LOCATION: BANCROFT
ROUTE DISTANCE: 75KM
COMPLETION TIME: 3-4H
This route takes us into the heart of Ontario Cottage Country, starting just outside of Silent Lake Provincial Park. This ride, which is mostly paved, will take you along some very scenic areas in the north part of Hastings Township. You will climb several large hills (with a big one on Dynamo Rd.) and pass by many interesting waterways. This circular route takes you into Bancroft before you return to the starting point. This is a great beginner friendly ride with minimal challenges.
Dynamo & Loop Road to Highland Grove
This is a mostly uphill stretch with a significant climb along one section of Loop Road. The bugs can be pretty bad during the summer, so it can be a challenge to maintain enough speed without them pestering you. For the most part, this part of the ride is enclosed with trees on either side of you. During this trip, the roads were mostly quiet.
St. Baptiste Road into Bancroft
This is probably the most scenic part of your ride. It is mostly flat with little elevation challenge. You will enjoy some great views of York River as you make your way to Bancroft. There are several public areas to pull over, and if you’ve brought a fishing rod, there are a few nice access points along this road. The road gets a little bit busier on Baptiste, and it’s a bit narrow in spots so keep your head up.
Bancroft
You will come to a T junction in Bancroft at the end of Baptiste. You can either choose to ride down the Hastings Heritage Rail Trail (which can take you all the way south to the Trenton area… quite a long way off) or you can choose to take Highway 62 south. If you’re taking Highway 62, note that it is extremely busy during the summer months. The road is not particularly wide, and you will be in close contact with cars. There are many spots to stop for food in Bancroft, and you’ll find a few chip trucks here as well. If you wish to detour a little bit, Eagles Nest Park is known to have a great view of the area.
Return via Monck Road
Leaving Bancroft, you can take Highway 28 south back to Silent Lake; however, there is a great stretch of road called Monck that includes some gravel. This section is about 10km in length, and while not all gravel, it’s pretty much the only taste you will get on this ride. For cottage country, it’s surprising how much of the area is paved. There are a couple of marshy, low-lying areas along this road that can be bad for mosquitoes. There was also some light flooding when passing through during the summer. Before you end at Hwy 118, you will pass through the small community of Cardiff.
McGillivary Rd.
After crossing Hwy 118, you will be on McGillivary Road. While not long, there are a few good photo ops as you cross Paudash Lake. You’ll see many cottages and people enjoying the water as you go over the bridge. At the end of this road, you will connect to Highway 28 and be near the end of the ride, continuing back to Dynamo Road.
Monck Road
"The Monck Road was a dual-purpose road that established colonization and military routes east from Lake Couchiching to the junction of the Hastings and Mississippi colonization roads at what is now Bancroft. The Monck Road was surveyed through 1864 and 1865. Construction began the following year under Chief Engineer and was completed seven years later in 1873. It was named in honour of Charles Stanley Monck, who was Governor General of Canada at that time.It is one of the oldest provincial roads north of Toronto."
-via wikipedia
CHALLENGES
BUGS:
Being based in cottage country the bugs are pretty bad along this route even on the paved sections. It's best to bring some bug spray, ride in the fall, or JUST KEEP MOVIN'.
DRIVERS:
You will experience some heavy traffic along certain portions of this route such as Highway 28 and within the town of Bancroft. Some of the roads are quite narrow with very little shoulder so be cautious.
The starting point of this ride is located Dynamo and Estates road, approximately 1km north of Silent Lake.
Parking: Free along the shoulder of Dynamo road. It is quite large and it appears many people park in this location.
Public Transit: You will need to drive to this starting location.
The bugs can be quite bad along this route. Wear bug spray, cover up, or do this route in the fall.
During the summer months traffic on the roadways can be quite bad.
This is a mostly paved route.
Bancroft is the main location for food/drink.
Rider Skill Level: Beginner
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Terms of Use: Like all routes on Explore on Bike, if you decide to bike this route, do so at your own risk. Check current local weather, conditions, and closures before starting. Respect all land use rules, carry proper equipment, and follow the leave-no-trace principles This information is a planning resource, so do your own research. Despite careful preparation, we can't guarantee 100% accuracy or assume liability for injuries, property damage, or other issues that may occur while cycling this route.