Uxbridge Lindsay – Rail Trail

Length – 64 km

90% rail trail
10% roads

Elevation – Quite a flat route.

Terrain – A wide path with crushed stone, gravel, and asphalt, as well as wood bridges and open wetlands.

Skill – Easy

Traffic – A few cyclists and hikers, as well as snowmobiles in the winter. (In addition, management of the section of trail northeast of Uxbridge (east of Lakeridge Road) is under review. It is possible for trail users to now run into ATVs and dirt bikes as well.)

Maps – Maps and signage can be found at key points.

Facilities – No services close to the route except at Uxbridge, Lindsay, Sunderland, Cannington, and Woodville.

Highlights – Various marsh wildlife, old bridges, quiet stretches.

Trail Fee – Free

Phone – None

Website – Trans Canada Trail

Similar Trails – Oro-Medonte,  Caledon, Elora Cataract

Local Clubs – Uxbridge Cycling Club

Access – There are many entry points; in Uxbridge start at the park soccer field parking lot on Herrema Blvd. You may get a ticket parking on side streets.

The 44 km Uxbridge to Lindsay Rail trail is the closest for bike riders to try on the east side of Toronto.

Most is well–maintained, as it is part of the Trans Canada Trail.

A good and fast ride, this route stays away from traffic. It is also not muddy at all, considering much of it passes through wetlands. However, high water levels may flood the path in the spring.

Currently, the starting point in the town of Uxbridge is the historic trestle bridge that was just rebuilt. From there, the path goes a few kilometres northeast along a shady, crushed-gravel route.

The trail then opens up to an extensive, long wetland, with the path going alongside and across for 12 km. There is plenty of solitude, with endless marsh grasses and wide-open vistas.

Make the occasional stop at small ponds or bridges to look for wildlife. This will help break up a pretty straight and otherwise uneventful stretch.

I suspect the railroad once followed this route because the land could not be farmed, was unclaimed, and cheap to own. Yet, to lay a rail bed down for heavy train traffic must have cost plenty on the soft, marshy base.

The railway splits as it passes over Hwy 12 and 7 at Blackwater Junction, which is about 15 km from Uxbridge. The right arm goes another 29 km to Lindsay, where the scenery changes to woodlots and farm fields on a very linear route.

The other direction curves north on the left branch and…

Read the rest of this review in my trail guidebook along with 64 others. Features train history with better maps, elevation graphs and parking locations when you buy the eBook or paperback.