Bike Train - Cycle Ontario This Summer

NOW AVAILABLE
Bike Train service between Toronto-Ottawa and Montreal with stops at stations with baggage service, is now provided by VIA Rail.  For 2012 schedules and ticket information, please refer to the VIA Rail website at www.viarail.ca/en/bike or call 1-888-842-7245. 

NOTE: Bikes can only be transported on trains listed with baggage cars. During summer months 12 bike racks are available on those trains with baggage cars, with no disassembly or boxing required. During regular season when bike racks are no longer available, bikes can be transported with or without bags, boxes. Upon arrival at the train station, check your bike at the baggage counter.

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FEATURE DESTINATION:  Ontario East
Cycle the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail!

Bike Train service on this route connects cyclists to destinations along Lake Ontario’s waterfront and the St. Lawrence Seaway. These communities offer excellent cycling and a summer full of events. From the rolling hills of Northumberland County, to the bike paths along the shores of the St. Lawrence Parks System, Eastern Ontario offers countless opportunities for recreational and avid cyclists alike.

Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail

The Waterfront Trail follows Lake Ontario from the US border at Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Quebec border near Cornwall. Along it you will find a 900km celebration of nature and culture - where peaceful countryside, small and big cities share a common bond through Lake Ontario.

 Made up of both paved and unpaved off-road paths as well as on road routes, the Waterfront Trail provides cycling routes for everyone from families and recreational cyclists to long-distance road cyclists. The Waterfront Trail links up with La Route Verte at the Quebec border, allowing cyclists to continue on to Montreal and beyond.VIA Rail provides easy access to many sections of the trail.

Resources:

Waterfront Trail website

87 full colour trail maps, free to download

Great Waterfront Trail Adventure July 2012
Amazing End-to-End Bike Tour covering 720 km of Ontario's waterfront and 41 communities over 8 days.

Ontario East Destinations

Cobourg and Northumberland County
Northumberland County, accessible from the Cobourg train station, encompasses the communities of Port Hope,Cobourg, Colbourne and Brighton.The quiet country-side has rolling hills and a proliferation of quiet, undulating paved country roads with peaceful views of Lake Ontario and Rice Lake.
www.northumberlandtourism.com

Prince Edward County
A bending and curving shoreline, vast marshes and wetlands, a bevy of agricultural delights and the largest freshwater dune system in the world at Sandbanks are just some of the natural treasures you will enjoy. Prince Edward County is accessible from Cobourg or Kingston.
www.pec.on.ca
www.winesofontario.org

Kingston
Kingston offers a lively downtown filled with great pubs, restaurants and accommodations.Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Fort Henry and the Rideau Heritage Route. For those looking to cover more ground, use Kingston as the launching ground for trips east to the Loyalist Parkway,west to Prince Edward County, or a loop on the Rideau Heritage Route.
www.tourism.kingstoncanada.com
www.rideauheritageroute.ca

Wolfe Island
Wolfe Island is the largest of the world-renowned Thousand Islands. Located where Lake Ontario ends and the St. Lawrence River begins its flow to the Atlantic, its beautiful sunrises, breath-taking sunsets and spectacular night-time skies are a big part of its charm. The island features 4 signed bike routes on rural country roads. Maps are available online or at the tourist information centre in the town of Marysville. Free ferries run hourly from downtown Kingston so you can stay for the day or weekend.
www.wolfeisland.com

Rideau Heritage Route
Wind your way through charming communities, historic sites and spectacular recreation areas from Kingston to Ottawa. What sets the Rideau area apart from other lakes and river systems is its rich history. The Rideau Canal is the oldest continuously operated canal in North America, the locks work today much as they did when first opened in 1832. Back then, the Rideau was a wilderness of lakes, rivers and swamps. Out of this wilderness sprang up communities, most of which were settled in the 1800's by entrepreneurs purchasing mills, seeking better livelihoods. We welcome you to please explore our history and that of the very beginnings of our great Nation.
www.rideauheritageroute.ca

Brockville and the Thousand Islands
Charming heritage homes and buildings,Canada's first railway tunnel, and beautifully landscaped waterfront parks define Brockville's contribution to the shores of the St. Lawrence River. See the Thousand Islands and cycle the WaterfrontTrail.
www.brockvilletourism.com

Cornwall and the Parks of the St. Lawrence
Cornwall has a well developed waterfront trail with 75 km of off-road paved trails.The path takes cyclists west towards the Parks of the St. Lawrence and the Long Sault Parkway. Discover the SeawayValley, campgrounds, scenic waterside vistas and historic towns. Cycling east will connect you with cycling routes into Quebec.
www.cornwalltourism.com
www.parks.on.ca

Ottawa and Canada's Capital Region
Ottawa and indeed all of Canada's Capital Region is truly a first-class destination for cyclists, boasting one of North America's most extensive recreational pathway networks and Canada's oldest bicycle club, founded in 1882! Hundreds of kilometres of paved pathways meander next to the Rideau Canal, Rideau River and Ottawa River, while just north of downtown, Gatineau Park (www.canadascapital.gc.ca/gatineau) offers challenging mountain bike trails. During Alcatel Sunday Bikedays (www.canadascapital.gc.ca/biking), you can hop on your bike, lace up your inline skates, and explore several scenic streets—they're closed to motor vehicles every Sunday morning from Victoria Day weekend in May to Labour Day in early September. Bring your own bike on VIA Rail's Bike Train from Toronto or Montréal, or choose from among 250 new bikes at RentABike (www.rentabike.ca) and get ready to ride! Major museums and other attractions are easily reached and offer bike parking, often with a place to stow your excess gear. Learn more at www.ottawatourism.ca