From the ride
A few frames from the day.
Greenbelt climbs out of Brooklin, quiet farm roads, and a coffee stop in Port Perry. About forty-five minutes from Toronto.
Map, elevation, and the route file to take with you.
Rolling Durham farm country out to Port Perry's historic lakeside downtown.
"One of our favourites, and it's only about forty-five minutes outside Toronto."
This 66 km loop links the village of Brooklin, on the north edge of Whitby, with the lakeside town of Port Perry through the rolling farm country of north Durham. It opens with a genuine climb out of Brooklin, then settles into a rhythm of quiet concession roads, farm homes, and rollers that keep the ride honest without ever tipping into a grind.
Port Perry, the turnaround, is the reason to ride this one. Sitting on the southern tip of Lake Scugog, it has one of the best-preserved Victorian main streets in the region: a designated heritage district of 19th-century storefronts along Queen Street, with cafés, galleries, and a waterfront just off the route. Nexus Coffee is the natural stop before you point back toward Brooklin. The return has one short, unavoidable stretch on Highway 7 with a solid shoulder, then it's back onto quiet farm roads, with a section of dedicated bike path to spin you home into Brooklin.
The reel. Open on Instagram →
Food, refreshments, parking, and local hints. Filter below.
We parked at the Brooklin Community Centre and Library, an easy free lot to roll out from. From here you're straight onto the Greenbelt Trail, where the first climbs come early to get the legs going before the quiet farm roads open up.
Open in Maps →A marked washroom stop early on the route, handy before you settle into the quieter farm-road stretch where facilities are sparse.
The stop. A cyclist-friendly specialty coffee shop on Queen Street with great coffee, baked goods, a side patio, and bike racks. The natural place to regroup and warm up before the return leg.
Open in Maps →Leaving Port Perry there's a short, unavoidable section on Highway 7. It carries more traffic than the rest of the route, but the shoulder is solid. Stay steady and you're quickly back onto quiet farm roads.
The run back into Brooklin includes a section of dedicated, car-free bike path, a calm way to spin out the legs after a hilly day before you roll back to the start.
Back in Brooklin, an independent spot to cap the ride: espresso, smoothies, and frozen yogurt. A local favourite, and a nicer finish than a drive-thru.
Open in Maps →A few frames from the day.