. This route, hailed as the "Ride of the Year" in 2021, unfolds a 30 km scenic bike path roundtrip from downtown Ottawa. But don't worry if that sounds like a marathon - you can easily tailor the distance to your liking, making it as short and sweet as you wish. Starting from downtown, the route takes you all the way to Britannia Park. If you're up for it, continue peddling until you reach Andrew Haydon Park. This ride is part of the Trans Canada Trail.
- The Big Loop Around Ottawa all-star ride Looking for an all-star ride that showcases the best of Ottawa's natural beauty? Look no further than this loopy variation of Britannia, which takes you through the Experimental Farm and Carlington Woods. If you prefer a less touristy route, you can opt for the Carlington Woods portion alone. Regardless of which version you choose, this ride is particularly enjoyable in the summer, when NCC closes the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway during Weekend Bikedays. And if you're lucky, Queen Elizabeth Driveway might also be closed!
- Aylmer 🏆 Ride of the Year: 2022 If you're on the hunt for an amazing 40k cycling route in Ottawa, look no further than Aylmer! I kid you not, this route is absolutely fantastic. It's perfect for cyclists of all levels, thanks to its smooth, paved roads and optional parallel gravel sections. As you pedal along, get ready to feast your eyes on breathtaking scenery and discover numerous spots where you can take a break and simply soak it all in. And hey, if you're feeling adventurous, why not take a little detour and explore the beautiful region of Gatineau?
- Vincent Massey and Beyond lovely views for a chill ride Looking for a relaxing cycling route with stunning views? Look no further than Vincent Massey and beyond! Vincent Massey Park is the perfect spot for beginners and experienced riders alike. With ample amenities, including a parking lot, water fountain, picnic benches, washrooms, and even BBQ grills, you'll have everything you need for a fun and comfortable ride.
- Pink Lake in Gatineau Park hard climb that pays off on its way down For cycling enthusiasts looking for a challenge, Pink Lake in Gatineau Park is an absolute must-ride. This route offers a great workout with plenty of uphill sections, but the rewards are well worth it: breathtaking views and thrilling descents that can reach up to 60km/h! For an added bonus, note that the National Capital Commission (NCC) typically closes roads to cars for much of the summer. Check out the Road Closure Schedule to plan your ride accordingly and enjoy a car-free experience.
- Wakefield! escape the city and cool down in this scenic long ride Looking for a refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle of the city? Look no further than Wakefield, a charming village in Québec that's just 40KM away from downtown Ottawa. This is a day-long ride that won't disappoint. To get there, I recommend taking the Chelsea Community Trail - it's by far the best route. Starting in Gatineau Park, this trail will take you by the river for most of the way, avoiding Route 105 and offering stunning views of the surrounding natural beauty.
- Greenbelt 🌳 escape to endless gravel and wilderness Discover the lush scenery of Ottawa's protected Greenbelt, a haven of green space, forests, farms, and wetlands encircling the downtown core. Embark on a cycling adventure to experience the variety of trails and routes within the Greenbelt, each offering their own unique charms and challenges. Don't miss out on the scenic gravel paths that wind through this natural oasis!
- Wesley Clover & Shirley's Bay quiet roads, farm views, and light gravel! If you keep riding past Britannia there's a street light in Carling, if you keep going you'll slowly make your way to Wesley Clover Parks (Google Maps), so far this is all really nice bike paths surrounded by trees on all sides. If you take the right turn, you'll start riding on a really fun stretch of gravel, ending in Shirley's Bay. A great place to chill and have a picnic.
- Gatineau Park: Meech Lake + Champlain Lookout like 2x pink, treat yourself to a dip in the lake 🏊 Visit Gatineau Park, take a dip in Meech Lake and enjoy sunset in the Champlain Lookout. This is an advanced ride that rewards. It starts similar to our Pink Lake route, but continues climbing.
- Towards Carp Keep going west Carp is a rural community in the west of Ottawa. This is a fairly long road ride, but it's very entertaining and full of interesting views. You can extend it even further by heading to Dunrobin. ☕️ I really like Eldon's Pantry [Google Maps]
- Ottawa to Plaisance perfect fall one nighter camping If you're looking for a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, look no further than this amazing overnight bike trip from Ottawa to Plaisance National Park. It's the perfect way to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature and unwind from the stresses of city life. The ride itself isn't too far from Ottawa, but it's filled with stunning scenery and wetlands that will take your breath away. And, once you reach the park, you'll be amazed by the sheer amount of amenities available for campers - it's like a little slice of paradise in the middle of the wilderness.
- Winchester Milk Run 🐄 🐮 super fun ride, full of turns! 🐄 Alright, saddle up and let's hit the trail, folks! I've got the lowdown on a groovy gravel route that'll take you through a journey filled with scenic wonder and adventure! This gravel route? It's got a cool vibe, almost like you're riding on an actual road. Full of right-angle turns, it's a bit of a maze, but in a fun, twisty kind of way.
- Pink-Aylmer when pink is not enough and you want poutine This route mixes all the rock stars Pink Lake and Aylmer, if you're lucky, splash some Lac-Leamy too! What could go wrong!? It's worth checking RideGravel.ca's version for an even longer edition!
- Ottawa to Carleton Place and Smith Falls Ride Gravel on the Trans Canada Trail This route combines some segments of the Trans Canada Trail to provide a very straight gravel experience. This is a great ride for anyone getting started with long distance gravel, since it avoids roads. It's built on previous rail roads. It can get a bit dull at times since it's so straight, so make sure to bring a podcast, some suncreen, and maybe a gatorade! 🍦 I highly recommend stopping for some ice cream in Stittsvile at Jo-Jo's Creameria (no association, but really good ice cream!)
- Gravel Cup: 2022 Fall Grally Race your friends in an all-gravel adventure Gravel Cup Canada organizes the Ottawa Valley Fall Grally in September. In 2022 there were two routes:
- Blue Sea: Véloroute des Draveurs sneak away on a hot summer day to this blue paradise This is a rare gem. Half Gravel, Half Road, with a perfect chill spot halfway thru. You have to take a dip at Blue Sea! there's a gazebo perfect for a picnic. Gravel can be a bit advanced, not recommended for road tyres.
- Richmond - Manotick long road ride, avoid during hot days This one is for my roadies out there. Avoid this if all you want is gravel, since this is an all-road ride. The Richmond-only variant goes through some interesting dirt path by the Sheila McGee park.
- Epic Buckingham ride! nonstop hills and descents, amazing fall views Are you up for a challenging day-long cycling adventure? Then you won't want to miss this route! Featuring a mix of short, steep ascents and thrilling descents, this ride is not for the faint of heart. But don't worry, there's a little town halfway through where you can take a breather and grab a snack at a fantastic local supermarket.
- Almonte Roubaix mixes Various gravel routes around Almonte These routes are Kerianne's mastermind, heavily based on Almonte Paris Roubaix race, along with some tweaks. Very fun early spring gravel!
- Gravel Cup: 2023 Spring Runoff Epic and Medio editions Kerianne convinced me to join her on the Gravel Cup series, The Spring Runoff was our first race! This route is half road and half gravel, full of beautiful scenery. In early April the white snow beautifully contrasts the dirt and gravel that you'll be speeding through. We did two "sizes":
- Quyon Ferry loop ⛴️ Ferry? Ferry! Get ready for an epic long ride that's nothing short of special! Starting from Québec and ending in Ontario, this ride is all about experiencing the thrill of crossing provinces via the ferry halfway through. But, that's not all - the gravel in the first half is worth the trip in itself! Now, I have to warn you, this ride is roughly 70% road, but don't let that discourage you. The ferry comes frequently, and while you wait, why not indulge in some delicious poutine?
