Up to Canada (2025, a Preview)

Image from veloquebecvoyages.com

718 Outdoors has been leading trips all over the Northeast of the United States since 2014. Over the years, we have heard from our community that we should check our regions further afield, or even go international. Dealing with the logistics of getting 18 people to Croatia doesn't really interest me too much, however we are graced with a northern neighbor that allows for beautiful riding and great exploration!

The idea for a self-supported Canada Bike Tour has been kicking around my planning bran for about 2 years now. I've had a good deal of people that I know head up north for some thrilling and beautiful riding and camping. 

Planning proper began in the Summer of 2024...and I quickly realized that the route that I was envisioning, hitting all the places I wanted to see, was going to be 2 weeks and over 800 miles. I like to keep our longer trips between 6 and 8 days in order for folks to be able to get the time off from work, and not blow their whole vacation allotment at work.

As with ALL of our trips, the Canada Bike Tour is open to riders of all skill levels and ages above 18 (under 18 with an adult). We use a support rider system that has a rider in the bike to act as a sweep, as the is a "no-Drop" ride and no one will be left behind. One can judge for themselves is the daily mileage and elevation is achievable, but again, we've had beginner riders on routes that are way more demanding this this. The group size is 18, including a guide (me) and a Support Rider.

Check out our Testimonials Section to read what others have said about our tours

• Passports are required of American citizens travelling to Canada Required Documents
• Currently bikes are not allowed on the Amtrak train from NYC to Montreal ("The Adirondack"). It appears that it can be brought as checked luggage, but the website is unclear, best to call in advance.
• The Greyhound Bus from NYC to Penn Station doesn't allow bikes, but does provide for oversized luggage, also call in advance.
• You can take the train to St Albans VT ("The Vermonter"), and its a roughly 85 mile journey to central Montreal....bonus miles!
• In addition one could fly to Montreal with your bike, or ship it to a local bike shop and take the direct train/bus.
• Last but not least, one could drive or otherwise arrange a car/van-pool with other riders on the trip.

The route(s) I have developed for our Canada Bike Tour is broken into a Canada Bike Tour Left and a Canada Bike Tour Right. These will run consecutively from Sept 26 to Oct 3 (Left) and Oct 6 to Oct 13 (Right).

Canada Bike Tour Left is a self-supported Bike Tour that kicks off from St Jerome, Quebec (just north of Montreal) and follows the P'tit Train du Nord in a northwesterly direction until its terminus in Mount-Laurier. The group will then turn south for a trek to Ottawa. The last few days will be an eastbound return along the Ottawa River to Montreal. 8 days, 7 nights (380 miles, 14,110 feet of elevation gain).

2025 Canada Bike Tour Left Draft Itinerary:

• Day 1. Fri Sept 26: St Jerome to Val-David (27 miles) Le Petit Train du Nord
• Day 2. Sat Sept 27: Val-David to Labelle (40 miles) Le Petit Train du Nord
• Day 3. Sun Sept 28: Labelle to Mont-Laurier (58 miles) Le Petit Train du Nord
• Day 4. Mon Sept 29: Mont-Laurier to Blue Sea (52 miles)
• Day 5. Tues Sept 30: Blue Sea to Wakefield (49 miles)
• Day 6. Wed Oct 1: Wakefield to Plaisance (56 miles)
• Day 7. Thur Oct 2: Plaisance to Saint-Placide (52 miles)
• Day 8. Fri Oct 3: Saint-Placide to Montreal (37 miles)

Canada Bike Tour Right is a self-supported Bike Tour that kicks off from Blainville, Quebec, again just north of Montreal. The trip follows the St Lawrence River in a northeasterly direction until we reach Quebec City. The group then crosses the river and heads south through farmland to Sherbrooke. The group then heads west back to Montreal. 8 days, 7 nights (421 miles, 10,600 feet of elevation gain).

Canada Bike Tour Right Draft Itinerary:

• Day 1. Mon Oct 6: Montreal (Saint-Therese) to Berthierville (52 miles)
• Day 2. Tues Oct 7: Berthierville to Champlain (53 miles)
• Day 3. Wed Oct 8: Champlain to Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures (55 miles)
• Day 4. Thur Oct 9: Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures to Plessisville (54 miles)
• Day 5. Fri Oct 10: Plessisville to Richmond (48 miles)
• Day 6. Sat Oct 11: Richmond to Parc-national du Mont Orford (50 miles)
• Day 7. Sun Oct 12: Parc-national du Mont Orford to Marieville (64 miles)
• Day 8. Mon Oct 13: Marieville to Montreal (32 miles)