Cycling

Northumberland County is a humble superstar of a cycling destination in Ontario. Stellar, in fact. But quiet about its natural beauty.

Its marked cycling routes and trails will take you along the shores ofLake Ontario and Rice Lake, into gently rolling hills for epic views – or to historic small towns and friendly communities to relax and refuel. Here are some places that go the extra kilometer to accommodate cyclists in Northumberland.

Helping You Plan Your Cycling Trip

We know you've got all kinds of ideas but don't know where to start. Don't worry, we're here to help! We've pulled together some of our favourite ideas to help you plan a great day (or a few days!) of cycling in Port Hope, Cobourg, Rice Lake, Trent Hills, Colborne and Brighton.

The accommodations we’ve highlighted have Ontario By Bike designation with bike storage, maps and more. 

Then we’ve added some bespoke options geared (pardon the pun) to cyclists. These are places with Ontario By Bike affiliation, or spots recommended by our area cycling experts. Though we’ve outlined some businesses and attractions with special hours, please check ahead in each case.

Please Note: Under each location, we’ve highlighted routes with Google Maps and with Ride with GPS maps. 

Port Hope Area

Stay

• Relax in historic Port Hope at the Hotel Carlyle and pamper yourself after a day of fresh air. You’ll be surrounded by old-world charm, mixed with touches of modern luxury. The Carlyle, an example of 19th century Italianate architecture, is a boutique hotel offering 10 unique rooms. Stay the night and book a table for a locally-crafted dinner in the building’s grand carriage house, or enjoy cocktails on the covered patio. Lunch is also served. Check restaurant hours here. 

• At Haute Goat farm (about 17 km northwest of downtown Port Hope), you can book the B & B room in the century farmhouse, sleep in an alpaca shed (don’t worry, it’s now converted to a cozy bunkie), or try overnighting in a yome (part yurt, part dome). 

See

• Check out downtown Port Hope to visit quaint shops, bakeries and cafés in one of Ontario’s favourite small towns. (Public washrooms and bike racks.)

• Get some pics of lakeshore views when you ride along the shores of Lake Ontario, part of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. (For washrooms and amenities along the route, zoom in on the trail map.) 

• Check out cycling routes near Port Hope along the Greenbelt Route, then head up to Richardson’s Lookout Conservation Area with panoramic views over the amazing Ganaraska Forest.

• For more sights see our Glorious Ganaraska Route Google Map or Ride with GPS.

Do

• Sample honey (produced on site from bee to bottle) at The Bee Works Gift Shop. For amazement-sake, take a look at Dancing Bee Equipment in the adjoining warehouse. The “IKEA for beekeepers”, Dancing Bee has all the tools and supplies you could possibly want if starting your own apiary. (Online ordering is an option across North America.) Here’s one cycling route from Port Hope. Pick up a natural energy drink or protein bar. (Bike rack and customer washroom.)  

• Stop into Primitive Designs to browse through a warehouse of unusual exotic crafts and conversation pieces from around the world. View the giant robot and T-Rex sculptures.

• If you don’t stay at Haute Goat, plan a day visit to this farm to hang out with their wooly residents. Pre-book a farm experience like a shmurgle (part snuggle, part hug) with the goats or knuffle shuffle (a stroll with an alpaca). Grab a bite at the Screaming Goat Café or pick up some alpaca-wrapped raw goat milk soap to fit in your pack.  

• Park your bike for a few hours and enjoy an exciting aerial trek (with ziplines) through the Ganaraska Forest at Treetop Trekking. (Reserve ahead.)

• Back in Port Hope, the Ganaraska Brewing Company has rooftop river views and local brews to hit the spot at the end of a bike ride.

Cobourg Area

Stay

• You’ll find lots of accommodation choices at The Breakers on the Lake, ranging from spacious motel rooms and housekeeping units, to a two-storey cottage or three-bedroom house. The bonus: private lakefront grounds with sandy beach along Lake Ontario. And, it’s a close walk to downtown Cobourg for supplies or sightseeing.  

• Willowmere Lakeside Retreat is another option for a lakefront property with a quiet, separate suite located at one end of the gracious family home. 

• Closer to County Rd 2, Amherst House B & B has two separate suites with private baths and satisfying hot breakfasts. 

• You can pre-book Cobblestone Farm (north of Cobourg), to enjoy an entire farmhouse for your cycling group (up to 16 people). From the doorstep of Cobblestone Farm you can ride to the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, Northumberland Forest or up to Rice Lake. 

See

• Get a feel for historic downtown Cobourg with its stately Victoria Hall, shops, arts attractions and eateries. (Public Washrooms and bike racks.)

• Along the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, take in the beach and the Cobourg Marina. (Cobourg has always been a popular spot for boaters from Montreal along the St. Lawrence, and Rochester, New York across Lake Ontario.) 

• For more sights on a 74-km loop (and popular cycling route) that includes Cobourg, see ourRice Lake Ramble Google Map or Ride with GPS.

• Our Shelter Valley route is another great looped ride that extends from Cobourg and takes in the quaint village of Grafton. View the Shelter Valley Google Map or Ride with GPS.

Do

• Stop by the former home of silent film star Marie Dressler, open by pre-booking at Marie Dressler Museum (also expanded into the Canadian Women in Film Museum).  

• From Cobourg, you might want to cycle to Fieldstone Spa, about 10 km north near Camborne. You can pre-book a restful outdoor pod for a soak in your own hot tub, a place to nap, and a nice bite to eat.

• Have the skills to give your bike a tune up? Pay a nominal one-time visitors fee and use the equipment and tools at Cycle Transitions, a do-it-yourself repair shop. (Volunteer run, check hours first.) 

• Stop into NHB Brewing (the “NH” refers to our beautifully rolling Northumberland Hills) to pick up a few cans or taste something on tap. This microbrewery makes pale ales, pilsners and dark lagers. (Check hours at their FB link above.)  

Rice Lake Area

Stay

• Golden Beach Resort on the south shore of Rice Lake offers more than just stunning sunsets. You’ll be amazed by the variety of cottage rental accommodations, or you can book an RV site and bring your own trailer.

• Lang’s Resort & Campground is a well-situated home base for sunsets and back road cycling. Located on the south shore of Rice Lake, in a bay sheltered by Margaret’s Island, it offers rustic housekeeping accommodations and campsites.

See

• Pick some points to stop along the shores of Rice Lake from Roseneath to Gore’s Landing. 

• For more sights on a complete 74-km looped route with rolling hills, Rice Lake views and a stop south in Cobourg, see ourRice Lake Ramble Google Map or Ride with GPS.

• Take a look at the amazing Greenbelt Route, which runs south from Roseneath to Cobourg.  

Do

• Ride through the community of Alderville First Nation, with elders and residents who understand and protect the rare Black Oak Savanna.

• Get off your bike and take a hike. Peter’s Woods Provincial Nature Reserve protects Ontario’s sole-surviving Oak Ridges Moraine old-growth forest.

• Take County Rd 8 (17 km south from Gore’s Landing) to get some award-winning Ontario Craft Cider. Rice Lake Hard Cider (inspired by the shores of Rice Lake) is crafted in the tiny village of Baltimore. (Check hours here first.)

Trent Hills Area

Stay

• Windswept on the Trent offers elegant bed-and-breakfast-style accommodations among three different properties. At Windswept itself, the Water Tower and Coach House Suite can accommodate cycling groups or couples with private rooms offering the best creature comforts in an ideal setting along the Trent River. Windswept’s other two properties, Emilyville Inn B&B and Hastings House B&B exude country comfort right down to the towel warmers. 

• If you’re feeling a little more yoga-zen, take a look at Bed Yoga Breakfast near Campbellford. You can rest your head (2-night minimum stay) at this simple, farm-style B&B and try a hearty, plant-based breakfast. Bed Yoga Breakfast has an animal sanctuary on the property. The owner offers yogitation (gentle yoga and meditation) to start your day. 

See

• Take a look at how this region earned “Trail Town” status with two of its communities – Campbellford andHastings – located along Canada’s historic Trent-Severn Waterway. (Bike racks and public washrooms.)

• About 15 km southwest of Campbellford you can check out the village of Warkworth, a community of artisans and local food producers. 

• Follow another mapped route along the Trans Canada Trail. On the relatively flat, 16-km portion of the rail trail between Hastings and Campbellford, you’ll see rolling farmland and waterway highlights.   

• For other stops on a longer, 63-km looped route, see our Trent River Truckin’ Google Map or Ride with GPS. 

Do

• The Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge is a big cycling attraction. Walk your bike or cycle across the Bridge into Ferris Provincial Park. Ride on the crushed stone trail through the Park and into Campbellford to explore.  

• In Campbellford, you’ll find local favorites likeDooher’s Bakery(try the yummy cream-puff style filled donuts) and the World’s Finest® Outlet(for chocolate treats of all kinds). They’re about 5 minutes apart by bike.

• From Campbellford, follow the signs for the Trent River Truckin’ route, heading north towardsChurch-Key Brewing Co. This is Northumberland’s first brewery, started in 2000 in an old Methodist church. Award-winning brews come out of here with a master brewer at its helm.

• In Warkworth, stop into a popular destination for cyclists,K Okay Café(formerly Our Lucky Stars Café) for freshly prepared baking and local lunch fare. The coffee beans are roasted in house.

• Fogorig Brewing (Campbellford) and Focal Brewing Co. (Hastings) are unique farmstead breweries in Northumberland. (Check out the links above for more on their craft brews and hours.) You can also find other craft breweries in Northumberland. 

Colborne & Brighton Area

Stay

• Cycling groups and couples return annually to Timber House Resort located about 10 km east of Presqu’ile Provincial Park. The 35-foot-high, A-frame resort building offers 10 cozy rooms. There’s an outdoor pool on site and a small private beach. (Trailers are also located within the resort, accommodating families who have already booked long-term stays.) 

• About 5 km north of Presqu’ile you’ll find Presqu’ile Beach Motel, one of the decidedly cleanest and “unfussiest” motels for avid cyclists. It’s a little bit Rosebud Motel (for all the Schitt’s Creek fans), but with covered bike storage – including the use of walk-in closets for bike security in some rooms. 

• Further west towards Colborne, along the Apple Route, you’ll find Burken B & B with 2 classic rooms (king and queen), amazing breakfasts and lovely gardens. 

See

• Presquile Provincial Park is a must-see with its long beaches, historic lighthouse, and natural bird habitats. There’s a paved, one-way driving loop with a designated walking/bike lane so you can ride around the peninsula. Planning a trip, or want to set up your cycling homebase here? See this important tips section before you come. 

• Take a look at the Presqu’ile Promise Google Map or Ride with GPS. It’s our 69-km bike route that takes you through Colborne and Brighton, along part of Ontario’s apple route, and lets you take in beautiful lakeshore views and breezes. 

• From Brighton or Colborne you can get on the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and ride on a fairly flat surface with paved, gravel and unpaved sections along Lake Ontario to Port Hope. Zoom in here for washrooms and amenities along the route. 

Do

• Explore the villages of Colborne and Brighton. You’ll find one-of-a-kind shops and distinctly-local places to eat. 

• In Colborne, stop in to Century Cycle for a great example of what a local bike shop is doing to cover cyclists across Northumberland and beyond. You’ll see a broad selection of new bikes and e-bikes for sale (no rentals) – including urban cruisers, road bikes, gravel bikes, mountain bikes and fat bikes. There’s a bike mechanic on site for repairs. Shop hours are here. 

• Stop by Coach House Clay Art for some fantastic garden art and garden inspiration. Walk the grounds. It’s a nice ride to Lakeport down Wicklow Beach Road. (Hours by chance or appointment.)  

• Located beside Ontario’s Big Apple, the 401 Cider Brewery is an easy stop. With close to a dozen blends of cider, you might want to take away a few cans. Maybe their Oh Honey cider? (It’s made in-house.)