Location: Westport, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario
Estimated Gravel Time: 75%
Full Route Map:
Distance: 69.8km (43.4 miles)
Suggested Tire Width: 35mm minimum. Greater suggested for early season riding
Amenities: The village of Westport has a couple of pubs, restaurants, and convenience stores. There are no other amenities on route.
Parking: 48-hour municipal parking available downtown off of Bedford Street, Westport:
Route Description:
This route explores the ample gravel north of Frontenac Provincial Park, including Devil Lake Road, a lengthy section of twisty single-lane gravel that briefly enters the northern edge of the park itself.
Riding clockwise, exit the village of Westport via Salem Road for approximately 5km. Traffic can move quickly via this section of pavement, but there is a wide gravel shoulder available should riders feel uncomfortable riding with traffic.
Eventually, riders leave Salem Road, turning left onto the route’s namesake Devil Lake Road and transitioning to gravel after less than a kilometer or so. Devil Lake Road consists of 13km of dirt, including wide gravel farm roads and single lane forest tracks, eventually kissing the northern edge of Frontenac Provincial Park before descending to Canoe Lake Road. Here, the route turns left, briefly heading south before turning right onto James Wilson Road.
James Wilson Road includes a significant section of unmaintained with two decent climbs, before transitioning to Bunker Hill Road just over 6km later. Bunker Hill Road eventually makes a hard right, heading straight north to Westport Road. Here, the route turns right following Westport Road for just over a kilometer before turning left onto Buck Bay Road and continuing on quiet pavement for just over 2km before returning to gravel via White Lake and Green Bay Roads.
Here, the route remains on dirt for almost 10km, eventually returning to pavement briefly south of Burridge Lake. Soon after passing a charming old schoolhouse and church, riders return to gravel for approximately 11km before eventually turning right onto Mountain Road and continuing via pavement all the way back to the starting point in Westport. Traffic can move quickly here, but there is a wide gravel shoulder available.
