Kingston Rides

People often ask us to recommend recreational cycling routes within and in the vicinity of the city. While Cycle Kingston is mostly about urban cycling, commuting and utility riding, it's not like we don't ride for fitness and pleasure too, so here's a few old favourites to get you started.

For more detailed information on recreational riding in the Kingston area visit our good friends at the Kingston Velo Club, and check out the wealth of user created routes at Map My Ride.

Note: Current routes all start from Confederation Park. Naturally, this starting location won't serve everyone best. Contact us if you'd like a suggestion on how to link any of our routes up with your preferred starting point.
Also: Remember to obey all traffic rules while riding, you're a vehicle too.

Lemoine Point: 22.5km

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Suggested bike:

Road, Hybrid, Mountain Bike with smooth tires.

Description

A nice little ride that people of all fitness levels can tackle.

Those riders more comfortable with traffic can simply ride straight out and back along King and Front to maximize their views of the water, but for those not as comfortable with what can be heavy traffic as one approaches the Pen from both directions we offer this alternate route.

Taking Union on the way out offers a nice tour of the Queens campus and avoids the congestion and traffic around Portsmouth Harbour (Portsmouth however, is worth a ride around). Those up for a bit of adventure can ride the Waterfront Trail directly through Lemoine Point which can be ridden on any bike, including narrow tired road bikes with a bit of care. As you leave the Point on the return trip detour down Old Front for some beautiful views of the water and islands. Country Club Dr. and Johnson St. avoid traffic and hills and bring you back to the start along quiet, residential Earl St.

The Abbey Dawn Loop: 27km

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Suggested bike:

Road, Hybrid, Mountain Bike with smooth tires.

Description

A few hills, but much easier if done clockwise, the climbs are longer and gentler,. Counter-clockwise gives a good hill climbing workout.

A great route if you have under 2 hours to spend and want a nice sampling of all the terrain and scenery the Kingston area offers. See just how quickly one can get out into the countryside from downtown, see the first Rideau Lake and the first series of historic locks at Kingston Mills. Stop and shop for produce at a local farmgate market. Enjoy the quiet countryside of Abbey Dawn Rd. culminating with a brisk downhill to Highway 2 and the scenic St. Lawrence River.

Montreal St. has intermittent bike lanes and can be busy during weekday rush hours. Highway 2 is part of the Waterfront Trail and has full paved shoulders. Take care crossing the Causeway, we recommend signalling and taking the entire lane, It's the legal and safe thing to do.

Middle Road Loop: 40km

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Suggested bike:

Road, Performance Hybrid

Description

The classic Kingston weekday after-work training loop also makes a nice relaxed ride any time.

Enjoyable in both directions, but clockwise offers gentler climbs and faster downhills. 15 is less than beautiful but has full shoulders and you're only on it for a small part of the ride. Grass Creek Park (20km from the start clockwise and 15km counterclockwise) is home to Kingston's closest sand beach, pack a swimsuit and towel on a hot day. Hwy 15, Middle Road and Highway 2 all have paved shoulders. The detour through CFB Kingston offers a chance to avoid traffic down the hill to the Causeway on 2 and offers the rider a glorious view of the city and the lake from Fort Henry as well as a swift light traffic decent to the river. Climbing the hill is a great cardio workout.