Porcupine Ridge – MTB Trail

Length – 12 km

60% MTB single track
20% hiking trail
20% dirt road

Elevation – Slopes up to the ridge with a steep climb.  Levels off in the back, with rock mounds and small slopes.

Terrain – A mix of smooth soil track and flat rock. Plenty of rocks and boulders to navigate around and over, plus wood structures.

Traffic – Light MTB use, with hikers near the entrance.

Skill – Intermediate to very Advanced.

Trail Fee – Donation post; be nice and pay something.

Facilities – Parking lot, outhouse, camping at Whispering Pines next door.

Highlights – Great rock riding, challenging, lookout, possible swim in the river.

Maps – Map board at the trailhead, new signposts for each loop.

Website –  Muskoka Off Road Cycling Assoc. , Porcupine Ridge  on Facebook

Similar Trails – Buckwallow, Agreement Forest, Laurentian, South March

Local Club – Muskoka Off Road Cycling Assoc.   FB page

Access – Park across the street from Santa’s Village theme park. Parking is in the new location (the second lot). The trailhead is at the back, past the sign and pay station.

Open May 1st to October 31st

Porcupine Ridge is one of the most advanced mountain bike trail areas to ride in Ontario. 

If you seek massive granite flat rock with steep inclines, rock gardens and high bridges, then check out this awesome trail network. If you need to test your skills and give the legs a good workout, well here it is. 

Truly a technical playground of loops with plenty of rock to ride, steep, slow gnarly sections and tempting structures to take on.

Recently reopened, the trailhead and car lot have shifted to the right (south) 100 metres. Almost all of the 12 km of trail has been cut for MTB riding by locals, and they did a great job! Signs have been updated and you should not be losing your way. 

And the local new MTB club MORCA has done a wonderful job to maintain these loops. Drop a donation $$ at the trailhead post (or online) on the way out if you got your thrills in. Need more?…help them build the new trails at BRMC.

From the trailhead, the ride starts with a climb to the ridge. On the right is the easier (but not that easy) Corkscrew to work your way up. Or go at it on the shorter Devils Backbone where a minefield of rock awaits.

Once you work up to the stone ridge, it levels out and goes way back into the woods. Here you may find wooden bridges and skinnies that are not that hard to cross, just a tad high at times with dire consequences. (For those who live dangerously.)

Trails marked Double Black Diamond here are exactly that, difficult x2! So much fun if you are game. The variety of gnarly trail plus scenic views makes this place a gem. (Which we almost lost.)

If I have scared away half of you, that’s good, cause this place is for experienced riders on solid MTBs with big rims and dual shocks. You want easy, then ride the road. This will wake you up and spank you if you daydream!

Before riding some of the nasty…

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