The Three Amigos
If there was ever an Ontario bikepacking route worthy of a dropper post and squish, it’s this one. The Three Amigos route combines a trio of the best trail hubs in southern Ontario – Hydrocut, Guelph Lake, and Puslinch – into a longer distance mountain bike-oriented tour. The route includes roughly 75 kilometres of singletrack, so this is certainly no standard gravel grinder.
To connect these trail networks, the route emphasizes the use of community paths, forest trails, and roads with bike lanes. This is urban riding at its best.
Need to Know
1. To obtain a detailed route file go here.
2. With the sheer volume of trail, this is a route designed to be tackled with a mountain bike set-up. Even a full suspension ride would not be out of place. You could ride the route on a monster cross (drop bar with fat tires), but you should have experience riding mountain bike trails with this.
3. If you are new to these trail networks navigation can be a bit tricky. Not all trails are signed, especially in Puslinch (this is the trickiest trail system to navigate properly and a place where GPS navigation can go to die). Some patience and extra time might be needed to properly orient yourself on the trails. If you have a paid membership, it can be handy to have the Trailforks app (https://www.trailforks.com/apps/map/) up and running with the trail network loaded. This way you can better see what trails you are on. In this pdf document, I’ve listed the trail order the route follows for each of the three main trail networks based on Trailforks trail naming. Luckily, the route through the Guelph Lake trails is now all marked. In this trail system, follow the red loop. You may find it helpful to print this off or download it on your phone for reference.
| threeamigostrails.pdf |
4. The designated start and finish point of the tour is the village of St. Jacob’s, but you can certainly commence the journey at any point along the route you wish. Free multi-day parking is available at St. Jacob's. Contact me for a permit.
5. It’s possible to complete the route in one day, but it will be a VERY long one. If attempting a one day push, bringing along night lights is advisable in case you need to ride after sunset. A 2-day pace allows for a more relaxed journey. But pack light to make the trails easier to ride.
6. This is a dry weather route. Please don’t ride the trails when there has been a significant amount of rain.
7. For the most part, trails have “easier” lines when there are obstacles present like ramps and jumps.
Route Updates
The route will be updated as needed. However, if you ride the route and come across any route issues or services that I should know about please contact me about this.
More questions? Use the contact form to send me your questions.
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 Three Amigos 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 Three Amigos 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 (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.
If you enjoyed your time on the Three Amigos, please consider making a donation to support the route. It takes a huge amount of time and dedication to maintain and build these routes. If you prefer not to use Paypal other donation methods can be arranged including e-transfer. Of course, a donation is not required to ride and enjoy this route.
5. It’s possible to complete the route in one day, but it will be a VERY long one. If attempting a one day push, bringing along night lights is advisable in case you need to ride after sunset. A 2-day pace allows for a more relaxed journey. But pack light to make the trails easier to ride.
6. This is a dry weather route. Please don’t ride the trails when there has been a significant amount of rain.
7. For the most part, trails have “easier” lines when there are obstacles present like ramps and jumps.
Route Updates
The route will be updated as needed. However, if you ride the route and come across any route issues or services that I should know about please contact me about this.
More questions? Use the contact form to send me your questions.
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 Three Amigos 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 Three Amigos 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 (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.
If you enjoyed your time on the Three Amigos, please consider making a donation to support the route. It takes a huge amount of time and dedication to maintain and build these routes. If you prefer not to use Paypal other donation methods can be arranged including e-transfer. Of course, a donation is not required to ride and enjoy this route.