Road less travelled: York Region has many trails for off--road cyclists

Several area forest tracts becoming go--to destinations for mountain bikers

Yorkregion.com
June 22, 2018
Steve Somerville

Soft sunset light filters through the leaves of tall maples, splashing onto Vince Liew’s red mountain bike as he cruises around a bend in the trail in Richmond Hill’s Jefferson Forest.

“There is definitely a different vibe when it comes to mountain biking when compared to road (cycling) counterparts. It’s nice to get off the road, away from the cars and traffic,” he says. "It’s much more peaceful in the forest. I can only sum it up as being much more 'chill,'” he adds.

York Region is shaping into a go--to destination for off---road cyclists -- mountain bikers --with three areas in particular that riders frequent and where local organizations spend a great deal of time working to enhance and grow.

Jefferson Forest in south Oak Ridges at Stouffville Road and Bayview Avenue features 15 kilometres of more than 20 beginner to seriously advanced trails, with wild names like Snakepit, Magic Carpet Ride, Low Orbit, Dive Bomber, Done Like Dinner, Balance Your Mind and Rubber Ducky. One of the longest trails here is called Crackhouse and is amusingly described on trailforks.com: “Crackhouse will take you on a tumultuous combination of fast flowy switchbacks followed by some hair--of--the--dog--that--bit--you, uphill switchbacks.” A switchback is a very tight turn usually on a slope or steep incline or decline. Many are 180--degrees turns and require a real bit of skill to successfully negotiate, using front and rear brakes while steering in and around and often over logs, stones, mud or soft gravel, all the while going as fast as you dare.

The York Regional Forest’s brown hill tract on Ravenshoe Road, east of Keswick, is a favourite of the York Mountain Biking Association (YMBA) and other riders. The group is affiliated with the larger Durham Mountain Biking Association, with over 1300 members in both clubs. The YMBA expends much energy and effort, particularly early in the season, repairing, building and maintaining a set of well marked loops of challenging single--track bike trails. Belinda Hosey, spokesperson for the York group, says: "We build our trails to International Mountain Biking Association standards, taking into consideration the grade, soil and minerals, endangered fauna and species, to make sure we make minimal impact on the natural environment -- from flowy single track to challenging log overs, bridges, skinnies and rock features."

The riders in the YMBA meet Thursdays at one of the preferred sites, which also includes the Jefferson Forest and Centennial Park in King, offering rides for groups, women, beginners, families. They also conduct skills clinics and trail building sessions.

Centennial Park is located on Jane Street, north of 16th Side Road in King Township centred around hilly farmland and forest tracts. This location offers a series of winding single--track trails specifically designed for mountain biking. There are three courses of varying difficulty, suitable for all levels of riders. The trails run through deep ravines, tree stands and grassy fields. Traction and balance are more challenging after rainstorms, leaving a number of muddy sections and puddles to either navigate around or through. But spewing mud off the tires is mere entertainment for cagey, adventurous riders anyway.

From early May until September, the King Race Series holds weekly Tuesday evening competitions, hosted by Jamie Davies of Evolution Cycles in Richmond Hill. It is open to cyclists of all ages and abilities and measures skill improvement. Riders are categorized by age and ability. Davies also oversees the regular Centennial Park trails maintenance and improvement events. 

York Region features many networks of urban trails for cycling -- the Nokiidaa/Tom Taylor trails in Aurora, Newmarket and East Gwillimbury, and the Toogood Pond area trail system in Markham, as examples. These tend to get quite busy and more conducive to lighter cycling. But Brown Hill, Jefferson Forest and Centennial Park are dedicated for nonmotorized off--roading, with their long stretches of twisting trails on varied terrain, although hikers and dog walkers can be found using them as well. YMBA member Heather Gramlow, who has been mountain biking for some time and travels extensively to find "epic mountain biking locations," sums up off--road biking: "We’re passionate about mountain biking. When we’re not riding trails, we’re washing our bikes, fixing our bikes, talking about our bikes, and dreaming about our bikes.”