Simcoe County Cycling: Rural Roads, Rail Trails & Rolling Farmland
Simcoe County is the kind of cycling territory that does not make flashy tourism brochures but earns the loyalty of every rider who discovers it. Stretching from the Lake Simcoe shoreline west to the Niagara Escarpment and south from Georgian Bay into the rolling farmland of Clearview and Essa townships, the county offers a dense grid of quiet roads, a handful of dedicated rail trails, and enough small towns to keep your cafe stops interesting.
Key Towns
Stayner
Stayner sits in the heart of Clearview Township, surrounded by some of the best cycling terrain in the county. The town is small, genuine, and increasingly popular as a base for riders exploring the back roads between the escarpment and Georgian Bay. County roads radiating from Stayner pass through open farmland with long sightlines, moderate traffic, and the kind of gentle rolling topography that keeps a ride interesting without grinding you down. Stayner has the essentials: a grocery store, a couple of restaurants, and gas stations for topping up water bottles.
Barrie
Barrie is the county seat and largest city in the region. Its waterfront trail along Kempenfelt Bay provides a paved, family-friendly riding experience with views across Lake Simcoe. The city has been expanding its cycling network, with protected lanes on several major routes and connections to trails heading north. For touring cyclists, Barrie is a practical resupply point with full services including multiple bike shops. It is also a GO Transit hub, making it accessible from Toronto without a car.
Orillia
Orillia marks the northeastern corner of Simcoe County, sitting between Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching. The Lightfoot Trail circles Lake Couchiching and connects to the broader trail network. Orillia's downtown has a lively restaurant and arts scene. The roads east toward the Trent-Severn Waterway offer flat riding along canal corridors, while routes south and west roll through classic Ontario farm country.
Creemore and Alliston
Creemore is a small village with outsized charm. Known for its brewery, heritage main street, and arts community, it sits in a shallow valley near the escarpment. The roads around Creemore feature some of the most scenic riding in the county: rolling hills, stone fences, old barns, and mature hardwood trees lining the roadsides. Alliston, south of Creemore, is a larger town set in the broad, flat farmland of the Nottawasaga River valley. It provides reliable services and marks the southern gateway to the more interesting terrain further north.
The North Simcoe Rail Trail
The North Simcoe Rail Trail is the region's primary off-road cycling corridor. Following a former railway line, it connects communities in the northern part of the county through a mix of farmland and forest. The surface is packed gravel and crushed stone, suitable for hybrid and gravel bikes. The grade is gentle, as you would expect from a rail trail, and the route provides a car-free alternative to the busier county roads. It works well as a standalone ride or as part of a larger loop that mixes trail and road sections.
Rural County Roads
The real draw of Simcoe County cycling is the road network itself. The county maintains an extensive grid of paved and semi-paved roads that criss-cross the agricultural landscape. Many of these roads carry very little traffic, particularly the numbered concession roads and sideroads that connect the main county routes. A rider can spend an entire day on roads where the only company is the occasional farm truck.
The best riding territory lies in the Clearview and Springwater township areas between Stayner, Creemore, and Barrie. Here the terrain rolls steadily with short climbs and descents through open fields and patches of forest. The Simcoe County cycling loop route covers some of the finest roads in this area.
Terrain
Simcoe County's terrain ranges from dead flat in the river valleys to genuinely hilly along the Niagara Escarpment on the western border. Most of the interior farmland falls somewhere in between: gently rolling, with climbs of 20 to 40 metres that come and go at a comfortable rhythm. The escarpment itself provides the steepest grades, with roads climbing 100 metres or more over short distances near Duntroon, Singhampton, and the Nottawasaga Bluffs.
Road surfaces are generally good on the main county roads. Some of the more remote concession roads have rougher pavement or gravel sections. Check your route in advance if you are on road tires narrower than 28mm.
Best Seasons
May through October is the full riding window. June offers long days and green fields without the peak-summer heat. July and August are warm and excellent for longer rides if you start early in the morning. September is outstanding, with harvest activity in the fields, cooler air, and the beginning of fall colour. October brings peak autumn foliage, especially along the escarpment edges, though temperatures drop and days shorten noticeably. The county's trails and outdoor recreation page provides current conditions and seasonal updates.
Getting There and Around
Barrie is roughly 100 kilometres north of Toronto and accessible by GO Transit, which allows bikes on trains during off-peak hours. From Barrie, the riding begins immediately on the waterfront trail or the county roads heading west and north. If driving, Stayner and Creemore are about 30 minutes west of Barrie and put you right in the heart of the best terrain.