Lake Simcoe Loop
Flat roads, farmland, and lakeshore. The ride I'd use to make someone fall in love with cycling in Ontario.
Distance
78 km
Elevation
454 m
Ride time
3–4 hr
Difficulty
Easy
Flat roads, farmland, and lakeshore. The ride I'd use to make someone fall in love with cycling in Ontario.
Distance
78 km
Elevation
454 m
Ride time
3–4 hr
Difficulty
Easy
The route
About this ride
If I was trying to convince someone to fall in love with cycling in Ontario, this is the route I'd take them on.
The lake here is cottage country in its original form. Jackson's Point, the natural halfway stop, is often called Ontario's first cottage country: a waterfront village that has drawn summer visitors since a rail line linked it to Toronto in the late 1800s. Today it's a year-round community of harbours, sandy beaches, and cafés, and a genuinely rider-friendly place to pull off for lunch before you turn for home. Between Sutton and Jackson's Point you're rarely far from somewhere to refuel or a length of shoreline worth stopping for.
Stops along the way
6 of 6 showing
0 km · loop start/finish
We parked at the Georgina Ice Palace in Keswick, an arena with a big free lot that makes an easy, no-stress place to leave the car and roll out. Roads to warm up on before the route settles in along the shoreline.
Open in Maps →~39 km · lunch turnaround
My go-to halfway stop. Grab a panini in Jackson's Point, refuel, and enjoy the lakefront before turning for home. Plenty of space to lean the bikes.
Open in Maps →by the river
A lovely coffee stop right on the Black River. Go through the gate to enjoy the tables by the water. Good spot for a break before you reverse the route back toward Lake Simcoe.
Open in Maps →along the lakeshore
Marked on the route toward the east side of the loop. Handy, because reliable washrooms are sparse on the farm-road sections. Top up water where you can before this stretch.
Open in Maps →Lake Rd sections
A bi-directional bike and pedestrian lane along Lake Rd may be in effect. Watch for two-way foot and bike traffic and take it easy through here, especially on busy summer days.
planning
The lakeshore and beach sections draw walkers and beachgoers once the day gets going, so an early start keeps those stretches calm. If mornings aren't your thing, a slightly later roll-out is fine on a route this length, you'll just share the waterfront with a few more people.
From the ride
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