Where to Ride in The Kawarthas

Three Motorcycle routes to get your heart pumping just outside the GTA

By Mike Jacobs Mike is passionate about sharing his love for the North with the rest of the world.

April 12, 2023

Two hours northeast of Toronto are some of the best loved roads in province: Buckhorn Road, Dyno Road, Rice Lake Drive — the list could go on and on. But this is just the tip of The Kawarthas, a region well known by local motorcyclists for hiding some of the best routes in the world. Recently Kevin Cullen, the Motorhead Traveller, visited the Kawarthas to take in some of the attractions there. His video gives you a taste of the region — but if you want motorcycle routes, you'll need to keep reading ...

Motorcycle Route Options in Peterborough & the Kawarthas

Route #1

From Hwy#115 at Lansdowne Street East. Follow straight through onto Television Road.
Turn right onto Parkhill Rd E which turns into Warsaw Rd (#4).
Turn left onto University Road (passing the Trent University Wildlife Sanctuary)
Turn right onto Nassau Mills Road (Regional Road 32) – this is known as the River Road – it’s a windy scenic route that follows the Otonabee River from Peterborough to Lakefield, and passes by Trent University
#32 will turn into Water Street when you arrive in Lakefield.
Riverhouse Co. Restaurant is located on Bridge Street which is at the end of Water Street.
From Lakefield follow Queen Street (#29) to Hwy #28 – this is a great scenic route and you will pass places like Young’s Point where you can eat and stay at The Old Bridge Inn or stop at Lockside Trading Company, Burleigh Falls, Woodview where you can stay and eat at Viamede Resort – this route will take you all the way to Apsley and north to Bancroft.

Route # 2

From Hwy#115 at Lansdowne Street East. Follow straight through onto Television Road.
Turn right onto Parkhill Rd E which turns into Warsaw Rd (#4).
Turn left onto University Road (Trent Wildlife Sanctuary)
Turn left onto Nassau Mills Road and then right onto Water Street (also past Trent U – Timmy’s just to the left of the intersection)
Water Street turns into #29 Lakefield Rd
Follow Lakefield Road and merge left onto Buckhorn Road (#23) (landmark: Paris Marine)
This route is the one you were talking about the other day – it will take you to the #507 which is the windy route takes you into Haliburton
Claire De Lune B&B is a great choice and there are a smattering of small mom and pop restaurants along the route.
Along either of these two routes, you can take Hwy # 36 either in Burleigh Falls or Buckhorn to alternate between Route 1& 2 or loop back around (ie. #23 to #36 to #28 north to Aplsey or #32 to #28 to #36 to #507 to Haliburton) Either route takes you past Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park.

Route #3

Coming from Northumberland County – Hwy #401 to Port Hope (from East or West) and take #28 into Balieboro.
Turn right onto Hwy # 2 – this is a scenic route along Rice Lake – a great place to stay and eat is Elmhirst Resort in Keene. You can either turn left onto #34 which turns into #28 – a great attraction in this area is Lang Pioneer Village Museum
#28 will take you into Lakefield or keep following #2 when you hit Hastings, take Hwy#45 which turns into #40 to Crows Landing - another great place to stay and eat is Irwin Inn.
From Irwin Inn take #47 which turns into #46 in a loop around Petroglyphs Provincial Park – you can either take #504 to Aplsey and back down to Peterborough or continue on #46 until it turns into #504 towards Glen Alda and turns into #620 taking you into Apsley as well.

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About Mike Jacobs

Mike is an avid Northern traveller, having spent years traversing its backroads, and visiting its remote lodges and fun cities by car, RV, motorcycle, and boat. There's always something new to discover in the North and Mike never shies away from the next great adventure. Mike is the chairman of the board for the Tourism Technology Company.