I plan to take up xc mountain biking this year and I was wondering why I don't see any information on trails in the Caledon/Belfountain area.

As I will be a rookie xc biker, I'm looking to start on wide track and mild slope trails, which I recall there being plenty of linked to the Bruce Tail in the area I mentioned. In fact when hiking that area with my wife I recall mountain bikers on these trails.

I've found various web sites with trail information about Dundas Valley, Kelso, Hilton, Mansfield, Albion, etc., but I've never notice information about the region in question.

Anyway, if there is information about these trails online can you please pass along the links, or if you've hit the trails I'm talking about, I would like to hear your comments.

P.S. It's a georgeous area!

I haven't come across any web sites with specific information about the trails in Caledon and Belfountain, but in nearby Inglewood there is a decent bike shop and the people there probably know the trails quite well. Here's a link to their web site.

[url]http://www.caledonhillscycling.com

Anyway, the trails in behind Inglewood and up towards Belfountain are pretty good and offer some beautiful and challenging terrain. There is some particularly good singletrack there, with lots of tight areas to negotiate your bike through.

If you're afraid of bashing up your shins, you might consider some padding for those areas as some of the trails here are rocky.

For some easier (less technical) riding, but still offering a good workout, Forks of the Credit Provincial Park just north of Inglewood has some beautiful rolling hills and meadows and some good climbing opportunities.

As well, there is the added benefit of some nice scenery at the Cataracts, which is where you will find ruins of an old mill at the edge of the Credit River in the valley there.

The only downside to riding there is that you are the minority as a cyclist in that park, and will have to be on the lookout for hikers and dog walkers, and families with their kids.

You don't want to go blasting past them on your bike. Trail etiquette and good manners are key here. It's usually a mad house there on weekends too. I usually go on weeknights, when it's much quieter.

Of course, there is also the Trans Canada Trail, which is just a crushed limestone base that follows the path of the old CN rail line. It passes through Inglewood and goes as far as Terra Cotta to the west. At the Forks of the Credit park, the next section of the trail begins and carrries on westward towards Erin.

Obviously, there is nothing technical at all about this trail, but if you just want to get some miles in, and want some different scenery, it's still better than a road ride.

I'd be happy to give you more specific directions if you need them, but I have to admit that I don't know all the street names for the places I've been. I've only learned of these places from other people taking me there.

Mike

That's some good information. I will check out the shop in Inglewood, I know the town well (I guess not well enough that I didn't know about the shop though...) and can't wait to the spring.

Someone came into our shop a week or so ago and told us (thus this is unsubstantiated) that the Belfountain and Inglewood and Palgrave areas (all part of the Bruce Trail) are now closed to bikers permanently.

Do lots of research before you ride there. Never ride closed trails. Forewarned is forearmed.

Someone came into our shop a week or so ago and told us (thus this is unsubstantiated) that the Belfountain and Inglewood and Palgrave areas (all part of the Bruce Trail) are now closed to bikers permanently.

Do lots of research before you ride there. Never ride closed trails. Forewarned is forearmed.

Wow, if this is indeed true, it would be quite a shame. There really is some good riding to be had there. :(

I'm going to have to check into that the next time I'm in the area. I'm probably bringing some work to the shop in Inglewood soon anyway, so I'll ask them when I do.

SSteel is right about closed trails, though. Never ride them.

Mike

I paid a visit to the shop in Inglewood yesterday, and according to those folks, the trail closures are just a rumour. :)

There is apparently one section of trails that were fenced off by the land owner after some guys on ATV's did some damage on his property. I don't know specifically where this area is though.

Also, the guy who owns the shop suggested coming out for group rides with the club, as they know all the sections of the many trails that exist, (many more than I knew about) both in the Inglewood/Belfountain area and Palgrave, too.

Mike