Not every cycling trip starts with the same plan. Some days call for smooth pavement and longer distances. Others are better spent on gravel backroads, forest trails, or quieter routes where the stops become part of the ride.

That range is what makes Lennox & Addington County worth exploring by bike. With more than 1,000 kilometres of routes across paved roads, gravel loops, rail trails, and forest terrain, there are plenty of ways to shape the day around how you want to ride.

This guide highlights different ways to ride through Naturally L&A and routes worth adding to your next day or weekend on the bike.

1. Scenic Paved Road Cycling Routes

Some rides are about pace and rhythm more than technical terrain. The paved road cycling routes through Lennox & Addington County are built for those kinds of days, with 12 marked routes covering more than 600 kilometres across shoreline roads, farmland, river landscapes, and quieter rural communities.

Route character changes depending on where you ride. Routes closer to Lake Ontario and Hay Bay open into longer shoreline stretches and wider views across the water, while central routes move through agricultural landscapes and smaller communities where cafés, village stops, and slower roads become part of the day rather than a break from it.

One route worth starting with is the Newburgh Route in Stone Mills. At 32 kilometres, it works well as a half-day ride while still leaving time to stop along the way. The loop passes through Newburgh, Napanee, and Camden East with a mix of flatter stretches and gentle rolling hills that create variety without being demanding.

It also reflects how many of the county’s paved routes are designed to be ridden. Rather than focusing on uninterrupted distance, the route moves between communities, agricultural landscapes, and quieter roads that encourage riders to slow down and spend time in the places they pass through. Riders looking for more distance can then build out from there using the broader network of marked paved routes across the county.

One of the advantages of riding here is the flexibility to choose routes based on distance, scenery, and how much time you want to spend off the bike. Some routes work well for shorter morning rides while others stretch naturally into full-day outings. Downloadable route maps also make it easier to compare route length, riding style, and landscape before heading out.

If your ideal ride involves smooth pavement, varied scenery, and enough route options to keep returning without repeating the same loop, the paved routes offer an easy way to see different parts of the county at your own pace.

Insider Tips 

• Build your route around where you want to stop, not just how far you want to ride. Many of the paved routes pass through smaller communities where cafés, refuel stops, and short detours can turn a training ride into a full day outside.
• Choose your route based on scenery as much as distance. Shoreline and southern routes tend to feel more open and relaxed, while routes farther inland and north introduce more rolling terrain and changing landscapes over longer distances.

2. Backroad Gravel Cycling Routes

Not every ride needs to follow pavement. The Backroad Cycling Routes through Lennox & Addington County include 10 mapped loops covering 388 kilometres of gravel roads, quieter paved sections, rail trails, and rural connectors that make it easy to build a full day on the bike without constantly crossing back onto busier roads.

One of the strengths of the backroad network is how much terrain riders can cover within a single route. Southern portions of the county move through flatter agricultural areas and historic communities across the Limestone Plain, while routes farther north begin introducing more elevation, exposed rock, forest cover, and the transition into the Canadian Shield landscapes of the Addington Highlands.

Several routes incorporate established cycling corridors including sections of the Cataraqui Trail and The Great Trail, creating longer rides that connect different parts of the landscape without feeling disconnected. One of the more unique route options includes incorporating the Amherst Island Ferry, adding a shoreline and island experience that feels completely different from the inland gravel routes.

These routes create more opportunities to stop along the way. Historic hamlets, quieter wetlands, and changing terrain create natural places to stop before continuing on, while the mix of gravel and lower-traffic roads makes it easy to adjust distance depending on the kind of day you want to have.

For riders who prefer quieter roads, more varied terrain, and routes that leave room for detours and longer stops, the backroad network offers a quieter alternative to the county’s paved cycling routes.

Insider Tips

• Don’t plan gravel routes purely by distance. A 50 km backroad ride can feel very different depending on surface conditions, elevation, and how many stops you make along the way. Download route maps ahead of time and leave room for detours.
• Looking for more intensity? The Naturally L&A Gravel Ride route through Stone Mills offers a good preview of some of the county’s most popular gravel roads.

3. Mountain Biking at L&A Forest Trails

The L&A Forest Trails in Flinton offer 10 kilometres of purpose-built mountain biking trails that are noticeably different from the county’s road and backroad routes. Instead of long straight stretches and steady pacing, the riding becomes more technical, more responsive, and more focused on the trail directly ahead.

The network combines single track, double track, and built trail features with sections that move through mature pine forest and Canadian Shield terrain. Bermed corners, tighter turns, changing elevation, and natural obstacles create enough variety for riders to adjust pace and challenge without needing to commit to a full-day backcountry ride.

One of the advantages of the trail network is how easy it is to fit into a wider cycling day. Riders can spend an hour in the forest or build it into a longer cycling day without needing extensive planning or travel between trail systems. Different experience levels can also ride the same network while choosing sections that match their comfort level and riding style.

These routes differ from the rest of the county’s cycling network. The scenery closes in, the temperature changes under the trees, and the focus shifts from maintaining speed to reading the trail and moving with the terrain.

For riders looking to trade open roads for tighter turns, forest cover, and a more technical ride, the L&A Forest Trails offer a trail-focused alternative within Lennox & Addington County’s cycling network.

Insider Tips:

• Trail conditions can change after heavy rain, so checking conditions before heading out is worth the extra few minutes.
• Ride the forest trails earlier or later in the day during summer. The tree cover keeps temperatures cooler than open roads and changes the feel of the trail completely as the light shifts through the forest.

4. Cycling Events You Can Join

For riders who prefer a planned route or want to enjoy the region alongside other cyclists, Naturally L&A’s cycling events offer a different way to explore. These rides combine scenic routes with local stops, supported itineraries, and experiences that extend beyond the bike itself.

• Discover L&A Ride: The Discover L&A Ride is not a race. It is a guided day on paved roads through some of the county’s most scenic landscapes, with the route designed to highlight the landscapes and communities along the way. Taking place on September 12, 2026, this 56-kilometre route travels through Bath, Gap Park, and Old Hay Bay Church before returning to Bergeron Estate Winery. Along the way, riders can enjoy local food, listen to live music, and spend time in places that encourage slowing down rather than simply riding through. 
• L&A Tall Pines Ride: The Tall Pines Ride offers a different side of cycling in Naturally L&A, shifting north into more rugged and forested terrain. Taking place on October 3, 2026, the 45-kilometre route begins at the county forest in Flinton and combines backroad riding with forest terrain that reflects the geography of the Canadian Shield. Timed for early fall, the route moves through changing landscapes and quieter northern scenery while creating a different rhythm from the county’s paved and southern cycling routes. The combination of trail riding, gravel roads, and supported stops makes this one of the more immersive ways to see the region by bike.

Plan Your Next Trip

Whether you are planning a dedicated cycling trip or adding a ride into a longer weekend away, Lennox & Addington County offers routes that make it easy to shape the day around the experience you are looking for.

Before heading out, explore the Naturally L&A Cycling Routes page for maps, route information, trail details, and upcoming cycling events to help plan your ride.