When plans go wrong - My failed attempt at riding on the Dufferin County Rail Trail
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- UPDATE: I have been advised that this trail is useable for cyclists, perhaps I could have ridden on it anyway!!
There is a rail trail that runs for over 100 KM from Orangeville to Owen Sound. I have wanted to ride it for quite some time now, but have been told that the southern end is impassable. I took that to mean it is rocky or overgrown. What I discovered is that, cycling is not permitted as the whole of the Dufferin County Rail Trail is private and is exclusively for ATV's.
Not letting this put me off having a great ride, I found country roads and other trail systems that fulfilled my need to have a great day on the bike.
Another great video!! I rode from Oakville to Sauble Beach over 2 days last summer. I took county roads to Shelburne on day 1 then picked up the Grey Co. trail through to Rockford, just south of Owen Sound. The trail was a little rough until Dundalk for my Cervelo Caledonia road bike but the 32mm tires helped. It should be better this summer though as they were actively resurfacing the day I rode. The Bruce County rail trail is another in that area a bit further west to check out. That one was quite rough 3 years ago on the Caledonia with 28s. Beautiful country up through Grey-Bruce (don’t tell anybody!!😊).
That sounds like a great ride and some great advice too. I am also looking forward to riding on the Bruce trail, but you know Mike, I am going to have to tell people, as I have a compulsion to make videos everywhere I ride!! 😉
I really need to get my bottom bracket replaced so I can hit the trails again. Been wanting to ride this trail for years so this video was a great tip about the better starting point. Thank you.
Thanks Kevin. I may have been wrong though. Looks like there is access to the southern areas, it's just their signage that is confusing. I am going to return in a few days, so watch out for another video on this trail soon.
@@cardiaccyclist7477 I'm definitely looking forward to that! It's not just how good or not the southern section is, it's how it can *complete* loops and extensions to other great trails. There's a number of trails I hesitate to do because of being forced to take major arteries or highways to connect to them. It's just not worth the tension of having vehicles pass you with only cms to spare at 100kph....with one exception: If I can walk on the shoulder for a km to connect to backroads or trails, then it's worth it.
It was SO good to see you smiling, contented and satiated at the end of this episode. I was braced for a dud.
@@stephensaines7100 100% my thoughts too.
It’s not banned at all, only to atvs and dirtbikes without a pass, I live in Orangeville and ride this often. They’ve closed that section because they’re going to refinish it. In fact, that’s news to me because I was just on this section two weeks ago and it was open. I’ve talked to the people in charge of the trail and it’ll be open to bicycles, equestrians, and yes atvs and dirtbikes with trail passes. It is refinished north of that section all the way to Owen Sound. The rail trail is now under the stewardship of Dufferin County Forest and their goal is “active transportation corridor”.
Thank you so much for this. Based on what you are saying, I shall be returning later in the week and riding the southern parts of the trail, and of course, making another video. I still think they could make the signage less ambiguous (or maybe I am just not too smart!! 🤣)
@@cardiaccyclist7477 Might be better to wait until they finish the trail work, if you like I can do a reconnaissance before you plan to head out. All I know is that the new gravel is happening this year. That taped off section might be because of that construction you saw for the warehouse, I think there’s some drainage work going on. The trail is refinished where it crosses county road 11 and then good all the way to Owen Sound (which is very far), maybe only 10km of rough stuff.
@@rustyblade077 I am thinking I may go to Dundalk and head south. I will be on my mountain bike, which will handle the rough stuff well, but it will also drastically limit how far I go.
hELLO, i AM thinking to ride this trail in two weeks. is it open to cyclists?
It’s open. There’s only one section close to Orangeville that’s closed from 2nd Line to County Rd 10.
Hey Andrew glad you made the most of it. I personally would have just gone on the trail begged forgiveness, and avoided that busy road ugh. Cheers 🍻
And you probably would have done the right thing because according to some locals I am now finding out that you ARE actually allowed to ride on it!!! 😂
At the Orangeville end of the ride it looked like you were on Hwy 10 which we crossed over going home from Screaming Squirrel this weekend.
Beautiful countryside in those parts.
I was close to it, but not quite on it. It is definitely beautiful around there.
I've been looking forward to riding this trail vicariously through you for some time now. Thanks for your efforts! (I lived near Laurel and went to school in both Orangeville & Shelburne and have family from Owen Sound so the area is close to my heart). Good to know about the problems before I travel back there from the East Coast to ride the old haunts.
It looks like I may have been mistaken in thinking bikes are not allowed. I am going to return in a day or two to check it out....AGAIN!! watch out for the upcoming video.
@@cardiaccyclist7477 more vicarious riding? Sign me up!
That's unfortunate the Dufferin County portion of that trail was closed off for you, Andrew, but saw another commenter mention it was subject to refinishing. Wished GO Transit would offer weekend service to Orangeville so those who don't have a car can give the trail a try.
Yes, I wish that rail/bus services were so much more extensive. It would really open up possibilities.
Nice video! I found the Markdale to Owen Sound was the nicest section - Dundalk to Markdale was too chunky for my touring rig. However if you want to see how a rail trail can be done, you owe it to yourself to check out the P’tit Train du Nord in Quebec. It’s simply stunning. Ride safe!
I hope to spend a day or two in Eastern Ontario later this month. I am not sure if I will make it as far as Quebec though. Maybe later in the year.
Thanks for trying this trail. I’ve wondered about it and found it hard to find info about it. The little I did learn was that it was pretty rough in the southern end. From the comments sounds like it’s being improved.
David, it looks as though I was wrong and you are allowed to ride on it. I will be returning in a couple of days to do a proper exploration and review. Watch out for the video.
As per the comments, inform them their signage is wrong. It's irresponsible.
I think it is more that it is ambiguous. I prefer it when a trail has clear signage saying what is and what is not allowed on the trail.