Introduction
The journey by bicycle from Toronto to Montreal can be a wonderful experience. If you follow this route it will take you through some of  Ontario's oldest, and most interesting, communities. As you follow such routes as Heritage Highway and Loyalist Parkway, you will absorb some of the history of the former "Upper Canada". The terrain is primarily flat since you are following either the north shore of Lake Ontario or the St. Lawrence River for the entire trip. This is not the fastest, shortest route from Toronto to Montreal; rather it is, in my opinion, the most interesting (and safest) way to cycle between Canada's two largest cities. This is not the route to follow if you wish to complete this trip in the least possible time: if that is the case you are welcome to battle the traffic on far busier roads! It should be noted that most highways in the Provinces of Ontario and Québec do not have paved shoulders. It is important to choose your cycling route carefully if you wish to arrive at your destination safe and sound!

The Waterfront Trail (Ontario)
The Waterfront Trail is a multi-use (pedestrian, cycling, rollerblading) recreation trail that stretches from Niagara on the Lake to the Quebec border, along the shore of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. The route that I describe in this report more-or-less follows the Waterfront Trail. However, it is definitely not a good idea to simply follow the Waterfront Trail as a direct cycling route between Toronto and the Quebec border as it does not always make use of the best roads and occasionally takes some very annoying side trips. In any case, you should definitely visit the Waterfront Trail's Website (www.waterfronttrail.org) prior to embarking on your Toronto to Montreal ride.

La Route Verte (Quebec)
La Route verte is Quebec's amazing, and award winning,  network of cycling routes that criss-cross the Province in every direction. The route that I describe follows sections of the Route verte all the way from the Ontario border to Montreal. You should definitely visit the Route verte Website (www.routeverte.com) prior to leaving on your trip.

The Weather
The direction in which you travel is an important consideration. The route described herein goes from west to east since this is the way of the prevailing winds in this part of the country. The weather is ideal for cycling between early-May and mid-October. July and August can often be hot and humid, but this is not of major concern since you are near water (and places to swim) almost all of the time. The months of November to March (inclusive) should be avoided unless your bike is equipped with snow tires!

Public Transportation
PLANE: Toronto and Montreal are both major cities and, as such, are well served by the world's airlines. Pearson International Airport in Toronto is to the north of the city, and to join the Waterfront Trail you will need to head south for about 20 km. It is possible to cycle from the airport to the lakeshore and a cycling route can be found by clicking on the Toronto Airport link. The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport in Montreal is a 10 min ride from the route described in this report.
TRAIN: There is frequent train service between Toronto and Montreal by VIA Rail Canada. Be warned, however, that only one train per day in each direction accepts bicycles. In 2008, these trains are #57 westbound (departing Montreal at 9:40 AM) and #60 eastbound (departing Toronto at 11:35 AM). A charge of $20 applies to the bicycle, but VIA supply an excellent box (you simply need to turn the handlebars). You can either check your luggage or take it on the train with you. It is not necessary for passengers to travel on the same train as their bicycles.
BUS: Coach Canada operates buses between Toronto, Kingston and Montreal and Greyhound Canada operates buses between Toronto and Belleville. You should check with the companies for their current policies regarding the transportation of bicycles. 

Bugs and Bears!
Mosquitoes and black flies are their worse in May and June. However, you are not traveling through the bush on this trip so they will only be of concern if you should elect to camp during these months. You will not be in bear country, and there really are no animals that will bother you. We have no poisonous snakes in this part of Canada.

The Author!
This Website has been compiled by Brian Hedney, an avid cyclist and retired educator living in Port Hope, Ontario.  If you have any suggestions for improving this route description, please contact the author by e-mail (president@freewheelers.ca). The material contained in this Website is the intellectual property of Brian Hedney, and is intended to assist fellow cyclists. Feel free to link this site to other cycling and tourism sites. Cyclists may reproduce the material contained within this Website for their personal use, but not for profit or gain. 

page updated on 08 May 2010