For this review, I’m combining the 40 km Northumberland Rail Trail with the next 11 km short segment that goes through Stirling to meet the Trail of Two Lakes RT.
This was all part of the Grand Junction Railway back in the day. I’ll start on the west side of the RT, heading out of Hastings, where the scenery continues to be beautiful just like the Lang Hastings RT, but the path does get rougher.
On this RT, motorized ATVs and snowmobiles are allowed, so you will find larger stones and loose gravel on a somewhat rutted double-tracked path. I don’t want to make it sound impassable, but just make you aware that you need a sturdy gravel/hybrid or mountain bike for this Intermediate RT ride. Wider tires and preferably shocks or a spring loaded seat post will help to soften the rough patches.
This Rail trail winds through hundreds of ancient hilly glacial deposits from when the ice sheet was over 2 km thick 20,000 years ago—can you picture that? It makes for a less than straight route (all the better, if you ask me).
You probably won’t need any bug spray, but do pull out the sunscreen, as this farm country tour has little shade.
This idyllic country ride passes many wetlands and rolling farm fields, with cattle and sheep staring at you and your odd wheeled contraption. After an hour or so, you’ll be closing in on Campbellford, which sits on the Trent River. Here you will cross over the locks and an impressive suspension bridge to view Ranney Falls, the highlight of this RT.
The bridge takes you to Ferris Provincial Park, where you could camp. It also takes you around on a detour out of town to meet the continuation of the RT. The connection is a little disjointed, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out.
You could also go north when you see the water to visit Campbellford, a medium-size community where you can have a meal, play the tourist by doing the river walk, or stay over. The bike path on Trent Dr by the water’s edge is lovely.
Over the distance of this RT, you will notice a …
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