Cycling the Thames Valley Parkway. Photo Credit: City of London
Explore London, Ontario, a bike friendly city with more than 40km of paved riverside paths, and over 300km of bike lanes connecting its dynamic neighbourhoods. You could easily spend multiple day exploring the city by bike. Discover farmersβ markets, unique businesses and culinary delights all accessible by bike.
In London, explore:
- The scenic and paved 40km+ Thames Valley Parkway, winding its way beside the banks of the Thames River and extending into many neighbourhoods
- Explore over 300km of additional pathways and bike lanes connecting to Londonβs vibrant neighbourhoods
- Discover markets like The Market at Western Fair District, with 100+ vendors featuring local food and artisan goods.
- Enjoy lunch or a coffee at the London Bike Cafe beside, or a vibrant street-side restaurant patio at downtown Dundas Place
- Shred some dirt on the mountain bike trails at Boler Mountain and Fanshawe Conservation Area
- Take VIA Rail and rent a bike in London!
- City of London β The city has more than 350km of bike paths and bike lanes, as well as signed bike routes located throughout the city. There are a variety of online resources to help with planning a cycling trip in London.
- Downtown Separated Bike Lanes β Approximately 4km of Dundas and Colborne Streets now have separated bike lanes to help cyclists explore downtown and adjacent Old East Village.
- Thames Valley ParkwayΒ β Over 40km of paved, off-road multi-use path lies alongside the Thames River throughout the city of London and links to to over 150km of additional bike paths and bike lanes within the city. AΒ good starting point isΒ near the Forks of the Thames or the Ivey Park fountain where the rivers meet, with parking available at nearby parks like Ivey Park, Springbank Park, Greenway Park, Medway Park, and Pottersburg Park. The London Bicycle Cafe is located beside the TVP at Ivey Park and has bike rentals available.
- Explore London By Bike β Tourism London β Read this inspiring guide on where to cycle and what to do while visiting London. Discover farmersβ markets, unique businesses, culinary delights and exciting destinations all accessible by bike in London.
- Kilally Meadows β This area has over 10km of trails along the north shore of the Thames River and a multi-use path along the southern shore. Bicycles are permitted only on the asphalt or crushed gravel paths.
- Forest City VelodromeΒ β One of only a few indoor velodromes in North America, the Forest City Velodrome is located in the south end of London and offers 138-metre indoor cycling track facilities.
The following trails and cycling routes are found in Middlesex County, which is the county surrounding the city of London.
- Fantastic Summer Bike Rides Around London β Blog β London Bicycle Cafe β Local bicycle shop and cafe put together a blog that showcases some of the fantastic trails, city streets, and country roads in southwestern Ontario, from family rides to longer bike tours.
- Ilderton Rail TrailΒ β The Ilderton Rail Trail was once a part of an active rail line that ran from London to Goderich. This 3.1km trail offers both granular and natural dirt trail surfaces. Start at Junction Park in Ilderton.
- St. Clair Conservation Authority TrailsΒ β Both the Strathroy Conservation Area and the Clark Wright Conservation Area offer mixed use trail systems and are located within or close to the town of Strathroy.
- AW Campbell Conservation AreaΒ β Approximately 300 acres with over 8km of trails available to cyclists and has 140 campsites, 2 washrooms (seasonal), laundry facilities and 20-acre reservoir open for canoeing. Trails lead you along Morrough Creek where a host of wildflowers and interesting tree species can be observed such as the blue ash.
- Boler Mountain (London) β Located southwest out of the city of London, Boler Mountain has 120 acres of property, which offers 20km of great cross-country mountain biking terrain, just a 20 minute drive from the city. They operate and maintain 5 trails: a beginner, intermediate, and two expert mountain biking trails and offers a mix of both steep climbs and declines with several drop-offs and just the right amount of technical riding.Β The facility has hosted many local, provincial and national racing events, including Canada Cups, the Canada Summer Games, Ontario Cups, and a number of smaller regional and in-house racing events.
Boler Mountain Mountain Bike ItineraryΒ β This one-page mountain bike itinerary for Boler Mountain curates the βbest ofβ restaurants and cafes, as well as places to lay your head! This is anΒ Ontarioβs Southwest Cycling Itinerary.
- Fanshawe Conservation Area β Lake TrailΒ β A 20km Lake Trail loop circlesΒ all the way around Fanshawe Reservoir, going through mature forests, open meadows and along three stretches of roadway. ItΒ is open to cyclists from dawn to dusk, seven days a week. Helmets are mandatory and a round trip takes approximately 1 Β½ to 2 hours.Β A park admission fee is required.
- Fanshawe Conservation Area Mountain Bike ItineraryΒ β This one-page mountain bike itinerary for Fanshawe curates the βbest ofβ restaurants and cafes, as well as places to lay your head! This is anΒ Ontarioβs Southwest Cycling Itinerary.
- Westminster Ponds Trails Β β Approximately 11km of single and double track, as well as paved multi-use paths located in the heart of London. Cyclists need to respect the trail and other users.
- Komoka Provincial Park (Middlesex) β Owned and managed by Ontario Parks as a day-use area, there are over 11km trails for recreational users, but only 7 km have been specifically designated as terrain for mixed use, including mountain biking and equestrian riders.
- Great Lakes Waterfront Trail (Lake Erie) β Stretching over 3600km, the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail is a route connecting over 151 communities and First Nations along the Canadian shores of the Great Lakes: Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, Lake Erie, Detroit River and Lake St Clair, Lake Huron, Georgian Bay and the North Channel. The fully signed Trail uses the safest infrastructure possible, a mix of both on-road and off-road facilities, and is primarily paved, with sections of unpaved path and gravel roads. It can be enjoyed for as part of a day trip or on a multi-day long distance cycling adventure.The Lake Erie trail connects with the Waterfront Trail via the Niagara River Recreation Trail. For information and to access downloadable maps visitΒ www.WaterfrontTrail.org
- Trans Canada Trail/TCT βThis cross-Canada trail system runs through south west OntarioΒ connecting many communities and Counties. The TCT is a four-season, multi-use trail system with various surface types, on-road and off-road segments and is suitable for a variety of users.Β Visit Trans Canada Trail Β βExplore The Trailβ for informationΒ www.tctrail.ca
City of London β Published Maps and Tools
- London Bike and Walk MapΒ β (2024) Over 350km of bike lanes, paved pathways and trails in the City of London. For more information and to request a print version of the map, email cycling@london.ca.
- CityMap (Bike Routes & Trails)Β β CityMap is an interactive online tool that helps users find cycling routes and trails, as well as places of interest, addresses and street names.
- Explore London By Bike β Tourism London β Read this inspiring guide on where to cycle and what to do while visiting London. Discover farmersβ markets, unique businesses, culinary delights and exciting destinations all accessible by bike in London.
Middlesex County β Published Maps and Guides
- Middlesex County Trails Guide. Online Guide. This trails guide information on off-road trails, including details on parks and rail trails open to hikers, cyclists, and other recreational users.
- Strathroy Visitor and Adventure Guides.Β Online PDF Maps. Developed in partnership with the Strathroy Business Improvement Area, the Rotary Club, and St. Clair Conservation Authority, these visitor guides offers details on parks and trails within the downtown. See βMapsβ under βVisitingβ.
Consider extending your cycling holiday by visiting some of these great cycling destinations also located in Southwest Ontario:
- Ontarioβs Southwest β Elgin, Middlesex & Oxford Counties β With relatively flat agricultural land, picturesque lakefronts and meandering rivers, as well as quaint country towns, Southwest Ontario offers cyclists experiences of all kinds. Β Road riding in Southwest Ontario is second to none, with rural roads criss-crossing through farmlands with opportunities to stop at agri-tourism businesses, interesting heritage sites, artistsβ studios, and communities while cycling these quiet country roads and enjoying a spectacularly scenic landscape.
- Chatham KentΒ β There are a number of trails suitable for recreational cyclists in the Chatham-Kent region, including trails along waterfronts, wetlands and in natural settings. Road riding is also promenent along the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and Lake Erie shoreline.
- Norfolk County β Norfolk County offer cyclists numerous appealing on-road cycling routes and off-road trails, whether along the north shore of Lake Erie, following the Grand River or through agricultural communities into quiet countryside. Cyclists can explore towns and cities en route and enjoy a full range of services catering to visitors year round.
- Windsor, Essex & Pelee IslandΒ β Surrounded on three sides by water, the warm humid weather is perfect for a long cycling season and Essex County has fantastic cycling destination in Ontario. Pelee Island is a popular tourist destination and its quiet back-country roads and excellent sightseeing are perfect for the recreational cyclist.
* Please note there are may be additional trails, routes, events and information resources for the region that may be of interest and useful to cyclists. Changes to the above links, listings and cycling routes may occur.
City of London β Related Blogs:
Bikes & Beans: Bicycle Cafes Around Ontario
While the cultures of coffee and cycling have long been intertwined both here at home and around the world, over the last few years Ontario has seen an amazing growth in bicycle themed cafes, or cafes specifically targeting cycling as their market and community of focus.
5 Top Trail Rides East & West
Trail ride suggestions are something we are often asked for at the shows and events we are at with our Ontario Cycle Tourism Info Centre. Time away from traffic, the quieter and often more natural settings that trails travel through are just some of the appeal. Most likely you are well acquainted with the trails close to home, but the following are some of our top trail suggestions to help you get out there and explore more by bike this summer. Happy trails, as they say.
Urban Cycling Experiences in Ontario
There is no better way to get to know an urban centre intimately than by hopping on a bike and pedaling through neighbourhoods, explore downtowns and beyond. Every year city centres across Ontario are adding more bike lanes, improving bikeway networks and creating more connections for cyclists to get from Point A to Point B safely. This allows riders to meander through city streets, accessing incredible parks, trails systems and attractions. Here is a selection of ideas and resources that will help you plan out your next urban cycling adventure in Ontario.
Sip, Snack and Cycle your way through Ontario
Satisfy your hunger with great culinary experiences best served by bike! Ontario has a growing reputation as a culinary destination and what better way to work up an appetite than on your bike. From vibrant farmer’s markets to craft breweries, Ontario has your menu covered!
Destination and Regional Partners:
The post City of London appeared first on Ontario By Bike.
