Bike Share Program

Start: Mill of Kintail

Distance: 22 km of gravel & paved roads 

Start at the parking lot and take a historical side trip down the laneway to this 1830s grist mill, now a museum dedicated to the memory of Dr. R. Tait McKenzie. Be sure to view his athletic sculptures in the loft studio, and visit the Naismith display in the lower level, home of the famous basketball rock. As boyhood chums, McKenzie and Naismith, two of Miss Mills' most celebrated figures, would roam the fields along this easy ride through rustic farmland and forests of Canadian sugar maples. Stop at the Clayton General Store for a cool drink and check out the extensive used book selection on the front porch, returning along the banks of the Indian River.

Start: Almonte Arena

Distance: 18 km (12 km paved road plus 6 km gravel)

This tour can be considered a tribute to the early pioneers who homesteaded on 100 acre lots in Ramsay Township. Follow Country Street until it becomes the Rae Road, and carefully cross over Highway 29, heading west. Along the way, note the old farmsteads with their traditional, split cedar-rail fences lining the concession roads. Much of the forest was logged in the 1820s. Rocks and boulders carried to the top of the hill. Look for this as you cycle down Rae Road to the Old Perth Road. Take a sharp right here and, as you travel back to Almonte, marvel at the courage and pioneering spirit needed to settle this land.

Start: Almonte Old Town Hall

Distance: 18 km of mostly paved roads

This scenic bikeway offers a peaceful ride along Martin St. N (County Rd. 17) to Blakeney. Pack a picnic and head up the gentle rise out of town. Your delightfully easy ride will take you to the quiet hamlet of Blakeney, once a thriving 1850s community with a woolen mill and a brewery. Turn left at the stop sign and meander down to the river to enjoy a rest at the rapids in the picnic park. Continue on across Highway 29 to the crossroads at Bennie's Corners. Turn left and follow the 8th line of Ramsay, an original early settlement road rolling beside the historic Mill of Kintail, stone farmsteads and idyllic pastures. Make a final stop at the Auld Kirk, a testament to the hardworking Scots pioneers of this region, before you head back to town. 

Start: Downtown Almonte

Distance: 11 km of paved roads 

The only motion needed to carry you along this tour is self-propelled, as you power along the back roads to the Mississippi Mills Town Hall. No seconder required. This relaxing trip heads out of town on Country Street and crosses County Road 29. Turn right at the stop sign on the 8th line of Ramsay and ramble on over to the intersection of the Old Perth Road. It was one of the first trails to be laid out as road in Ramsay Township and gave the original settlers access from Lanark to the waterfalls on the Mississippi. Turn right and coast down along the long hill, past the municipal building. Just keep an eye out for the fox pups that may be spotted at the bottom of the hill near the highway. 

Start: Five Span Bridge in Pakenham

Distance: 42 km (37 km paved and 5 km gravel)

Here's a classic textbook case of all terrain riding. Start on the seabed of an ancient tropical ocean. Upstream from the five arched stone bridge, take a few moments to hunt for some fossils of giant cone-shaped cephalopods that once lived here over 450 years ago. Head back to the quaint village of Pakenham and fuel up with a double ice cream cone at Scoops, before starting out with some easy riding on the flat farmlands along Waba Road. Keep a little energy in reserve because soon you will be climbing the long hill around Mount Pakenham. Take a breather at the top of the hill on Campbell Side Road to admire the view overlooking White Lake. Get ready for a rapid, rugged descent on the Bellamy Road to Cedar Hill, and back to Pakenham, just in time to sample some goodies at the old fashioned General Store, a leisurely meal and the Centennial Restaurant or Love that Barr, and some final book learning with the Walking Tour Map of Pakenham.

Start: Depends

Distance: 41 km (mostly paved, but with 3 km hard packed gravel)

This is the ultimate local history buff's tour and it can be modified depending on how much time you want to spend at each stop. You will find two companion museums at the Mill of Kintail Conservation Area, on the 8th Concession, only a short ride through picture perfect rolling farmland. Both the R. Tait McKenzie Memorial Museum and the Dr. James Naismith Basketball Museum are housed in the same 1860s heritage grist mill at this site. The North Lanark Historical Museum, found at the corner of Appleton Side Road and the River Road, is a trove for genealogists and those studying regional history. The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum highlights early mill history and the role of the textile industry in this area. You will find it by riding through Almonte's downtown heritage district, which showcases some of the area's finest shops and restaurants. Watch for a sign at the bottom of Mill Street directing you to the Textile Museum at the lower falls.