Haliburton and Highlands East – The riding areas in this part of the province are Crown Lands. Riding is permitted on the trail system centering from Gooderham, Ontario unless marked otherwise. This area is rocky and hilly. Trails range from tight single track to open double track. A favourite riding area for those looking for a challenge. The hosting club is the Haliburton Trail Riders. This area hosts the Corduroy Enduro & Trail Ride and the Soggy Boot Trail Ride.
Madawaska Area – The riding areas in this part of the province are Crown Lands. Riding is permitted on the trail system centering from Madawska, Ontario unless marked otherwise. This area is rocky and hilly. Trails range from tight single track to open double track. A favourite riding area for those looking for a challenge. The hosting club is the Haliburton Trail Riders. This area hosts the Algonquin 2 Day Trail Ride.
Somerville Forest & Victoria Rail Trail – You must have an OFTR membership to ride in this area near Kinmount, Ontario. Access to the VRT is only from Kinmount to Burnt River. Somerville Forest is located off of Monck Road just west of Kinmount. Loam soil and valleys make this a tremendous place to ride for those wanting a challenge. The hosting club is the Haliburton Trail Riders. This area hosts the Corduroy Enduro. Somerville Forest Trail Map
Limerick Forest – This is a 5782-hectare community forest located in eastern Ontario, owned by the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, and is managed by the Forest Manager. The Bytown Motorcycle Association and the OFTR are partners of Limerick Forest. You must be an OFTR member to ride here.
This forest is a great area for all levels of rider, sand base, 70% pine plantation, with little elevation change. It is one to the best riding areas for family, new, beginning, and “just remembering how to ride” riders. It is also great skills building/practice area in a forest plantation, very close to Ottawa. No problem if you only have a half day.
Limerick Forest has about 40km of single track and 40km of two track trail, used by multiple types of users: off-road motorcyclists, ATVs, cyclists, hikers, hunters (best to avoid during deer season), horseback riders and others. The riding areas are broken into two areas 1.5 km apart. There are no trails between areas, you must choose one or the other to ride in, as there is swamp between them, and connected by a gravel road only – see our caution below in using the road. Both areas have good parking, but we ask riders to park at the south parking lot (pit) for safety and privacy reasons. Both parking areas have primitive facilities. The BMA is the hosting club.
Larose Forest – This is the newest BMA riding area, and has come about as a result of a prolonged effort by a small number of BMA members working persistently and diligently with County representatives to gain access to this County owned forest.You must be an OFTR member to ride here.
Larose Forest riding area offers a short technical single track loop in an open pine forest at the start. Approximately half the loop is suitable for novice riders, the other half is suitable for intermediate or above riders. It is generally flat terrain, with a shallow ravine, and some short high banks (like riding on ditch dredging), parts of the trail are rooty and rough, and there are parallel log and cross board bridges. As a small compact area, you will never be more than a couple of kilometers from the parking are. The BMA is the hosting club.
Calabogie Area – This is one of Ontario’s most envied riding areas! Every year riders come from Southern Ontario, Quebec, New England states, and occasionally from even further to experience the annual Calabogie Boogie.
The Calabogie riding area is quite large, constituting approximately 5,000 – 10,000 square km. Trails may be found on both public (Ontario crown) and private lands in the three counties of Lanark, Renfrew and Frontenac and is generally:
- West of highway 511, South of highway 508, north of highway 509 and East of Ompah
Some of the major riding landmarks/trail systems may be found as follows
- K&P trail – 45° 7’41.19″N, 76°41’18.55″W
- 77 Snowmobile trail –hydro tower line – 45° 8’41.00″N, 76°48’17.69″W
- Bumpas hydro tower line – 45°12’53.22″N, 76°42’17.68″W
- Triple tower hydro line – 45° 6’2.43″N, 76°40’56.28″W
- Three beaver pond logging roads – 45°12’53.22″N, 76°42’17.68″W
- Perch Lake – 45° 6’24.23″N, 76°43’50.71″W
- Levant Mountain – 45° 1’59.45″N, 76°40’6.01″W
- M&M/East of 511
- Mountain Chute Express – 45° 7’58.22″N, 76°52’38.12″W
- Evergreen Mountain – 45° 8’18.52″N, 76°55’6.54″W
Parking Areas
- Highway 580 (North Madawaska) pit – 45°15’16.98″N, 76°51’1.72″W to ride the Newfie Autoban
- Mountain Chute Dam (top of hill) – 45°11’32.40″N, 76°54’14.59″W to ride Evergreen Mountain
- Highland Golf Course – 45°16’28.56″N, 76°43’45.45″W to ride #77 and K&P trails
- Flower Station – 45° 9’27.70″N, 76°41’14.01″W to ride #77, Perch Lake, Triple Tower, Three Beaver Pond, Bumpas trails
- Levant Station – 45° 2’35.37″N, 76°42’7.51″W to ride Levant Mountain, Triple Tower
- M&M – 45°11’33.02″N, 76°34’59.82″W to ride M&M, Campbell Rd, Triple Tower, and East of 511
What are the various trails types/riding levels?
- Forest access Rd, Beginner/novice
- Old rail bed, Beginner/novice
- 4 wheeler and jeep trails, Beginner – expert
- Logging roads, Beginner – intermediate
- Single track, Beginner – expert
What kind of terrain can I expect to encounter?
- Rock, rock and more rock
- Water
- Mud
- Pine forest loam
- Elevation (the most in Ontario
Welland County – This area is hosted by the Niagara Timberline Riders club. The description of the conditions and allowable riding area will be posted soon.
Turkey Point Riding Area – This area is hosted by the Lynn Valley Dirt Riders Club. The description of the conditions and allowable riding area will be posted soon. This area hosts the Beagle Bash Enduro and Trail Ride.
Kitchener Waterloo Area – This area is hosted by the Kitchener Waterloo Cycle Sport Association. The KWCSA has their own riding area but you must be a member to access it. This club hosts the Anthill Classic XC race.
Oshawa / Whitby Area – This area is hosted by the Oshawa Competition Motorcycle Club. OCMC has their own motocross track on Brock Rd north of the 407. You must be a full OCMC member to take part in their Tuesday Night MX Series.