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Great Ontario Roads
Forks of The Credit Road
Forks Of The Credit Road is an amazing motorcycle road. From Hwy 10 it rollicks up and down, crests an S-curve and carves its way through the Devil's Pulpit escarpment to meet up with the Credit River. Crossing a bridge, the road snaps around a tight switchback as it climbs, and then twists along until it reaches the village of Belfountain.
Belfountain was originally named McCurdy's Village after "Grize" McCurdy who owned silver mines in the area. Fresh baked goods, deli meats and cheeses make the Belfountain Village Store a popular weekend hangout for motorcyclists. Prior to 1888 the store was originally the site of the Glover Tavern, much to the chagrin of old man McCurdy who was opposed to drinking establishments.
The tight hilly corners of the side road leading north to the town of Cataract are highly entertaining, with a few rough and sandy spots. The two buildings on the right as you turn onto Cataract Rd provide natural spring water for Canada Dry brand soda pop. Dating from 1855, the Cataract Inn is one of the few remaining buildings of the era. Experimental electric power lit the streets of Cataract in 1899, thanks to John Deagle who converted his grist mill into a power plant.
These amazing roads and historic sites come with a price. Weekend visitors clog the area in the summer afternoons. Autumn colours bring even more hordes of tourists. The best time to come is in the morning or during the week. The other thing to watch out for is radar. Residents of the posh mansions in the area get tired of bikes screaming past all day long and the Ontario Provincial Police are often hiding in the bushes to keep a lid on the festivities.
Incredible roads, thick forests, the Credit River, bike hangout and a bit of history.
Excellent road surface except 4th Line West, just north of Forks Of The Credit Rd. Frequent radar enforcement.
How to get there:
This is not meant to stifle the urge to explore, but if you follow this route you won't get lost.
From Hwy 10 north of Brampton, turn left on Forks Of The Credit Rd
West on Forks Of The Credit Rd to the village of Belfountain
At the stop sign in Belfountain you have a choice:
Either continue straight on Mississauga Rd/4th Line to join the Creditview Rd tour
Or, turn right on Bush St/Rd 11. The Belfountain Village Store is here, and you can follow the curves of Bush St to the village of Erin
Optional side trip to Cataract:
Prior to reaching Belfountain, 4th Line West intersects with Forks Of The Credit Road
Turn left from Forks Of the Credit Rd if you are approaching from Belfountain, at the Forks Of The Credit Provincial Park sign, onto 4th Line West
North on 4th Line West to Cataract Rd
Turn right on Cataract Rd
East on Cataract Rd to village of Cataract. At the Cataract Inn, Cataract Rd curves to the left and turns into 3rd Line West, headed north
North on 3rd Line West to Hwy 24
Glen Williams-Terra Cotta-Inglewood
Rendezvous at the Copper Kettle Pub in Glen Williams, and then depart the Main Street artist district into a world of pavement artistry. At Terra Cotta, Winston Churchill curves to the right to become King Street, which is semi-residential but features wonderful swooping curves. King Street is a fine way to traverse east-west above the suburban sprawl of Toronto, though for our purposes we head north up Creditview Road. After a quick left-right jog through a leafy glade, Olde Baseline Road offers a photogenic stretch of red badlands to the east, or a link via Mississauga Road to the Forks Of The Credit tour.
How to get there
From Glen Williams at the intersection with Prince St, head north on Main St / 22 Sideroad
Turn left on Winston Churchill Blvd / Rd 19
North on Winston Churchill Blvd / Rd 19 to Terra Cotta
At Terra Cotta, the road curves right and becomes King St
East on King St to Creditview Rd
Turn left on Creditview Rd
North on Creditview Rd, through the town of Cheltenham to 4-way stop at Olde Baseline Rd
Either turn right on Olde Base Line Rd and go east over rolling hills to visit the badlands, eventually arriving at Hwy 10, or turn left and go west to Mississauga Rd. Mississauga Rd north (right turn) will take you up to Belfountain and the Forks Of The Credit Road tour
Hockley Road
Airport Rd makes a spectacular, curving descent into the Hockley Valley, which is cut deeply by the Nottawasaga River. Beware of gravel at the entrance to Hockley Rd.
Hockley Rd traces the river as it winds its way west to the town of Orangeville. Smooth pavement, fast S-curves, alternating forest and meadow, and an interesting stretch of deep red badlands make this a great road to take at any pace.
Road 8 runs parallel to Hockley Road, east of the town of Camilla. Camilla was named in 1860 after the granddaughter of one Joseph Howard who settled in the area. She must have been a biker babe because Rd 8 offers the motorcyclist rolling sweepers and a great view as it descends to meet Airport Rd once again.
At Mono Centre the road to the left at the stop sign looks promising but it is a dead end, terminating at a hiking trail.
A bit of gravel at the Airport Rd/Hockley Rd intersection, but otherwise very good pavement. Beware of newly increased radar patrols on Hockley Rd.
How to get there:
This is not meant to stifle the urge to explore, but if you follow this route you won't get lost.
Follow Airport Rd 7 north from Toronto
After the intersection with Hwy 9, Airport Rd 7 changes to Rd 18
Continue north on Rd 18 to Hockley Rd
Turn left on Hockley Rd 7
West on Hockley Rd to Hwy 10/24 intersection (traffic lights)
Turn right on Hwy 10/24
North on Hwy 10/24 to town of Camilla and Rd 8 intersection
Turn right on Rd 8
East on Rd 8 to town of Mono Centre
Turn right at Mono Centre stop sign and continue east on Rd 8 to Airport Rd 18
Speyside Backroads
"It's worth the drive to Acton" -- so goes the slogan of the Olde Hide House located in Acton. Check out the fashions at this leather mecca, and then explore as the road twists through rocky outcroppings at Limehouse. Early settlers in Ontario obtained cement from Limehouse, and ruins of the lime kilns and quarry are accessible via a short walk along the Bruce Trail here.
Sideroad 15 through Speyside features random, tight left-right turns through pasture lands. Beware of the last westbound left-right transition just before Guelph Line; the inside corner of the right turn has a small dip that fills with slippery fine sand. Take an outside line but beware of oncoming vehicles cutting the corner.
Sections of the route between Guelph Line and Trafalgar Rd were repaved in 2000, and the new surface is not as grippy as the old.
Limestone outcroppings, winding roads, S-curves, and leathers.
Good pavement all around, except for a sandy corner on 15th Sideroad.
How to get there
This is not meant to stifle the urge to explore, but if you follow this route you won't get lost.
From Acton, go south on Hwy 25 to Rd 43 intersection
Turn left on Rd 43
East on Rd 43, through Limehouse to Hwy 7
Turn right on Hwy 7
South on Hwy 7 to Trafalgar Rd 3
Go straight on Trafalgar Rd 3 (Hwy 7 curves around to the left, you go straight)
South on Trafalgar Rd to 15th Sideroad
Turn right on 15th Sideroad
West on 15th Sideroad, through Hwy 25 intersection at Speyside gas station, onwards to Guelph Line 1
Turn left on Guelph Line 1
South on Guelph Line 1 to Derry Rd 25. Here you can continue on the Rattlesnake Point tour
Rattlesnake Point
South of the town of Milton (named after the famous poet in 1837), you will find a treasure trove of motorcycle roads on which to wax poetic. Appleby Line, Walkers Line, Guelph Line and Cedar Springs Road squiggle towards Derry Road 25 and Britannia Rd 6 like ants to a picnic.
The switchback on Appleby Line north of Derry Rd 25 is coiled like a rattlesnake, and it'll strike if you don't pay heed to the gravel in the corners. It leads to the Rattlesnake Point conservation area, and there's a good view from the top of the hill before the trees get too thick in spring or after they thin out in the fall.
Sideroads 2 and 4 wind between Walkers Line and Appleby Line. SR#2 passes through a leafy green canopy of overhanging trees, SR#4 through meadows and rural homes, and both span Bronte Creek. Westbound is the best direction for Sideroad 4 in order to see the imposing cliffs of Mount Nemo as you ascend into the foothills.
The town of Lowville on Guelph Line is a popular destination, although the trendy brick pedestrian crossings may prove slippery in the rain for bikes.
Lots of curves, cedar forests, different roads to try.
Mostly good pavement. Loose gravel on Appleby Line north of Derry, and at the Tremaine/Derry intersection. Slippery-looking brick strips in Lowville.
How to get there
This is not meant to stifle the urge to explore, but if you follow this route you won't get lost.
From Hwy 401 at Mississauga, exit at Mississauga Rd
North on Mississauga Rd to Derry Rd 5 intersection
Turn left on Derry Rd 5
West on Derry Rd 5 (eventually changes to Derry Rd 25) to Tremaine Rd 22
Turn right on Tremaine Rd 22
North on Tremaine Rd 22 to 14 Sideroad intersection (look for palatial white horse barn)
Turn left on 14 Sideroad
West on 14 Sideroad as it climbs and winds around to Appleby Line intersection (if you're coming from the other direction, there is no street sign for 14 Sideroad; it's the first road north of Rattlesnake Point on your right)
Turn left on Appleby Line
South on Appleby Line, past Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area, down through switchback to Derry Rd 25
Turn right on Derry Rd 25 and take one of these three options:
Option 1 (short route):
West on Derry Rd 25 to Walkers Line
Turn left on Walker's Line
South on Walker's Line to Britannia Rd 6
Turn left on Britannia Rd 6
East on Britannia Rd 6 back to Mississauga
Option 2 (long route, bypass Lowville):
West on Derry Rd 25, past Walkers Line and Twiss Rd, to stop sign at McNiven Rd
Turn left on McNiven Rd
South on McNiven Rd to Kilbride St intersection (1st stop sign; no street name signs)
Turn left on Kilbride St
East on Kilbride St to Cedar Springs Rd, at the corner with the Kilbride Country Store
Turn right on Cedar Springs Rd
South on Cedar Springs Rd to Colling Rd on your left (just past the yellow vee markings painted on the road)
Turn left on Colling Rd
East on Colling Rd to Guelph Line 1. Mount Nemo hiking area is in front of you
Turn left on Guelph Line 1
North on Guelph Line 1 to Britannia Rd 6
Turn right on Britannia Rd 6
East on Britannia Rd 6 back to Mississauga
Option 3 (through Lowville):
West on Derry Rd 25, past Walkers Line to Guelph Line 1 intersection
Turn left on Guelph Line 1
South on Guelph Line 1, through Lowville to Britannia Rd 6
Turn left on Britannia Rd 6
East on Britannia Rd 6 back to Mississauga
Option 4 (entertaining add-on to Options 1-3):
East on Britannia Rd 6 to Walkers Line (note with Option 1 you are already on Walkers Line, so skip this step and the next one)
Turn right on Walkers Line (left turn is continuation of Britannia Rd 6)
South on Walkers Line along foot of Mount Nemo to 2nd Sideroad stop sign (Y-intersection, no street sign)
Turn left on 2nd Sideroad (right turn is continuation of Walkers Line)
East on 2nd Sideroad to Appleby Line
Turn left on Appleby Line
North on Appleby Line to 4th Sideroad
Turn left on 4th Sideroad
West on 4th Sideroad back to Walkers Line and Mount Nemo
Turn right on Walkers Line
North on Walkers Line, past first intersection with Britannia Rd 6 on your left, down steep hill to intersection with Britannia Rd 6 on your right (it jogs)
Turn right on Britannia Rd 6 East on Britannia Rd 6 back to Mississauga
Snake Road
What more is there to say about a road named "Snake", other than it is aptly named and uncoils itself through a leafy green corridor between Waterdown and Dundas? The road surface is excellent but stay off the double yellow line that masks slippery tar strips. (Almost lowsided myself there once.)
Waterdown takes its name quite literally from the way the water of Grindstone Creek flows down the escarpment at Great Falls. Captain Thomas Coote was the local duck hunter and in 1797 he laid out a town adjacent to his favourite marsh, naming it Coote's Paradise. The marsh still goes by this moniker but the modern day town is called Dundas.
Sportbikes are particularly fond of this ribbon of pavement.
Excellent surface but stay off the slippery centre line
How to get there
This is not meant to stifle the urge to explore, but if you follow this route you won't get lost.
From Burlington, go west on Hwy 5/Dundas St to Main St intersection in Waterdown
Turn left on Main St
South on Main St, through residential area to Snake Rd/Thomson Dr intersection
Turn left on Snake Rd
South on Snake Rd, over railway bridge to twisty bits, and descend to Hillsdale Ave intersection
Turn right on Hillsdale Ave
Southwest on Hillsdale Ave to Plains Rd West
Turn right on Plains Rd West
West on Plains Rd West to Hwy 6
Turn right on Hwy 6
North on Hwy 6 to York Rd
Turn left on York Rd
Southwest on York Rd to the town of Dundas
New Dundee-Huron Road
If you're looking for a way to bypass Kitchener/Waterloo, this is it. Huron Road is officially a Heritage Highway. It was built in 1828 pioneer days, long before the era of bulldozers made roads flat and straight. It serves up a combination of rolling hills, occasional tight curves and pastoral scenery, with barns and farm life built close to the roadside. Until recently, the north end of the road was called Punkeydoodles Corners but it was changed to Punkeydoodle Avenue after people kept stealing the amusing road sign!
Excellent pavement near Kitchener. Watch out for farm machinery on the road, and a speed trap and gravel at the Haysville bridge.
Something for everybody -- cruisers, tourers and sportbikes.
How to get there
This is not meant to stifle the urge to explore, but if you follow this route you won't get lost.
From Hwy 401 just west of Kitchener, exit at Homer Watson Blvd
North on Homer Watson Blvd to first intersection (traffic lights)
Turn left on New Dundee Rd 12
West on New Dundee Rd 12 to Westmount Rd 50 intersection (traffic lights)
Turn right on Westmount Rd 50
North on Westmount Rd 50 to Huron Rd 2 intersection
Turn left on Huron Rd 2
After Haysville, and straight through the Rd 3 intersection, turn right (north) to avoid the dirt road and continue along Huron Rd 2 to Punkeydoodles Corners
Huron Rd 2 ends at Hwy 7, just east of Shakespeare
Cambridge-Paris Backroads
Ahh, what could be more romantic than Paris in springtime - zee girls, zee wine, zee rumbling V-twins? In fact, Paris Ontario is not named after its famous French counterpart. The town's 1829 founder, Hiram Capron, named it after the gypsum deposits found nearby. Gypsum is also known as...plaster of Paris. How dull.
Fortunately the roads in the area are anything but dull. Road 75, Road 28 and East River Road dish up smooth pavement, hills, rolling vistas, picturesque farms and a generally rollicking good time. In autumn, cruisers and sportbikes alike can revel in colourful goldenrod, sumac, and big maple and elm trees. The intersection of East River Rd and Blue Lake Rd is the only fly in the ointment - it is unsigned and strewn with gravel.
The town of Cambridge (named after...you guessed it, a flour mill) is the best way to get to these great roads. Exit via Hwy 401 and pass by the impressive stone buildings in the downtown district.
Look up picturesque in the dictionary and you'll find a picture of these roads.
Nice and smooth, except for gravel at unmarked corner of East River Rd and Blue Lake Rd.
How to get there
This is not meant to stifle the urge to explore, but if you follow this route you won't get lost.
From Hwy 401 at Cambridge, go south on Hwy 24/Hespeler Rd
South on Hwy 24/Hespeler Rd as it turns into Water St at Hwy 8
South on Water St to Concession St/Rd 97
Turn right on Concession St/Rd 97
West on Concession St as it turns into Cedar St/Rd 97 at the bridge
West on Cedar St/Rd 97 to St. Andrews St/Rd 75
Turn left on St. Andrews St/Rd 75
South on St. Andrews St/Rd 75 to Glen Morris Rd 28
Turn left on Glen Morris Rd 28
East on Glen Morris Rd 28 to East River Rd 14
Turn right on East River Rd 14
South on East River Rd 14 to Blue Lake Rd 35
Turn left on Blue Lake Rd 35
East on Blue Lake Rd 35 as it crosses Hwy 24 and becomes Hwy 5, to St. George Rd 13
Turn right on St. George Rd 13
South on St. George Rd 13 to Harrisburg Rd 33
Turn left on Harrisburg Rd 33
Southeast on Harrisburg Rd 33 to Governor's Rd 99
East on Governor's Rd leads to the famous Sulphur Springs Rd.
Ridge Road
On a clear day atop the west end of Ridge Rd you can see the entire Golden Horseshoe stretching around the lake from Hamilton, past Burlington and Oakville to Toronto. It is difficult to keep your eyes off the view and fortunately there are a couple of pullouts where you can park it. For a few kilometres the road winds along the edge of the escarpment. Then the trees obscure the view and the road straightens away from the precipice. Just as you are about to snooze off at the controls, past the sign to Quarry Rd, your patience is rewarded with a magnificent fast sweeper (watch for hikers). At Rd 12 into Grimsby the road jogs and there are a few more nice twisties before it uncoils down Rd 514 into Beamsville. There are several places along the ride where you can turn and go down the hill on entertaining, steeply graded switchback roads. For example, if headed east on Ridge Rd turn left at McNeily Hill and ride down the escarpment. Turn right at Hwy 8 and follow to Fifty Rd. Turn right and ride back up the escarpment to rejoin Ridge Rd.
Sweeping vistas and sweeping curves, with a bit of a flat drone in the middle
Fresh pavement towards the west, somewhat rough to the east. Minimal traffic.
How to get there
This is not meant to stifle the urge to explore, but if you follow this route you won't get lost.
From the QEW at Stoney Creek, exit at Centennial Parkway/Rd 20
South on Centennial Parkway as it climbs the mountain. Near the top, the Parkway curves right and Ridge Rd is a sharp left turn (it is now marked in both directions and there is a proper left turn lane).
Turn left on Ridge Rd
East on Ridge Rd to Mountain Rd 12 at Grimsby
Turn left on Mountain Rd 12
Almost immediately turn right back onto Ridge Rd 79
East on Ridge Rd; east of Bartlett Ave/Rd 714 it turns into Rd 14
East on Ridge Rd 14 to the Thirty Rd 514 turnoff
Turn left on Thirty Rd 514
Descend on Thirty Rd 514 to Main St/Rd 81 where a right turn links you up with the Jordan-St. Catharines Area route
Buckhorn Road - Highway 507
In Canada, Britain and several other places around the world, the Conservative political party is also known as the Tory party. Our journey begins in Tory Hill, halfway between Bancroft and Haliburton on Hwy 121. In 1885, the postmaster was one of only two Tory supporters in a staunchly Liberal settlement. Since the postmaster was often called upon to name a new town he joked that it should be called Tory Hill since he lived on top of a nearby hill. An election campaign was underway and the Liberal who was canvassing door to door declared that he "had yet to meet a righteous man in that area", so they must indeed be a bunch of Tories. With both sides in agreement, the name Tory Hill became official!
Leaving colourful politics behind, Hwy 121 is an excellent ribbon of pavement leading from Tory Hill towards Haliburton. Traffic can be heavy on weekends but the picturesque tight bends around Loon Lake are worthwhile at any pace. A few kilometres before Haliburton, turn left onto Buckhorn Lake Road 3. Essentially a cottage access route, there is much less traffic and lots of entertaining twisties as you loop back to Hwy 503.
At Hwy 503, jog left and then right onto Hwy 507 at Gooderham. This town was named in 1873 after the founder of the Gooderham and Worts distillery made a large donation to build a local church, although local legend says it was named in honour of a drunken bash resulting from the donation of free whisky to local hotels.
In the mid-1800's it took the government a decade to build what is now Hwy 507, hacking through forbidding granite outcroppings, endless swamps and bush. Soil for farming was meagre and of all the colonization roads, this was one of the least used. In fact, the original corduroy log roadbed still lies under the winding pavement. To this day the population is very sparse. The area seems popular with Harleys and other cruisers, perhaps drawn by the deep tradition behind the route.
Best curves are north of Tory Hill/Gooderham. Hwy 507 is a good, winding route past lakes and trees.
Adequate surface. Reports of oil spilled on a corner May 2002.
How to get there
This is not meant to stifle the urge to explore, but if you follow this route you won't get lost.
From Tory Hill head north on Hwy 121 to Buckhorn Lake Rd 3
Turn left on Buckhorn Lake Rd 3
Southwest on Buckhorn Lake Rd 3 to Hwy 503
Turn left on Hwy 503
East on Hwy 503 a short distance to Hwy 507
Turn right on Hwy 507
South on Hwy 507 to Hwy 36. Here you can continue south to Peterborough or west to Bobcaygeon
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