I did a 18-day loaded bike tour of Ontario (and a teensy bit of Québec) in June. Many people of asked me about the trip and how I planned for it. If you’re planning a bike trip with a similar itinerary, you might be interested in my very concise trip report. Keep in mind, what works for me, may not work for you.

Itinerary: Muskoka to Montreal and back.

Main trail/route: TransCanada Trail (Lindsay to Campbellford), Waterfront Trail (Belleville to Ontario/Québec border) and La Route Verte (Ontario/Québec border to Montréal.

Navigation: Google Maps – bike option

Specific locations stopped at heading west:

Bracebridge > Gravenhurst > Kirkfield Lift Lock > Lindsay > Peterborough > Hastings > Campbellford > Belleville > Napanee > Odessa > Kingston > Gananoque > Mallorytown Landing (Thousand Islands Parkway) > Brockville > Prescott > Iroquois > Morrisburg > Upper Canada Village > Long Sault Parkway > Cornwall > South Lancaster > Les Cèdres > île Perrot > Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue > Montréal

Specific locations stopped at heading east (return):

Montréal (via train)> Brockville > Gananoque > Kingston (Grass Creek Conservation Area) > Bath > Glenora > Picton > Sandbanks Provincial Park > Wellington > North Shore Provincial Park > Consecon > Brighton > Cobourg > Port Hope > Millbrook > Lindsay > Kirkfield Lift Lock > Bracebridge

Shortest daily distance: Kirkfield Lift Lock to Lindsay – 44km

Longest daily distance: South Lancaster to Montréal – 109km

Approximate daily average: 80km

Days with rain: 3 (Not even full days. We had great weather.)

Nights on an actual bed: 3

Days without cycling: 1

Least favourite sections: 1)TransCanada from Hastings to Campbellford (recently graded, loose, bumpy, giant stones, soft) 2) Waterfront Trail on Hwy 2 from Brockville to Upper Canada Village (almost no shoulder) 3) Port Hope Lindsay via Millbrook on Hwy 10 and 7A (insanely long hills; not a recommended route)

Favourite sections: Thousand Islands Parkway, Long Sault Parkway

Food situation: Stopped daily at grocery stores for lunch and snacks, ate at restaurants for dinner and sometimes breakfast

Bike: Kona Sutra Ltd – front chainring switched to smaller 42t – flat pedals

Rack: Axiom Streamliner for disc brakes

Bags: Arkel T-42, Timbuktu frame bag

Packing list:

Button ups x 3

T-shirt

Fleece

Long-sleeve base layer

Shorts x 2

Long tights

Cycling tights

Gloves

Buff/bandana x 2

Rain jacket and pants

Socks x 2

Underwear x 3

Bras x 2

Flip flops and low-cut trail shoes

Sunglasses

First aid kit, Toilet paper

Sunscreen, Lip balm, Insect repellent

Towel, Toiletries, Hand Sanitizer

Money

Phone/ziploc

Headlamp

Cell phone charging wire, Solar panel

Pen, Notepad, Book

Helmet

Bungee cargo net

Headlight, Taillight

Lock + cable

Mirror

Water bottles x 2

Straps/bungees

Spare tube, Pump, Tire levers, Patch kit, Multi-tool, Extra bolts, Chain lube/rag, patch kit

Knife, Lighter, Electrical tape, Tenacious tape, zip ties, 15m cord

Sleeping Bag, Sleeping pad and inflatable Pillow

Tent and Tarp

Trangia Mini and fork

Purchased mid trip: Cycling gloves – padded and fingerless, tiny bell

Packing regrets: more underwear, wet wipes, a real map, another pair of bike shorts.

Favourite bike hack: Climbing chalk bag – attached to handlebar for easy access phone, water bottle and snacks.

And that’s all, folks! I had a great time getting to know my province better on this trip. I hope that because you’re reading this, you are planning to go on tour as well! See you out there 🙂

J