Limerick Forest – MTB Trail

Length – ~180 km

30% MTB single track
50% hiking trail
20% double track access roads

Terrain – rather flat with a few small hills

Surface – sand, some soil and gravel, rooty sections,  large mud holes, , wetlands on fringe areas, trails carved out by dirt bikes

Skill – all levels, best for intermediate riders

Trail Maps – at trailhead, signs on post, a few maps, website maps

Facilities –  large parking lot, outhouse, chalet

Highlights – plenty of trail/road to explore

Trail Pass – free

Phone – 800 770 2170

Website – Limerick Forest

Similar Trails – Ganaraska, Northumberland

Local Clubs – Ottawa Mountain Bike Club

Trailhead –  Forsythe South Trails – large parking lot on eastside at 8773 Forsythe Rd.

Forsythe North Trails – parking at 9826 Forsythe Rd. by Shanty Trail

and further north  around 1175 Limerick Rd. by chalet, not much to ride here

Out in Eastern Ontario, in the middle of farm country lies Limerick Forest north of Preston. Here you will find a trail system that mountain bike riders can rip thru. This large forest claims to have 180 km of trails, from single track to gravel side roads. So there is plenty to ride and the area is divided into north and south zones.

I took a tour of the Forsythe south loops which are likely similar to the north end. What you will find along this fairly flat forest terrain, are small rolling hills, with a few boulders and rutted tree roots. 

The trails do drain well being sandy, so riding right after a rain would be cool and gives you a more firm base. There are also marshy areas that border many of these woodlots and you will know it when the mosquitoes find you. I saw few structures or large jumps, though the trails have plenty of rollers cut out by the dirt bikes.

Yes, the key thing here is, unlike all the other mountain bike riding locations on this site, this one is mainly a motocross and ATV playground.

Mountain bikes are welcome on their turf, and with that, you will find the terrain to be extremely gouged and trashed compared to smoother surfaces we may usually ride as singletrack. The turns the dirt bikes make will be wider so tight switchbacks, gnarly track is not here. It’s a faster ride.

The first thing I noticed while riding here was that a lot of my pedal energy was getting absorbed by this loose soft sand and that requires more effort to ride. With the singletrack tails gouged out into troughs and berms, you need to pay attention to…

Read more of this review in my MTB guidebook with topo maps and riding tips, plus 54 others. Available as an eBook or paperback.