The Frontier Lake Loop
By the Numbers
Distance: 490 Kilometres
Total Ascent: 4000 metres
Unpaved/Paved: 70%/30%
Non-pavement surfaces are in the form of gravel roads, unmaintained roads, single lanes of dirt, and rail-grade trail
Distance: 490 Kilometres
Total Ascent: 4000 metres
Unpaved/Paved: 70%/30%
Non-pavement surfaces are in the form of gravel roads, unmaintained roads, single lanes of dirt, and rail-grade trail
The Frontier Lake Loop is a multi-day bikepacking route winding through Hastings and Frontenac Counties in Ontario—a landscape defined by pioneering spirit and roads that refuse to run straight. Expect a glorious blend of wandering country lanes, narrow dirt tracks, lakeside vistas, and terrain that keeps you engaged from start to finish. This is the heart of lake country, and the route twists thoughtfully to showcase the very best of it.
Ride along the historic Hastings and Frontenac heritage roads, part of a network of “Colonization Roads” laid out by the government in the mid-1800s to open the southern edge of the Precambrian Shield to settlement. Although free land grants were once offered along these corridors, poor soil and a harsh climate prevented large-scale settlement—leaving behind ideal terrain for today’s bikepackers.
Beyond the heritage routes, roads like Hughee Landing, O’Donnell, Green Bay, Canoe Lake, James Wilson, and Leveque deliver some of the finest gravel and dirt riding in the province. With constant twists and turns, this dirt-rich tour will have you grinning from saddle bag to roll bag. Even when the route shifts onto pavement, the riding remains anything but dull.
Meanwhile, the hamlets of Cloyne, Arden, Erinsville, Flinton, and others along the way offer a perfect taste of rural Ontario charm.
To obtain the detailed route file, go here.
Need to Know
Trip Start
The start and finish for the route is the town of Madoc, where parking is available. Tweed, Bancroft, and Sharbot Lake are other logical starting points with overnight parking possibilities. The route can be completed in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, with no clear advantage to either direction.
Trip Length
While it is certainly possible to complete this route over the course of a couple of big days, it is best enjoyed at a more leisurely 3 to 5 day pace. After all, less daily mileage means more time to jump in those lakes.
Route Difficulty
The Frontier Lake Loop is not the most demanding bikepacking route in the province in terms of length, ruggedness and elevation gain. Overall, most of the riding surfaces are not especially challenging, and while there is certainly an abundance of rolling terrain, the length of the climbs are fairly short and the steepness of them is not significant. You also won’t go significant distances before coming upon resupply and accommodation. A trip that feels much more wild than it actually is. With that said, there are some rougher sections of unmaintained road and trail that require more effort and concentration. During periods of dry weather, some of the roads (particularly in the Hastings County portion of the route) can become quite sandy and harder to negotiate.
Amenities
The route is populated by a number of grocery stores, general stores, cafes, restaurants, convenience stores, and food trucks. So no reason to go hungry. For the most part, these come at regular intervals, negating the need to carry many pounds of fuel. The towns of Madoc, Bancroft, Sharbot Lake, Verona, and Tweed offer the most in the way of provisions.
Accommodation options on the route range from established campgrounds to motels to cottage rentals to Airbnb. Numerous options are indicated on the RWGPS route file. I have noted several “wild” camping options along the route that could be used for discreet camping. However, I can’t guarantee these and all riders are responsible for safely securing their own overnight resting spots – and absolutely leaving no trace.
Save for Endo Cycle in Bancroft , there are no bicycle shops located on this route. So make sure you are self-sufficient for bicycle repair.
When to Ride
The route can be enjoyed from May to October. Perhaps the ideal season for riding this route is late summer and fall, when the peak of bug season has passed. This is a route that is stunning during the autumn colour shift. Deer flies can be especially problematic in June and July, and perhaps into August. Some seasons are worse than others. Mid-June to Mid-August are the times you are likely to encounter the highest temperatures on the route. Another good excuse for plunging into all those lakes.
What to Ride
The Frontier Lake Loop was designed as a gravel-oriented bike trip, so the recommended format is a drop bar bike with 700c, 650b or 29-inch wheels. If using 700 wheels, it’s advised to use 40mm tires or larger for improved comfort. Tires narrower than 38mm could make the ride less fun, especially on the rougher, unmaintained road and rail trail sections that can be chunky or sandy in spots. Tires in the range of 1.9 to 2.2 will work well on 650b or 29-inch wheels. Anything fatter than this can be considered overkill. A rigid or hardtail MTB would also be perfectly suitable for the route and a good option for more easily handling the rougher terrain. Since the route is not insanely hilly, very generous gear ratios are not required. But it’s still best not to go too hard on this. Run tubeless if possible to mitigate the chances of flats in rougher spots.
Cold Plunge
The route passes by several public beaches and lakeside crown land sites, ideal for a mid-ride dip. You did pack your swimming trunks, right?
Busy Roads
Occasionally, the route must veer onto paved roads with heavier traffic flow. Ride with awareness during these times. Running rear lights at these times is recommended.
Expect to see ATV traffic on some sections of the rail trail. Unfortunately, some drivers are not as courteous to cyclists as others and will kick up clouds of dust.
Route Updates
The route will be updated as needed. However, if you ride the route and come across any route issues or unlisted services that I should know about, please contact me about this.
If you live on or near the route and would like to be a 'trail angel' by providing tenting space for riders, water bottle refill etc. please let me know. This is a great way to build up the bikepacking community and improve rider experiences on the route.
Lastly
It must be stressed that the route is entirely unsupported and unsanctioned with no insurance provided. All riders are responsible for their well-being on the Frontier Lake Loop and ride at their own risk. The route developer takes no responsibility for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other circumstance that might happen to individual riders cycling the Frontier Lake Loop route. There is no guarantee of route conditions at any given time and the route developer takes no responsibility for disrupted route conditions. You are entirely responsible for your safety and decisions that are made, including accommodation and necessary detours. It is advised to study the route map and make note of your supply options as well as some possible detours (these are marked with a Control Point symbol). If you are not comfortable riding a section of the route take any necessary alternatives. Planning and due diligence is imperative as is riding within your means. People "racing" the route do so at their own risk.
Ride along the historic Hastings and Frontenac heritage roads, part of a network of “Colonization Roads” laid out by the government in the mid-1800s to open the southern edge of the Precambrian Shield to settlement. Although free land grants were once offered along these corridors, poor soil and a harsh climate prevented large-scale settlement—leaving behind ideal terrain for today’s bikepackers.
Beyond the heritage routes, roads like Hughee Landing, O’Donnell, Green Bay, Canoe Lake, James Wilson, and Leveque deliver some of the finest gravel and dirt riding in the province. With constant twists and turns, this dirt-rich tour will have you grinning from saddle bag to roll bag. Even when the route shifts onto pavement, the riding remains anything but dull.
Meanwhile, the hamlets of Cloyne, Arden, Erinsville, Flinton, and others along the way offer a perfect taste of rural Ontario charm.
To obtain the detailed route file, go here.
Need to Know
Trip Start
The start and finish for the route is the town of Madoc, where parking is available. Tweed, Bancroft, and Sharbot Lake are other logical starting points with overnight parking possibilities. The route can be completed in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, with no clear advantage to either direction.
Trip Length
While it is certainly possible to complete this route over the course of a couple of big days, it is best enjoyed at a more leisurely 3 to 5 day pace. After all, less daily mileage means more time to jump in those lakes.
Route Difficulty
The Frontier Lake Loop is not the most demanding bikepacking route in the province in terms of length, ruggedness and elevation gain. Overall, most of the riding surfaces are not especially challenging, and while there is certainly an abundance of rolling terrain, the length of the climbs are fairly short and the steepness of them is not significant. You also won’t go significant distances before coming upon resupply and accommodation. A trip that feels much more wild than it actually is. With that said, there are some rougher sections of unmaintained road and trail that require more effort and concentration. During periods of dry weather, some of the roads (particularly in the Hastings County portion of the route) can become quite sandy and harder to negotiate.
Amenities
The route is populated by a number of grocery stores, general stores, cafes, restaurants, convenience stores, and food trucks. So no reason to go hungry. For the most part, these come at regular intervals, negating the need to carry many pounds of fuel. The towns of Madoc, Bancroft, Sharbot Lake, Verona, and Tweed offer the most in the way of provisions.
Accommodation options on the route range from established campgrounds to motels to cottage rentals to Airbnb. Numerous options are indicated on the RWGPS route file. I have noted several “wild” camping options along the route that could be used for discreet camping. However, I can’t guarantee these and all riders are responsible for safely securing their own overnight resting spots – and absolutely leaving no trace.
Save for Endo Cycle in Bancroft , there are no bicycle shops located on this route. So make sure you are self-sufficient for bicycle repair.
When to Ride
The route can be enjoyed from May to October. Perhaps the ideal season for riding this route is late summer and fall, when the peak of bug season has passed. This is a route that is stunning during the autumn colour shift. Deer flies can be especially problematic in June and July, and perhaps into August. Some seasons are worse than others. Mid-June to Mid-August are the times you are likely to encounter the highest temperatures on the route. Another good excuse for plunging into all those lakes.
What to Ride
The Frontier Lake Loop was designed as a gravel-oriented bike trip, so the recommended format is a drop bar bike with 700c, 650b or 29-inch wheels. If using 700 wheels, it’s advised to use 40mm tires or larger for improved comfort. Tires narrower than 38mm could make the ride less fun, especially on the rougher, unmaintained road and rail trail sections that can be chunky or sandy in spots. Tires in the range of 1.9 to 2.2 will work well on 650b or 29-inch wheels. Anything fatter than this can be considered overkill. A rigid or hardtail MTB would also be perfectly suitable for the route and a good option for more easily handling the rougher terrain. Since the route is not insanely hilly, very generous gear ratios are not required. But it’s still best not to go too hard on this. Run tubeless if possible to mitigate the chances of flats in rougher spots.
Cold Plunge
The route passes by several public beaches and lakeside crown land sites, ideal for a mid-ride dip. You did pack your swimming trunks, right?
Busy Roads
Occasionally, the route must veer onto paved roads with heavier traffic flow. Ride with awareness during these times. Running rear lights at these times is recommended.
Expect to see ATV traffic on some sections of the rail trail. Unfortunately, some drivers are not as courteous to cyclists as others and will kick up clouds of dust.
Route Updates
The route will be updated as needed. However, if you ride the route and come across any route issues or unlisted services that I should know about, please contact me about this.
If you live on or near the route and would like to be a 'trail angel' by providing tenting space for riders, water bottle refill etc. please let me know. This is a great way to build up the bikepacking community and improve rider experiences on the route.
Lastly
It must be stressed that the route is entirely unsupported and unsanctioned with no insurance provided. All riders are responsible for their well-being on the Frontier Lake Loop and ride at their own risk. The route developer takes no responsibility for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other circumstance that might happen to individual riders cycling the Frontier Lake Loop route. There is no guarantee of route conditions at any given time and the route developer takes no responsibility for disrupted route conditions. You are entirely responsible for your safety and decisions that are made, including accommodation and necessary detours. It is advised to study the route map and make note of your supply options as well as some possible detours (these are marked with a Control Point symbol). If you are not comfortable riding a section of the route take any necessary alternatives. Planning and due diligence is imperative as is riding within your means. People "racing" the route do so at their own risk.