No Winter Maintenance Bikepacking Route
The No Winter Maintenance Challenge is an off-road cycling route is southwestern Ontario that was designed to allow riders to explore some of the region’s best long forgotten roads that are not part of the BT 700 route (there are few sections of overlap). Riders can expect a mix of glorious gravel roads, rowdy unmaintained paths and plenty of challenging inclines.
By the Numbers
Distance: 246 Kilometres
Total Ascent: 3,700 metres
Unpaved/Paved: 90%/10%
Route Construction: A bridge at the 7km mark of the route on 1st Line EHS is currently under construction. Not sure how long this will last. Riders report that you can get across the construction when workers are not present (non construction hours). The work around is to continue on 5th Sideroad to 2nd Line EHS and take this north to meet up with the route at the 9km mark.
Route Notes
The No Winter Maintenance (NWM) route can be consider an intermediate to advanced route and best tackled by riders with experience cycling on rougher terrain. You can expect to rocks, roots and puddles. This not a smooth sail on rail trail, but instead something to consider as an adventure ride with a chance for a bit of hike-a-bike. It can also be viewed as a training ground for more lofty bikepacking trips such as the BT 700 or Log Driver's Waltz.
For most riders, the trip length will be 1 to 3 days. Certainly, a single day push will be a serious challenge. The route starts and finishes in the city of Orangeville, but riders can jump in and out wherever suits them best. There are also ways to modify the route length to make it shorter (or longer!). See below for a shorter version of the NWM.
Both drop-bar gravel bikes and mountain bikes can be used on the NWM route. There is plenty of saucy terrain on this route so those using 700 wheels should make sure to ride 38cc tires or larger. 650b and 29-inch wheels with 1.9-2.25 inch tires are a very good choice. And because there are no shortage of testy inclines, a wide range of gears is also encouraged.
There are plenty of opportunities for stealth camping along the route. Riders can also review this route file for the BT 700 to find accommodation/camping options on or near this route.
This is the file you can download for navigation: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35514342
It can also be downloaded using the Ride with GPS mobile app which will display any Points of Interest when on route.
I would be amiss if I did not thank my riding and life partner Tabi Ferguson for her work in discovering many of these little known gems along the route.
No Winter Maintenance Challenge Lite
No ready to tackle the whole route. Here are a couple of pared down versions of the route - one focuses on the upper portion of the route and one focuses on the lower half of the loop.
Lite Version 1: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35597437
Lite Version 2: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36168106
By the Numbers
Distance: 246 Kilometres
Total Ascent: 3,700 metres
Unpaved/Paved: 90%/10%
Route Construction: A bridge at the 7km mark of the route on 1st Line EHS is currently under construction. Not sure how long this will last. Riders report that you can get across the construction when workers are not present (non construction hours). The work around is to continue on 5th Sideroad to 2nd Line EHS and take this north to meet up with the route at the 9km mark.
Route Notes
The No Winter Maintenance (NWM) route can be consider an intermediate to advanced route and best tackled by riders with experience cycling on rougher terrain. You can expect to rocks, roots and puddles. This not a smooth sail on rail trail, but instead something to consider as an adventure ride with a chance for a bit of hike-a-bike. It can also be viewed as a training ground for more lofty bikepacking trips such as the BT 700 or Log Driver's Waltz.
For most riders, the trip length will be 1 to 3 days. Certainly, a single day push will be a serious challenge. The route starts and finishes in the city of Orangeville, but riders can jump in and out wherever suits them best. There are also ways to modify the route length to make it shorter (or longer!). See below for a shorter version of the NWM.
Both drop-bar gravel bikes and mountain bikes can be used on the NWM route. There is plenty of saucy terrain on this route so those using 700 wheels should make sure to ride 38cc tires or larger. 650b and 29-inch wheels with 1.9-2.25 inch tires are a very good choice. And because there are no shortage of testy inclines, a wide range of gears is also encouraged.
There are plenty of opportunities for stealth camping along the route. Riders can also review this route file for the BT 700 to find accommodation/camping options on or near this route.
This is the file you can download for navigation: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35514342
It can also be downloaded using the Ride with GPS mobile app which will display any Points of Interest when on route.
I would be amiss if I did not thank my riding and life partner Tabi Ferguson for her work in discovering many of these little known gems along the route.
No Winter Maintenance Challenge Lite
No ready to tackle the whole route. Here are a couple of pared down versions of the route - one focuses on the upper portion of the route and one focuses on the lower half of the loop.
Lite Version 1: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35597437
Lite Version 2: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36168106
If you have any additional questions about this route feel free to use the contact form to get in touch.
It must be stressed that the route is entirely unsupported and unsanctioned with no insurance provided. All riders are responsible for their own well-being on the No Winter Maintenance route 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 No Winter Maintenance 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 own 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. 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.
It must be stressed that the route is entirely unsupported and unsanctioned with no insurance provided. All riders are responsible for their own well-being on the No Winter Maintenance route 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 No Winter Maintenance 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 own 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. 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.
