Route Author: John Swarbrick.
Location: Kinmount, Peterborough/Haliburton Counties, Ontario
Estimated Gravel Time: 80%
Full Route Map:
Distance: 46.8km (29.1 miles)
Suggested Tire Width: 38mm or wider
Amenities: The official starting point in the village of Kinmount includes a grocery store, a convenience store and several small restaurants/chip stands. The hamlet of Irondale, at the route’s approximate halfway point, is home to a general store and gas bar.
Parking: The Kinmount Heritage Museum, at the former railway station along the Victoria Rail Trail, has plenty of parking available.
Route Description:
This route explores the twisting gravel cottage roads and rowdy rail trails found to the south of Haliburton.
Starting counter-clockwise from Kinmount, exit the village via Regional Rd. 503, and follow the paved shoulder for approximately 7km all the way to White Boundary Rd. Here, riders veer right as the route transitions from asphalt to gravel, climbing steadily up this twisting dirt road all the way to Salerno Lake Rd.
Turn left here and continue your climb until finally reaching Twist Lane, after which caution ought to be exercised as the route descends steeply, before eventually returning to Regional Rd 503. Here, riders are advised to let their brakes cool down with a rest stop at the Irondale General Store.
Continuing south-west, follow the 503 for just over 1.5km before making a right and returning to gravel via Milburn Rd. Beware - this lovely stretch of twisty treelined gravel is well-earned, as riders make up for their previous scorching descent with a quad-burning half kilometre ascent.
After cresting the top of the hill, continue for another 7km to the Haliburton County Rail Trail.Here, riders have the option of following the rail trail north and connecting to the Haliburton Highlands Half ‘n Half, turning this route into a 120km+ epic! Otherwise, continue south along the sandy and choppy rail trail as the route descends for approximately 13.5km, paralleling the course of the Burnt River all the way back to the starting point in Kinmount.