In Caledon, Orangeville, and Erin, many who were not already bikers before the pandemic have turned to a wonderful sport that takes advantage of the many beautiful, natural resources these communities have to offer. Biking trails offer not only an endless bounty of outdoor exercise routes, but the possibility to socialize around what is increasingly becoming a communal activity.
Says Tyler Clark, who works behind the scenes as a mechanic at the Caledon Bike Shop in Inglewood, “it’s a lot of local people who come by [The Bike Shop]. The town is really nice, I’ve only been around a few years … I’d say it’s a very close-knit community. It’s definitely cool to see that you can really get to know your customers.”
“The rail trail,” continues Clark, “goes right through Inglewood, so it’s easy to meet up with a group here and head out. There’s a lot of sharing of info about what trails are in good condition, especially in the spring when things are thawing. Then we can share that info with anyone who comes in. One of the reasons we opened the coffee shop was to create more of a destination, where people can have a rest and a coffee and maybe chat if I need to do a quick fix on their bike in the back.”
“Rail trail” is a term for the many bike trails made of either gravel or forest that criss-cross the Caledon, Orangeville, and Erin area. Other “road trails” are on concrete, and as the name indicates, are on paved municipal roads. The different kind of bikes for each trail (mountain, road, hybrid, electric, or “fat”- used for the transition period into winter, are essentially mountain bikes with wide tires to help with traction on snow) are suggested below.
Hybrid bikes, as the name suggests, are ideal for switching between rail trails and pavement, “so great for going around town and visiting shops around Caledon,” comments Clark.
Electric bikes, or eBikes, are also becoming an increasingly popular choice among enthusiasts. “Right now,” Clark adds, “it’s one of our most popular options. It can be charged in any outlet for an hour or two and it’s ready to go again.”
Specializing in eBikes out of Cheltenham is Caledon eBike Rentals. “The beautiful part of eBiking is that it allows every type of rider,” especially beginners, “to experience the joy of biking with very little effort or experience needed,” their website reads.
TRAILS
Albion Hills Conservation Area: Mountain biking with applicable fees. Facilities include camping, washrooms, and showers.
Caledon Trailway/Trans-Canada Trail: Rail trail. Great option for beginners and the casual rider. Riding between Palgrave and Caledon East, comments Jack Lemonof Cycling Elements in Orangeville, “you can go from town to town, so that’s a good start and end point. It also has people to talk to along the way if you need help, and some nice cafes and shops if you need to stop for supplies.” The trail, as mentioned above, also goes through Inglewood to the Cheltenham badlands, with both towns also having places to stop and refresh.
Cataract Elora Trail: Rail trail. “At the moment,” says Jack, “the gravel trail is very scenic, [going] past Belwood Lake and ending in Elora where you can stop for a nice lunch.” It is also a good trail for casual riders. Total length 47 kilometres.
Credit Valley Trail: A 1.4km trail with surface rates as moderate – this means generally hard packed with some loose material. Some short, steep rises with sharper turns. Unmarked obstacles or stairs may be part of the trail. Some experience is recommended.
Dufferin Country Forest: (immediately north of Mansfield Outdoor Centre) – mountain biking. Dufferin Rail Corridor: Follows an old rail line. Not well maintained, and therefore a mountain bike would be the best choice. Connects with a rail trail in Grey County, continuing up to Owen Sound.
Erin: According to Margaret Law, President of the Caledon Cycling Club, “the single-track mountain biking trails in Erin are on private property. At present none of them are owned by the Town of Erin, other than a small road allowance. At the landowners’ request, a person MUST be a paid member of the Caledon Cycling Club to ride or hike these trails. The OPP have been notified of the trespassers and are monitoring these trails on our behalf. Club membership can be purchased on the Caledon Cycling Club website for $40 + $1.50 fee from our service provider.”
Etobicoke Creek Trail: “A lovely mix of pavements and crushed gravel runs through a ravine and past some scenic areas of Brampton many people would otherwise not know about. It’s also ideal for the spring, when conditions are often too mucky to ride through Caledon trails”, says Jack.
Island Lake Conservation Area: A ten-kilometre loop trail around Island Lake. According to lifelong endurance athlete and avid cyclist Julie Rossal, a “very bike friendly for cyclists of all abilities, and great springboard into the Hockley Valley (gravel and paved road for stronger cyclists).
Visit website at: https://cvc.ca/discover -our-parks/island-lake/ for details. The trail includes lovely views, bridges, and boardwalks.”
Mansfield Outdoor Centre: (mountain bike trails) – applicable fees, facilities include snack bar, washrooms, and bike wash.
Mono Cliffs Provincial Park: Some comfort with rougher trail/climbing required but may suit a stronger casual cyclist.
Mono: Mountain biking trails (between Hurontario Street and 1st Line EHS, north of 20th Sideroad, connected into Mono Cliffs Provincial Park). Lemon advises that these trails are “coarser gravel, so it’s better to use a mountain bike.”
Palgrave Conservation Area: Mountain biking trails. Also includes an extensive double track for less experienced rail trail riders who are okay with rolling terrain and rougher surfaces”, says Rossal.
Terra Cotta Conservation Area: A mix of dirt and crushstone soil, hybrid bike recommended.
Apps such as Trailforks (specific to Ontario allows you to switch to different desired biking settings such as rail v. road) and the Ride With GPS (RWGPS) are additional tools for the rider already on the go. Jeff Lemon also suggests that the beginner cyclist start with the easier rail trails as a relatively safe option, and always carry essentials such as water and high-energy granola and protein bars. As a reminder for the safety of both cyclists and pedestrians using the trails, Ontario law requires cyclists to warn pedestrians that they are approaching with a bell, or some way of signaling your presence such as shouting.
Speaking of making noise, “Certainly,” says Amy Darrell, a community fixture and outdoors enthusiast from Belfountain (which Stephan Schneider of Alton’s Lynx & Hare Cycles deems as the “total nexus for all the trails”), “we [in Belfountain] are immersed in [biking culture], motorized wheels or otherwise…cycling is a great way of supporting local business without the excessive noise and taking up of sidewalk and parking space. It’s a great solution to the over-visitation problem we’re facing in our community. It can be really challenging living here, but businesses are supporting things like e-bikes so people can tour in Caledon in a different way and at all levels of fitness, and they can actually see more of the countryside.”
WRITTEN BY: KIRA WRONSKA DORWARD
