Growing up in Oakville, I practically lived on my bicycle. The area’s smooth bike paths made it safe and easy to ride to my best friend’s house off Fourth Line, head along Rebecca Street to the public pool, or cruise along Lakeshore with my stepfather at sunset to beautiful Bronte Harbour. Even now, the simple act of pedalling brings that same childhood joy rushing back.
Halton Region and surrounding areas are ideal for exploring on two wheels. Whether you’re a casual cyclist, a family looking for weekend outings, or a seasoned road rider, there’s a route for you.
Louisa Mursell, Executive Director of Transportation Options, a non-profit that fosters sustainable transportation, told Look Local that both Burlington and Oakville are officially recognized as bicycle-friendly communities by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition. Each has “a ton of places to stop before or after your ride, or they are a destination to ride to and from,” Mursell says. Many of the roadside paths connect directly to vibrant downtown streets lined with shops, patios, cafés, and ice cream stops – perfect for a mid-ride break.
Mursell, who has worked with local partners and municipalities to update bike routes, recommends the Ontario by Bike website for mapped-out circuits that highlight the charm of each community. Families can opt to enjoy these trails one segment at a time (and leave the full trails to the experts!).
For example, the Burlington Loop covers 25 km of smooth, paved riding through parks like La Salle, Central, Nelson, and past the Historic White Oak Tree Park. The Oakville Loop is a bit longer, with 30 km of paved and 9 km of unpaved terrain. It winds through Downtown Oakville, Kerr Village, stretches of Lakeshore Road, Coronation Park, Bronte Harbour, and Shell Park.
For a more westerly lakeside adventure, head toward Hamilton for the Hamilton Recreation Beach Trail. This 8 km path hugs the Lake Ontario shoreline from the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge to Confederation Park. With sandy beaches, Wild Waterworks waterpark, and lakeside restaurants Barangas and Hutch’s on the Beach, it’s a summer favourite.
Oakville has a great network of biking trails that are family friendly. Check out the Joshua Creek Trail for scenic views, or try the Fourteen Mile Creek Trail which has asphalt and crushed limestone in some sections.
The Centennial Bikeway (16.5 km) and Bronte Creek Park Loop (8 km) feature a mix of woodland settings and open fields. For younger riders or those just easing into cycling, the Millcroft Park Loop in Burlington is a manageable 3.5 km.
For more ambitious cyclists, there’s the HamBur Loop, which circles Burlington Bay and features views of Lake Ontario, Red Hill Valley forests, and the Royal Botanical Gardens. Just be ready for the descent from Hamilton’s York Street bridge – it includes 166 stairs, but there’s a bike trough and landings to make it manageable.
Mursell is personally fond of the area north of the 407, “where all the lovely countryside is, with spectacular views of the Escarpment.” That’s the location of Glenorchy Conservation Area, where former vehicle roads have become peaceful trails. Further north, the village of Carlisle has become a favourite stop for road cyclists, especially for a visit to the charming and bike-friendly Carlisle Cider Company, nestled in a third- generation family orchard.
Venturing west, Waterdown’s North Westlands Trail Loop offers a variety of easy to moderate terrain. Also in the area are the woodsy Kerncliff Park Trails, and
the Joe Sams Park trails along Grindstone Creek. The Dundas Valley Trail System is vast (40 km) and appeals to all skill levels, but a flatter, more leisurely option for families is to branch out to the Ancaster to Brantford Rail Trail.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
You likely already have your favourite neighbourhood bike paths. Burlington’s Spencer Smith Park, for instance, is a great starting point that connects to many of the above-mentioned routes. But when you want to plan a substantial solo ride or full-day family loop, check out these helpful resources:
ontariobybike.ca offers maps, route information, events listings, links to cycling clubs, and more.
Visit halton.ca to order a printed map of cycling routes in Halton or link to them online.
Ride With GPS, an app popular with cyclists, links to various routes, displays maps, and includes a “navigate” feature that gives turn by turn directions as you ride.
