QUINTE WEST: THE RURAL RIDE
Welcome to another edition of our Ride and Reward series. Join me on my adventures as I share my favourite routes (and rewards!) and discover some new ones too. You don’t need to be an experienced cyclist or have a fancy bike to try out these routes.
The Rural Ride in Quinte West follows a well-maintained gravel path that’s shared with pedestrians, bordered by wildflower fields with rolling hills as a backdrop. The stretch along a highway only has a designated bike lane part of the way, so good bike lights and bright clothing are a must. This ride has a lot to offer, including a stop at a lock along the historic Trent-Severn Waterway that’s perfect for picnics. The full loop can be done in under two hours. Let’s go!
Written by Allison Nichol Longtin
Read time: 4 min
I started my ride at the Batawa Community Centre where I parked my Jeep and unloaded my bike. It’s a great place to set sail from (and return to) as there’s a public washroom and a place to fill up your water bottle. Tires to pavement, I headed straight for the Lower Trent Trail, which is closed to all motorized vehicles. I was so impressed with this far-reaching path. Following the Trent River and snaking its way through fragrant wildflower fields, dense canopied forests, and marshes with tall grasses, this mostly gravel path is interrupted only sporadically as it crosses quiet suburban streets, cottage lanes, and country backroads. Butterflies and grasshoppers were my only company for much of the ride.
Riding North along the trail, I passed through the town of Frankford, though I almost didn’t notice; the bike path was so peaceful. As the path crossed North Trent Street I saw signs for Bata Island. I didn’t take the short detour toward the island in the Trent, but it’s definitely on my list for next time.
As occasional views of the Trent River gave way to rolling fields, I emerged from the trail at Glen Ross Road. The path continued on the other side of the road, but it was mostly underwater from what I could see, so I took the road instead for the last little stretch before crossing the mighty Trent.
I paused on the bridge to admire the views. My first reward lay just on the other side of the river at the Glen Ross General Store, where I paused to grab a refreshing pop. A family was treating themselves to Kawartha Dairy ice cream cones as I headed back out to my bike. Just across the road is Lock 7 of the Trent-Severn Waterway, operated by Parks Canada. I paused here to watch boats pass as I drank my 7UP. I wasn’t the only one interested in the magic of the locks; there were couples having picnics at tables along the river’s edge and a Parks Canada employee recruited two young children to help her open the locks. Their reward for helping? A full-size freezie and Parks Canada dog tags.
Feeling refreshed and ready to set out on the rest of my journey, I crossed the Trent and took a right onto Rosebush Road. I skirted along the other bank of the river with cottages to my right and farms to my left. I connected with Frankford Road (Highway 33), but for a longer and hillier ride, take Sagers Corners Road instead and consider following bayofquinte.bike’s Up the Trent, Over the Oaks route. I’ve done this longer ride; it’s a great route with rewarding views and is more challenging than the route I opted for this time around. I crossed the Trent again to head into downtown Frankford and reconnect with the bike path for the last leg of my journey.
One of my favourite things about doing a rural ride in the beautiful Bay of Quinte countryside is stopping at a farm stand or country market for fresh produce. After my ride, I hopped into the car and drove to the Hilltop Fruit Stand on Johnstown Road on my way back to Belleville. It’s a sweet little farm stand perched on a hill with gorgeous views. My reward? Fresh in-season Ontario peaches, corn on the cob, and a jar of homemade strawberry jam. Heavenly.
The Quinte West Rural Ride is an approachable route that takes under two hours to complete, longer if you head up into the hills to avoid the main road. The gravel bike path is exceptionally beautiful and features well-maintained benches for little pauses along the way. Happy cycling!
MAP IT OUT
Allison mapped out the route she took:
MORE RIDE, MORE REWARD
This route is just one of four in our Ride and Reward series. Check it out for other routes in Belleville, Brighton and Greater Napanee.
