Roll your mountain bike over trails of rock slabs, teeter on rock skinnies, climb steep rocks, and float around natural bedrock berms, North Bay is an untapped mountain bikers dream in the heart of the Canadian Shield.
Ride
One word says it all: Es·carp·ment.
Es·carp·ment /noun: escarpment; a long, steep slope, especially one at the edge of a plateau or separating areas of land at different heights.
The Laurentian Escarpment runs through North Bay and is home to multiple mountain biking trails covering a wide range of terrain and features. There is a riding style for everyone; no matter the experience or skill. Cross country, sandy berms, fast, flowy, granite ridges, rock drops, steep climbs; North Bay has them all.
Ride Supports:
- Full Service Bike Shops: Wheelhouse Bikes; Cheapskates; Cycle Alley; SportChek; CycleWorks
Alerts:
- This is Northern Ontario – be bear aware.
- Cell service may be limited in some areas.
- All trails are MULTI-USE. Please practice trail etiquette when approaching pedestrians. Share the way!
Three Towers Trail Network
Introducing the brand new and growing Three Towers Trail Network: Now 13 kilometres of fast, winding and twisting trails for mountain bikers of all ages and skill levels. Officially opened in the Summer of 2021, the North Bay Mountain Bike Association has worked hard to create an exciting ride encompassing the best of the Canadian Shield. This two-way trail rolls over rock slabs, teeters on rock skinnies, climbs steep rocks, and floats around natural bedrock berms. There’s also a fun skills pump track at the trailhead to practice. And this is just the beginning! There are more mountain biking trails to come in the next few years.
Laurentian Escarpment Conservation Area
The Laurentian Escarpment Conservation Area boasts a spectacular view of North Bay, Lake Nipissing and the surrounding area. The multi-use trails offer a great variety of challenges for riders with double track, singletrack, punchy climbs and fast flowy descents for the adrenaline junkie.
The trails are popular with dog walkers and trail runners so be sure to yield to foot traffic and model responsible mountain biking trails etiquette.
Education Centre Trails
The Education Centre Trails weave up and down scenic wooded areas, over rocky outcrops, and along Duchesnay Creek as it cascades down the escarpment. Located in a beautiful forest behind Nipissing University and Canadore College, trail users can check out glacial remnants and tiny fossils.
Logged by lumber baron J. R. Booth back at the turn of the century, the area still has some large pines and a variety of coniferous and deciduous species. These trails offer a challenging, technical ride. And there’s always a good chance you’ll see some wildlife on the trails, and other trail users in this multi-use network.
Tupper Trails
Locally known as the Tupper Trails, this unmanaged trail network offers outer and inner loops with climbs, flow, and technical rocks to traverse. From the Tupper Drive access, the trail marked Green Narnia links to the upper reaches of Chippewa Creek and Highland Trail, built as a road a century ago to the once silver-rich community of Cobalt.
Now a multi-use trail, watch for old cars from a bygone era abandoned in the forest, a moss-covered, hand-built, rock staircase, and a stone house foundation. Depending on the water levels of Chippewa Creek, you may have the option to cross the creek and connect with the Ridge or follow Cedar Heights Road to hop on the Monastery Trails.
The Ridge
The Ridge is a beautiful singletrack from Cedar Heights East to the lookout at the end of O’Brien St. The trails take advantage of the open granite terrain that this oak ridge provides. Each trail was designed to ride in both directions. Once on the main trail, you will find several loops with monikers that include: Scenic Root, Precambrian Pavement and Twisty. The names say it all!
Monastery Trails
Locals refer to this tract as the Horse Trails or Monastery Trails from historical riding stables and the Monastery that flanked the North and East sides of the land. On a hot day, your senses may tingle with a distant neigh, or the sound of hooves hitting the granite. Get ready for sandy berms, creeks to cross, and wooden skinnies to test your balance. Giddy up, saddle up and enjoy the ride. Continue over to the Education Centre Trails, they are so close!
Rest
DISCOVER
Community
Before you hit the trails, visit the website for the North Bay Mountain Bike Association. There is always something going on with this growing club from trail builds to group rides, skills camps and a new race series in 2022. NBMBA is building a welcoming, inclusive mountain bike community in North Bay.
North Bay has three full service local bike shops to get the skinny on everything mountain bike: CycleWorks Bikes, Wheelhouse Bike Shop, and Cheapskates.
North Bay is a trail hub that hosts in the Women’s Ontario MTB Exchange.
EXPLORE
Beaches and Swimming Holes
After a day on the trails, take a break at one of North Bay’s popular public beaches. Bragging rights for a city to have not one, but two beautiful lakes! There are a total of 43 public beach access areas in North Bay! Three of these beaches are supervised: Shabogesic Beach Lake Nipissing, The Cove Trout Lake, and Olmsted Beach on Trout Lake.
SIP & SAVOUR
Craft Breweries
North Bay has a selection of Northern-themed, deliciously hoppy, local beers, and hard seltzers presented by talented local brew masters. Try a Bear Runner lager on the patio at the New Ontario Brewing Co, or a ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂRye Pale Ale featuring a beaver, paddling a canoe with a guitar at the musician-run Gateway City Brewery’s warehouse-style – you don’t get more Northern than that!! Or, pop into Cecil’s Brewhouse for some pub grub and a brew – from one of Cecil’s top-secret recipes.
Favourite Patios
Enjoy the patio post riding at Low Dawgs. Patio with a view? Welcome aboard our local landmark The Boat.  Waterfront dining is above average over at Average Joe’s. Save room for ice cream and vegan treats at the The Green Store. Ravenous for a steak? Head downtown to experience The Station Tap House + Steak Co. Family traditions and all your favourites are on the menu at Ivan’s. No city is complete without British Pub Fare and famous burgers, find them at the The Crown & Beaver.
ACCOMMODATION
A range of uniquely Northern accommodations from quiet campsites to lodges and simple B&Bs as well as a host of familiar hotels.
What cyclists are saying about Grind the North: “North Bay trails dialed up some small mountain enduro vibes with technical Rocky assents and speedy downs with fun man made features and loose powdery dirt” Women’s Mountain Bike Exchange Participant
What cyclists are saying about Grind the North: “I was just telling someone the other day how much I loved the trails in North Bay! You get some amazing, thrilling down hills that are full of flow and impressive features. It has been one of my most favorite places to ride. I’d climb all day for those fun downs!”
What cyclists are saying about Grind the North: “The trails were perfectly technical with a lot of options-And the climbs are nothing to those who come from the Copeland! I’d climb all day for those fun downs!”
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