There’s certainly no shortage of diverse riding opportunities for the cycling community here in Lennox & Addington. Our countryside offers varying terrain and has a nice mix of asphalt, gravel and rail trail that is enticing to anyone in search of a two-wheeled adventure.
For many years, we’ve been visited by skinny-tired riders from across Ontario and beyond. The L&A County Trails road cycling routes include a 600km network of various asphalt loops, many boasting paved shoulders. They’re very popular with groups and clubs looking to spend a day or two out on our roadways.
The L&A Forest Trails in Flinton have welcomed mountain bikers to Addington Highlands since 2019. The 10km network of old logging roads and single track trail is found in a 126-acre parcel of County-owned managed forest. Over the last few years we’ve been slowly adding additional single track and, despite a large storm in 2022 that devastated a significant section of the forest, we’re pushing through to rehabilitate existing trails and build some new ones too.
Earlier this spring, a brand new self-guided cycling initiative was launched. Dubbed the Naturally L&A Backroad Rides, this 388km network of quiet country roads is perfect for wider tired cyclists that enjoy riding in areas with little vehicular traffic. The 10 loops take you to areas of Lennox & Addington that are well off the beaten path. They incorporate a combination of asphalt and gravel roads, and some of the routes are also along some popular rail trails that cut through L&A.
To launch the new Backroad Rides network, the Lennox & Addington Economic Development Office created a brand new event that proved to be very popular with the riding community. The first annual Naturally L&A Gravel Ride was held in June 2023. In total, 250 cyclists converged on A Good Farm in Centreville and followed “The Hamlet Loop” of the Backroad Rides network to take them through the rural communities of Croydon, Tamworth and Enterprise. Riders seemed genuinely impressed with the quality of the roads and many were keen to learn more about the new Backroad Rides network.
Take a look at this video put together by Steve Burtch, one of the Gravel Ride participants. It provides a very good feel for what cycling our backroads are all about.
If you enjoy cycling events and missed the Gravel Ride, we have another big one coming soon. On September 9th, the 7th annual Discover L&A Ride hits the smooth roads of southern Lennox & Addington. Starting and ending at MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company in Bath, the 56km loop takes participants to some beautiful locations, including an apiary, a historic site, two wineries as well as Loyalist Trading Company, the unique country store with ‘goats on the roof’. After a great day out on the road you can relax with a glass of MacKinnon Brothers brew while listening to live music.
Find out all about each of Lennox & Addington’s cycling opportunities here.
