Hi Andrew, I’ve done a couple of these trails in the past two weeks after I found your channel last year. Another vote for the LE&N from Brantford to Port Dover. It’s worth reiterating that the trail is paved down to Waterford so no problem using a road bike for this stretch. I also rode Dundas to Brantford yesterday. The trail is in amazing shape and offers even more shade than I remember. Must be all the growth from the rain this summer. Keep up the good work!
@@zedfretI didn’t know where to cross until I got there. I found an obvious route to the left (when traveling west) that went across a shallow spot to a raised gravel bar then across another short water crossing. On the other side it was a push up a little hill on a fairly defined path. When I was there (August 2022) the water was quite shallow and while there was a current, it was very easy to push my bike through the water. There are a couple of videos on TH-cam that show others doing it, including one where the water appeared to be deeper and faster. I’m not sure they crossed where I did. If you do it, please be careful and only go if the water is very manageable.
I saw a group crossing it and it did not seem much more than ankle-deep. I don't know what was in my mind not to cross it. It was the first of 4 or 5 detours, but I did not know that at the time.
@@cardiaccyclist7477 I found the video I saw before I did the trip. The crossing is from 14:00 onwards. th-cam.com/video/TYPNgfpr6Yo/w-d-xo.htmlsi=2EgqDV4TPuf4nFUO
@@cardiaccyclist7477 What was in your mind? Common sense. You were by yourself. There's a time to take a risk, but that's one not to do by yourself. You could slip on a wet rock or clay. If you're with friend or a group, or to cross even with strangers, someone's there if it all goes wrong. I think you called it right.
@@robiam506 I did the G2G in August 2022 myself, going towards Goderich from Guelph, and that detour was a bit of slog with the heavy dirt road after crossing at Balls Bridge. I had heard the G2G bridge at the Auburb Kiosk had been finished & had reopened last summer. Can anyone confirm that?
We've done all of them on our tandem too, except for the Uxbridge to Lindsay trail and we only done parts of the Brantford to Port Dover trail. Looking forward to your next video.
A quick note on Brantford: The very first time I passed through a decade + back on the Cambridge to Hamilton trek, I went along the south bank of the Grand. I'd thought at the time it was a mistake, it wasn't. Every time since (some twenty or so) except the last time, I got lost trying to get through Brantford. It may appear on the map (I'm old-fashioned, haven't got a GPS device yet) that there's shorter ways through the city core proper on the north shore. My experience is better to take what looks like the longer route on the south side of the river if you want to get past Brantford. The Cambridge to Brantford section is exquisite, albeit some sections last time I did it needed some dressing. The leg up from Port Dover remains one of my all time favourites, albeit the trail surfacing changes every jurisdiction you pass through, ending with *asphalt paving* into Brantford.
@@stephensaines7100 I've done the Hamilton to Cambridge ride about five times and in all but one of those treks I've gotten lost in Brantford. LOL. The south side of the river route does seem to be your best bet though.
I've done all but two of the trails And you've now convinced me I must do them. A quick note on the Lyndsey to Uxbridge (I've done it from Peter'bro through to Uxbridge both times). It is with nary an exception, at least in the years past that I did it, a fast trail (well packed and smooth crushed limestone) and it does become monotonous, especially when the swamp is in bloom, even as the foliage is stunning, mile after mile, but this is the trail that convinced me to carry *unopened bottled water*! Do not drink the local water unless you are acclimatized to it! Even in Peter'bro, the town water is poor, and it gets worse as you head west. It's the bracken water and what grows in it. Filters and other methods can't remove the taste. And on that stretch between the few stops (Lindsay and Omemee) there's little to no respite to buy bottled water. Be sure to carry it with you. The trail is almost 0 gradient, so don't begrudge yourself carrying the weight, it's not going to slow you down measurably. Running out of water will! And as Cardiac stated, there's a pathetically low usage of the stretch. Be sure you have a communication device too in case you run into trouble. Excellent reviews! I'll comment more later. Quick comment on the Caledon Trailway: It is an absolute gem, albeit harder to access since GO stopped running buses up to Bolton where I had a route figured out to avoid the awful arterial roads to get up to the trail. But once on it, the sense of being in another world is instantly attained, and if you do have some problems, or someone along for a ride with you can't do the distance, there's many places to truncate the trip safely. At the western end, the ride down to Georgetown on roads is very good, especially via Glen Williams, to then attain the GO bus (or at certain times, service is increasing, the GO train) to head towards Toronto or towards Kitchener. Again, usage is very low on the Trailway, like a lot of trails outside of the urban parts. One wonders how the cost of upkeep is afforded by local authorities?
@@cardiaccyclist7477 Just watched your third episode, and thought I should Google a bit on my claims on water quality in Peterborough and east and west of there as is available to cyclists. Evidently it's a well chronicled issue. I'll try and delve to see how widespread the situation is. The bulk of blame goes to the Otonabee River. I suspect it's more than just the river, it's the basin that the swamp land sits in. I reiterate my claim: Carry bottled water with you, and try and keep it cool. Further to that, as we all know how important *clean, clear, tasteless water* is doing the distance, it took me years to figure out why my tap water (from Toronto, I'm interested to see what others' experience is) in my drinking flasks also tasted awful, after even say, a couple of hours. It tasted fine when it went in the flask, even expensive flasks (albeit I haven't tried any with a polymer coating on the inner walls), and I now highly suspect it's the reaction of chlorine and/or other additives to tap water reacting with the *claimed to be neutral* flasks. I'm about as 'green' as anyone can be short of radical, but in the interest of having water that is absolutely needed, and not *make you thirstier than before you drank it*, I carry bottled water constantly, sometimes even in urban areas. Buy the cheap stuff, no need to go 'boutique'. And throw it in the freezer before leaving on a trip, one bottle frozen, one just normally refrigerated. And keep them that way until needed. The frozen one(s) will slowly melt as time goes by. Is it the bottle causing the bad taste? Good question...I've tried refilling the empty bottles with tap water, only to have the same thing happen as with the casks. On a totally unrelated note, with the demise of the Brampton to Orangeville Railway, and the intention to turn it into a multi-use trail, it will be a gift from...well, us really....that will connect the various trails and trailways together in the GTA, and the Brampton and further south GO hubs. I'm watching that closely. Tying together the Elora to Cataract Trail with the Caledon Trailway and then down to Georgetown GO looks like Manna to me. Loving your stuff, Cardiac. I think I'm a few years up on you, but other than recovering from a torn shoulder cuff, (bike accident *in the city*) I'm in great shape. We've got to do some kms together.
I too agree ababout the water quality in Peterborough &surrounding areas! WhenI I was little it, visiting my cousins in Peterborough or on Pigeon Lake 55 years ago it was like that and traveling up from Cobourg, I would take my own Lake Ontario water with the chlorine filted out. As a kid, raised in Toronto, I became a Camel, avoiding water at all costs. Why? I figured it out when we were on a well, in Grafton. I loved water there! Yes, the chlorine! We now have a charcoal filter to take the chlorine out and have continued to filter here in Hamilton, where it is much less needed. @@stephensaines7100
I've done four of your top ten (plus a short part of the Omemee) and agree the Georgian Trail and LE&N are excellent. However, my favourite ride remains the Greater Niagara Circle Route which does include a rail trail called the Friendship Trail (Fort Erie to Port Colborne). I am hoping to do the Caledon Trailway next year and maybe the Uxbridge to Lindsay if I'm lucky.
Great video! I've done G2G, LE&N, Hamilton to Brantford, and Paris to Cambridge. The others you have mentioned here I really want to check out this summer now.
Youre so lucky. Ontario for whatever reason wont put the time, effort and of course money in to trails like this up north. Its like ontario ends at parry sound
That really does not seem fair. I would be interested in riding up north if you have recommendations for trails. It may be the case that we have the opportunity to highlight the disparity between the North and South.
Super helpful video Andrew! I've been meaning to take the LE.&N.for a while now and will this Summer because there is lots of camping along the way and on Lake Erie. Thanks for including G2G! I'm a bit miffed that they stuffed the tunnel up near Blythe when they did the conversion! Why? I'm wondering how the fundraising is going on that reclamation project? I hope to get G2G done this summer too but now I will obviously have to include the Georgian Trail! Sigh, so many trails, so little time! Do you know what the Dufferin County CP Rail Trail from Orangeville north to Owen Sound is like?
Not rail trails but fun rides and beside water. . . Welland Canal trail from St Catherine’s to/from Port Colborne, and Niagara Parkway trail from Niagara on the Lake to/from Fort Erie. Also the Friendship trail from Port Colborne to/from Fort Erie, paved the whole way, but lots of cross roads.
On some of the trails in the west they are not allowed. I have found that it is often the ATV association's and clubs that maintain the trails, so it is a bit of a double edged sword.
![HIWWHEE | OHM [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OJJLtTLqLag/mqdefault.jpg)
Hi Andrew, I’ve done a couple of these trails in the past two weeks after I found your channel last year. Another vote for the LE&N from Brantford to Port Dover. It’s worth reiterating that the trail is paved down to Waterford so no problem using a road bike for this stretch. I also rode Dundas to Brantford yesterday. The trail is in amazing shape and offers even more shade than I remember. Must be all the growth from the rain this summer. Keep up the good work!
You are right, the trails are really lush this year. I am glad you are enjoying the channel. Have you tried the Caledon Trailway yet
Great video. My favourite part of the G2G was crossing the Maitland River (thus avoiding the long detour). Looking forward to your next video!
@@zedfretI didn’t know where to cross until I got there. I found an obvious route to the left (when traveling west) that went across a shallow spot to a raised gravel bar then across another short water crossing. On the other side it was a push up a little hill on a fairly defined path.
When I was there (August 2022) the water was quite shallow and while there was a current, it was very easy to push my bike through the water. There are a couple of videos on TH-cam that show others doing it, including one where the water appeared to be deeper and faster. I’m not sure they crossed where I did.
If you do it, please be careful and only go if the water is very manageable.
I saw a group crossing it and it did not seem much more than ankle-deep. I don't know what was in my mind not to cross it. It was the first of 4 or 5 detours, but I did not know that at the time.
@@cardiaccyclist7477 I found the video I saw before I did the trip. The crossing is from 14:00 onwards. th-cam.com/video/TYPNgfpr6Yo/w-d-xo.htmlsi=2EgqDV4TPuf4nFUO
@@cardiaccyclist7477 What was in your mind? Common sense. You were by yourself. There's a time to take a risk, but that's one not to do by yourself. You could slip on a wet rock or clay. If you're with friend or a group, or to cross even with strangers, someone's there if it all goes wrong.
I think you called it right.
@@robiam506 I did the G2G in August 2022 myself, going towards Goderich from Guelph, and that detour was a bit of slog with the heavy dirt road after crossing at Balls Bridge. I had heard the G2G bridge at the Auburb Kiosk had been finished & had reopened last summer. Can anyone confirm that?
Hey I helped build the Guelph to Goderich rail trail. We managed to get the trestle bridge preserved.
Wow that is fantastic. Are you referring to Balls Bridge (BTW I was on the G2G today).
I ride the Georgian Trail quite often (since I live in the area), beautiful... yes... road noise... not so great (in sections).
That's right, it does run right next to the road for large parts of it.
We've done all of them on our tandem too, except for the Uxbridge to Lindsay trail and we only done parts of the Brantford to Port Dover trail. Looking forward to your next video.
I saw a couple on a red tandem on the Uxbridge to Lindsay, obviously not you Dave!! Happy holidays.
A quick note on Brantford: The very first time I passed through a decade + back on the Cambridge to Hamilton trek, I went along the south bank of the Grand. I'd thought at the time it was a mistake, it wasn't. Every time since (some twenty or so) except the last time, I got lost trying to get through Brantford. It may appear on the map (I'm old-fashioned, haven't got a GPS device yet) that there's shorter ways through the city core proper on the north shore. My experience is better to take what looks like the longer route on the south side of the river if you want to get past Brantford. The Cambridge to Brantford section is exquisite, albeit some sections last time I did it needed some dressing.
The leg up from Port Dover remains one of my all time favourites, albeit the trail surfacing changes every jurisdiction you pass through, ending with *asphalt paving* into Brantford.
@@stephensaines7100 I've done the Hamilton to Cambridge ride about five times and in all but one of those treks I've gotten lost in Brantford. LOL.
The south side of the river route does seem to be your best bet though.
I've done all but two of the trails And you've now convinced me I must do them. A quick note on the Lyndsey to Uxbridge (I've done it from Peter'bro through to Uxbridge both times). It is with nary an exception, at least in the years past that I did it, a fast trail (well packed and smooth crushed limestone) and it does become monotonous, especially when the swamp is in bloom, even as the foliage is stunning, mile after mile, but this is the trail that convinced me to carry *unopened bottled water*! Do not drink the local water unless you are acclimatized to it! Even in Peter'bro, the town water is poor, and it gets worse as you head west. It's the bracken water and what grows in it. Filters and other methods can't remove the taste. And on that stretch between the few stops (Lindsay and Omemee) there's little to no respite to buy bottled water. Be sure to carry it with you. The trail is almost 0 gradient, so don't begrudge yourself carrying the weight, it's not going to slow you down measurably. Running out of water will! And as Cardiac stated, there's a pathetically low usage of the stretch. Be sure you have a communication device too in case you run into trouble.
Excellent reviews! I'll comment more later.
Quick comment on the Caledon Trailway: It is an absolute gem, albeit harder to access since GO stopped running buses up to Bolton where I had a route figured out to avoid the awful arterial roads to get up to the trail. But once on it, the sense of being in another world is instantly attained, and if you do have some problems, or someone along for a ride with you can't do the distance, there's many places to truncate the trip safely. At the western end, the ride down to Georgetown on roads is very good, especially via Glen Williams, to then attain the GO bus (or at certain times, service is increasing, the GO train) to head towards Toronto or towards Kitchener.
Again, usage is very low on the Trailway, like a lot of trails outside of the urban parts. One wonders how the cost of upkeep is afforded by local authorities?
Some great advice here Stephen.
@@cardiaccyclist7477 Just watched your third episode, and thought I should Google a bit on my claims on water quality in Peterborough and east and west of there as is available to cyclists. Evidently it's a well chronicled issue. I'll try and delve to see how widespread the situation is. The bulk of blame goes to the Otonabee River. I suspect it's more than just the river, it's the basin that the swamp land sits in. I reiterate my claim: Carry bottled water with you, and try and keep it cool.
Further to that, as we all know how important *clean, clear, tasteless water* is doing the distance, it took me years to figure out why my tap water (from Toronto, I'm interested to see what others' experience is) in my drinking flasks also tasted awful, after even say, a couple of hours. It tasted fine when it went in the flask, even expensive flasks (albeit I haven't tried any with a polymer coating on the inner walls), and I now highly suspect it's the reaction of chlorine and/or other additives to tap water reacting with the *claimed to be neutral* flasks.
I'm about as 'green' as anyone can be short of radical, but in the interest of having water that is absolutely needed, and not *make you thirstier than before you drank it*, I carry bottled water constantly, sometimes even in urban areas. Buy the cheap stuff, no need to go 'boutique'. And throw it in the freezer before leaving on a trip, one bottle frozen, one just normally refrigerated. And keep them that way until needed. The frozen one(s) will slowly melt as time goes by. Is it the bottle causing the bad taste? Good question...I've tried refilling the empty bottles with tap water, only to have the same thing happen as with the casks.
On a totally unrelated note, with the demise of the Brampton to Orangeville Railway, and the intention to turn it into a multi-use trail, it will be a gift from...well, us really....that will connect the various trails and trailways together in the GTA, and the Brampton and further south GO hubs. I'm watching that closely. Tying together the Elora to Cataract Trail with the Caledon Trailway and then down to Georgetown GO looks like Manna to me.
Loving your stuff, Cardiac. I think I'm a few years up on you, but other than recovering from a torn shoulder cuff, (bike accident *in the city*) I'm in great shape. We've got to do some kms together.
I too agree ababout the water quality in Peterborough &surrounding areas! WhenI I was little it, visiting my cousins in Peterborough or on Pigeon Lake 55 years ago it was like that and traveling up from Cobourg, I would take my own Lake Ontario water with the chlorine filted out. As a kid, raised in Toronto, I became a Camel, avoiding water at all costs. Why? I figured it out when we were on a well, in Grafton. I loved water there! Yes, the chlorine! We now have a charcoal filter to take the chlorine out and have continued to filter here in Hamilton, where it is much less needed. @@stephensaines7100
I have also rode some of these trails. There’s some good ideas for next year.
You will love them all
I've done four of your top ten (plus a short part of the Omemee) and agree the Georgian Trail and LE&N are excellent. However, my favourite ride remains the Greater Niagara Circle Route which does include a rail trail called the Friendship Trail (Fort Erie to Port Colborne).
I am hoping to do the Caledon Trailway next year and maybe the Uxbridge to Lindsay if I'm lucky.
I am going to have to do your favourite trail next year.
Another lovely video! It made my day!!xxx
❤
Sad that I haven’t cycled any of these. Must make s point to try. Really want to do the Brantford to Port Dover one.
You should, that is a beautiful trail.
@@cardiaccyclist7477 Along with the Cambridge to Paris section, it really is.
Sounds like we need to take a trip north-west to try some of these trials in the summer. Thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome.
Great video! I've done G2G, LE&N, Hamilton to Brantford, and Paris to Cambridge. The others you have mentioned here I really want to check out this summer now.
Sounds great!
Youre so lucky. Ontario for whatever reason wont put the time, effort and of course money in to trails like this up north. Its like ontario ends at parry sound
That really does not seem fair. I would be interested in riding up north if you have recommendations for trails. It may be the case that we have the opportunity to highlight the disparity between the North and South.
Super helpful video Andrew! I've been meaning to take the LE.&N.for a while now and will this Summer because there is lots of camping along the way and on Lake Erie. Thanks for including G2G! I'm a bit miffed that they stuffed the tunnel up near Blythe when they did the conversion! Why? I'm wondering how the fundraising is going on that reclamation project?
I hope to get G2G done this summer too but now I will obviously have to include the Georgian Trail! Sigh, so many trails, so little time!
Do you know what the Dufferin County CP Rail Trail from Orangeville north to Owen Sound is like?
I have not ridden it but I have been advised that it is pretty awful.
Thanks for the heads up Andrew! I'll stow it until I've used up other opportunities and am feeling adventurous! @@cardiaccyclist7477
Not rail trails but fun rides and beside water. . . Welland Canal trail from St Catherine’s to/from Port Colborne, and Niagara Parkway trail from Niagara on the Lake to/from Fort Erie. Also the Friendship trail from Port Colborne to/from Fort Erie, paved the whole way, but lots of cross roads.
I have read about them any times and really want to ride them, next year.
Not Ontario, but have you done the Chelsea to Wakefield, or Tremblant trails? If so, how do they compare? I take the Wakefield one often and love it
I have not. Not yet at least!!
So sad to see ATVs on some of these trails. In Eastern Ontario, they are not allowed on most of the rails-to-trails system, except during winter.
On some of the trails in the west they are not allowed. I have found that it is often the ATV association's and clubs that maintain the trails, so it is a bit of a double edged sword.
Try out Montreal to Ottawa