One of the truly great things about Canada is that you are never far from the great outdoors, even in the centre of the largest city. In Canada, snow-capped mountains rear up behind skyscrapers and sparkling lakes lap at urban shores. Nature is calling and the best way to discover it is on two wheels, powering up mountains and whizzing down to remote beaches, gliding along rivers and sidling up to the wildlife. Take a closer look with this pick of the best routes to explore the planet’s second largest country on two wheels.
Toronto touring
Canada’s largest city has plenty to offer novice riders, and a city tour with Toronto Bicycle Tours is the ideal way to get started. Choose the morning Island Tour to cross Lake Ontario to Toronto’s car-free eastern islands, just offshore of the city centre, and you’ll find quiet sandy beaches, tree-lined trails criss-crossing small bridges from island to island and spectacular views of the city skyline. Return to that skyline and get out underneath it with the afternoon Heart of Downtown tour, which takes in the city’s landmarks, such as the CN Tower and St Lawrence Market, from the saddle at a relaxed pace.
Along the water in Montreal
Montreal has more than 350km of cycle paths and you’ll see plenty of locals going about their day by bike here. Saddle up with Fitz and Follwell and you can join them. This laidback local company operates several different tours, the pick of which has to be the Bike the Brewpubs three-hour jaunt, taking in a trio of the city’s best microbreweries. Sip samples of everything from American-style pale ale to Belgian wheat beer as you tour the side streets, laneways and parks of Montreal. Alternatively, pick the popular Montreal Highlights tour for five hours on dedicated bike paths and quiet streets seeing the city’s landmarks, including Mount Royal and the Lachine Canal.
An adventure in Nova Scotia
Nestled on the Atlantic coast, the province of Nova Scotia is home to the Cabot Trail, Winding out from the village of Baddeck, it is rated as one of the world’s best road rides. Decide for yourself on this 300km loop, which follows the coastline (ride anti-clockwise to cycle on the sea-facing side of the road) up to Cape Breton Highlands National Park. There are a few tough ascents, including the climb up Smokey Mountain, but with eagles soaring overhead and whales cruising past offshore you’ll soon forget those tired muscles. And there are fishing villages to visit and plenty of beaches to swim from to boot.
Mountain biking in Vancouver
Prefer going off-road? Vancouver’s North Shore Mountains (aka “The Shore”) are legendary in mountain biking circles as the birthplace of “shore riding” – elevated trails made of interconnecting bridges and logs. Here, in the country’s most mountainous province, you’ll find spectacularly rugged scenery crossed with trails for all abilities. Beginners should stick to the green level and try the 5km Smooth Smoothie with its easy-to-handle bermed switchbacks, while those with more experience – and plenty of guts – will love Mount Swansea with its steep descents and black rated challenges set over 20km.
Into the Rockies from Calgary
The Rocky Mountains may be snow and skier-covered in winter, but come the thaw those same slopes make for some superlative mountain biking. Hire a bike in Banff and pick up the Bow Valley Parkway, surely one of the world’s most beautiful stretches of tarmac. You’ll wind through pine forest surrounded by mountains for 62km to Lake Louise and are more likely to have other cyclists for company than cars. Look out for moose in the shrub meadows, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep on the slopes and elk in the forest. At Lake Louise take the Moraine Lake Highline for a trail ride up onto the shoulder of Mount Temple before descending to Moraine Lake.
To find out more about Canada and book your visit, go to keepexploring.com.au
