Clocking in a comfortable 1,000km, The Highlands Loops takes the crown for the most technical ride in the province. Sport touring is the name of the game, but big American cruisers will be just as comfortable here. But what I love most about The Highlands Loop is the vibe out here—it's definitely looser–more laid back, and definitely more about enjoying life to the fullest. You’ll find amazing twisties through hill and dale, but you’ll always find comfy places to slow down and grab a bite. There’s more than a week worth of riding when combined with the other loops in the region. 

Required reading:

• Rideable Roadside Attractions
• Highlights of Ride The Highlands
• Great Food and Drink on Ride the Highlands
• Ginny Allen Rides the Highlands

Ride the Edge: The Big Loop

One of my personal favourites, not only because of the proximity to my hometown but the variety of places you’ll stop along the way. Starting out in the Gravenhurst/Bracebridge area, we’re quickly immersed in the culture of Muskoka—huge cottages, deluxe eats, craft beer and expensive cars—this is a playground for the rich, and you might spot a celebrity or two. But we’re soon into the truly beautiful backwoods as we head north, floating gently between Highway 11 and 400 through Parry Sound, Loring-Restoule and into the iconic wilderness of Algonquin Park. Watch the curves in the early season—otherwise, you’re in for an amazing ride.

Required reading:

• Riding the Edge in Muskoka
• Official Explorers’ Edge Page for Ride the Edge (with maps)
• VIDEO: 4 Motorcycle Journalists Ride the Edge
• Edge Check - How Local Tourism Goes the Extra Mile for Riders

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Ride the North: The Great Legends Tour

Ah, Northeastern Ontario—this is where I go for my time off, with or without motorcycles. There is so much to discover in this region, I think they must’ve coined Ontario’s slogan “Yours to Discover” after a trip up here. Starting in North Bay and Sudbury is always fun because both of these cities are a good time—karaoke, history and culture, live bands and restaurants you can’t find anywhere else—there’s too much to list. And as you head north to explore the entire region by road, you’ll realize that there’s something that sets Northeastern Ontario apart. It's the roads. Thanks to some government spending a few years ago, many of the roads are freshly paved and maintain their twistiness. They're also quiet, so you and your friends will have plenty of room to yourself. You’ll need to stop in Temiskaming Shores, Timmins, Kapuskasing, and Cochrane too, to name just a few. 

Required Reading:

• Official Route Map - Northeastern Ontario
• ADV Riding on the Great Legends Tour
• Following in the Footsteps of Legends

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Ride Lake Superior

This is it—the one that started it all. Sometimes referred to as the Lake Superior Circle Tour—and you’ll see some signs for this along the way—this trip is unique in that it crosses international borders, and follows the coast of the world's largest freshwater lake. I never knew just how awesome this ride was until a few years ago, after many years of doing the North Shore, I finally ventured into the states and started my trip around the lake in Michigan, and it blew my mind. While I’ll always love the shoreline from Wawa to Sault Ste. Marie, the sandy shores of the lake from Copper Harbour to Duluth left me wondering what continent I’d found myself on, and the rocky crags from Duluth to Thunder Bay put me in a gothic state of mind. The cities all along the way were impossibly fun and cool to explore, but the views of the lake all along the way changed my mind on what I thought possible for Ontario. 

Required Reading:

• TRIP PLANNER: Beginners Itinerary to RLS
• Canada Moto Guide: How to Ride Lake Superior
• A 2000km Beast: One of Canada’s Top 10 Drives
• Step by Step - Ride Lake Superior
• Official Ride Lake Superior Website

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Georgian Bay Coastal Route

Georgian Bay is known by boaters far and wide for its beautiful, and tempestuous, waters, and thousands of windswept islands and shoals. It is one of those places that makes you feel that the earth makes sense and that there is a grand plan for everything and everyone. And riders know that the ferry ride from South Baymouth to Tobermory on a warm sunny day is the cure for the travel bug. Combining the majestic cliffs of the Bruce Peninsula, the slow pace of life on Manitoulin and the waterways around Parry Sound, and most riders agree–this is a weekend ride to reset your mind.

Required Reading:

• Must Do Road Trips: GBCR
• Couples Ride - GBCR
• VIDEO: GBCR
• Seven Day Route - Georgian Bay

Home to the world-renowned motorcycle meetup—Port Dover’s Friday the 13th, Cruise the Coast is a series of routes throughout Ontario’s Southwest region—stretching from Niagara Falls to Windsor in the west. This is an agricultural area, with warm sandy beaches all along the coast of Lake Erie. You’ll find exploring the backroads here a mix of young forests and open agricultural landscape with plenty of charming little towns all along the way. 

Required Reading:

• Cruise the Coast Official Website
• Everything You Need to Know to Cruise The Coast

There’s no doubt that the riding season in 2021 will be busy—even if travel opens back up, we know that riders have discovered what an incredible riding playground Ontario is—and they may not want to bother with the hassle of heading to Europe or Asia. So plan ahead, as we expect that many places will be packed by the time summer hits and the world opens up again.