On September 27-28, Ontario by Bike brought 36 cycling tourists to visit Brampton, Caledon and Georgetown. BikeBrampton ambassadors David, Dayle and Barry provided a warm welcome, along with perfect autumn temperatures.
Ontario by Bike – Caledon Trails & Backroads Explorer
The Ontario By Bike Ride was billed as a weekend long, small group, self-guided and supported rides with hotel accommodations, meals and more included. Participants enjoyed either the group ride option or ride at your own pace, using detailed Ride with GPS maps and information provided.
Total Distance: 133km
“Discover the charming small towns, trails, and backroads of Caledon, a rural region set against the striking topography of the Niagara Escarpment, just outside of Toronto. This ride starts out from Brampton on the Etobicoke Creek Trail, leading to Caledon’s pastoral roads and signature rail trail enroute to Georgetown for an overnight. On this ride weekend, pedal on a mix of forested trails ablaze in fall colours, stunning paved and gravel roads, passing horse farms, historic villages, and unique geographic sites like the Cheltenham Badlands. See another side of Ontario just outside the big city.”
We started off from Kingspoint plaza near downtown Brampton, where we hopped on the Etobicoke Creek Trail.
Quick stop to view the newly completed wetland habitat restoration at Loafer’s Lake. There are pollinator gardens, a turtle nesting area and eco-passage for the turtles, basking rocks and logs and plantings of native species. Educational plaques explain the different areas. Collaboration amongst City of Brampton, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Province of Ontario and Heart Lake Turtle Troopers created this inviting space.
Ambassador David stopped the group to explain the importance of the Etobicoke Creek Trailhead, whose ground waters feed the watershed and continue south to Lake Ontario. This trail beautifully connects the two communities of Valleywood and Southfields.
We left the urban forest for the rural roads of Caledon. Town of Caledon has built wide paved shoulders that make it attractive for cyclists as well as wide farm vehicles at planting and harvest.
The group turned onto the Caledon Trailway, part of the Greenbelt Cycling Route and the Trans Canada Trail. This 35km multi-use trail follows part of the abandoned Hamilton and North Western Railway line built in 1877. The trail is well-maintained by the Town of Caledon, and the fine limestone gravel is well-packed providing a smooth enjoyable ride.
Along the trail, we stopped to see the murals, painted on the old trestle bridge at Cardwell Junction. The stone abutments are a relic of the Toronto, Grey & Bruce Railway, which operated from 1879 to 1933. Unveiled in 2024, the murals were funded by sales of Diane Allengame’s 2019 book “Caledon Trailway: Building the Dream” via the Caledon Trailway Book Committee, Province of Ontario and Town of Caledon’s Public Art Program. The artist is Blaze Wiradharma.
After lunch in Caledon East, we travelled west, passing the Cheltenham Brickworks which operated from 1914 to 1958. Red bricks were made from hard Terra Cotta clay (medina shale), used for the local farm houses, and shipped both nationally and internationally.
The group continued on to the 200th anniversary celebrations in Glen Williams, and stayed the night in Georgetown. On Sunday, Barrie took over as the local ambassador.
A day with even more hill-climbing unfolded. The group cycled past horse farms and breath-taking views.
Thanks to Ontario by Bike for inviting BikeBrampton to supply volunteer ambassadors and allowing us to be part of this fun fall cycling event!
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