Ride the Highlands – Your Questions Answered
You may know Ride the Highlands for its sweeping roads, scenic vistas and epic routes, or maybe this is your first time hearing about us. Either way, Ride the Highlands has been around for over 10 years creating motorcycle magic and memories for you and your trusty two wheeled steed. Here is a quick FAQ to answer any of the questions you might have about Ride the Highlands.
Where is Ride the Highlands Located?
We’ve been asked this many times over the years. Our epic motorcycle routes are located in the beautiful Ontario’s Highlands, which is made up of the counties of Renfrew, Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington, Hastings and Haliburton in Ontario. This motorcycle playground is very central to many locations and is an easy weekend getaway if that’s all the time you have.
Who is behind Ride the Highlands?
Ride the Highlands is a program that was developed and is managed by Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO) with the help of BC Hughes, experts in tourism route development. Each year, as a part of their tourism strategy, Ontario’s Highlands continues to fund this epic motorcycle program. As Ride the Highlands continues to develop more motorcycle routes, OHTO works in partnership with its counties, Renfrew County, Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington, Hastings and Haliburton, to build onto the program.
What type of motorcycle routes do you offer?
Crafted by the road builders of the past, our routes are anything but straight. As a means to access the incredible timber resources in the region and to connect communities, roads were cut through dense forests and blasted through rock creating the motorcycle routes we ride today. These roads now make up our four main routes, two specialty routes, five local rides and one adventure route (with more gravel routes to come later this year).
Is there a route you would recommend I ride?
If you have the time, we say ride them all! However, we know sometimes our schedules aren’t always on our side. Here’s our quick take on our four paved routes:
The Highlands Loop (1000 kms) – This is the largest of our routes giving you the full tour of Ontario’s Highlands from end to end to end. We suggest taking three or more days as there is so much to see, eat and do along the way.
Deep Valley Run (771 kms) – The second largest of our routes, Deep Valley Run has some of the best roads and backdrops in Ontario’s Highlands, meandering its way through the whitewater playground of the Ottawa and Madawaska Rivers.
Dynamite Alley (508 kms) – The name says it all. You will find yourself riding through epic rock cuts on this route, as going around is just not an option. This route also takes you through Ontario’s most famous provincial park, Algonquin Park, a highlight not to miss during the peak of autumn.
Rideau Ridge (261 kms) – It may be short, but it is oh so sweet. This route takes you along parts of the Rideau Canal, and packs a punch with the number of twisties you’ll ride. If you’re looking for a quick weekend rip, this is it.
Why are you promoting gravel roads?
For years many adventure riders have reached out asking Ride the Highlands to create gravel routes. In 2022, with partnership from the Ottawa Valley Tourism Association, we had the opportunity to hit the gravel and scope out some epic gravel roads. This resulted in the Pick-Axe loop which launched in the 2023 riding season.
With the overwhelming positive feedback and partnership from other counties throughout Ontario’s Highlands, Ride the Highlands will be creating two more ADV gravel routes this season. Stay tuned early this summer when the second route launches, with the third to follow in the fall.
What do you mean by motorcycle friendly stops?
Ride the Highlands prides itself on ensuring every recommended stop is motorcycle friendly. This means that every operator we include on our list of restaurants, accommodations and attractions has gone through a checklist to ensure they make your experience the best it can be.
This may include motorcycle parking, places to hang gear, or a wash station for your bike and available tools. Some of our restaurants like The Iron Rooster even include motorcycle themed menu items. Currently, we have 227 motorcycle friendly stops, and continue to add more each season.
How do we navigate these routes?
The best way to navigate Ride the Highlands is by using our free paper map (updated yearly) or our downloadable GPX files which you can access on each route website page. Even if you download the GPX file, we highly recommend you order our paper map too as cell service can be spotty from time to time. Did we mention our maps are free, and they come with a sticker?
With so many different routes, we’ve been asked about route signage. While we would love to have on-route signage, unfortunately the vastness of our region and our limited resources have not allowed us to invest in this navigational tool.
Are there any perks to choosing Ride the Highlands?
Besides the epic roads, scenic vistas and super friendly locals? Of course there are. Many of our accommodations and attractions offer motorcycle riders special pricing. As well, some accommodations such as Sir Sam’s Inn & Spa and Best Western Pembroke Inn have exclusive motorcycle packages just for you.
Each year, we at Ride the Highlands also like to show our appreciation by handing out various souvenirs. This year, you can find route patches throughout Ontario’s Highlands.
Other Perks:
Wait, there’s more perks to choosing Ride the Highlands. Our friendly staff are always happy to lend a helping hand with your trip planning. Just send us an email, or DM us on Facebook or Instagram and we will provide you with itinerary suggestions and answer any route questions you might have while planning. Our Ride the Highlands Official Rider Forum is also a great tool to talk with riders who have ridden the area or are also planning a ride themselves.
We love Ride the Highlands, and we hope you do too. With the hustle and bustle of life, we try to make your trip planning as smooth as the roads you ride in Ontario’s Highlands. If you have questions about Ride the Highlands that we haven’t answered, please send us an email and we will be happy to help. Until then, happy planning and enjoy the ride.