Niagara-on-the-Lake Bicycle Tour

Explore the Niagara-on-the-Lake region on bicycle to appreciate the area’s viticulture from many vantage points. Bring your own bike or rent one from Zoom Leisure Bikes and head to a scenic waterfront trail that is part of the Greater Niagara Circle Route. Travel northwest along Lake Ontario’s southern shore for a peek at Toronto’s famous CN Tower in the distance.

A leisurely ride through Niagara-on-the-Lake’s quaint downtown leads to the Niagara Parkway. Pass by historic Fort George and several picturesque wineries including Inniskillin, which is world-renowned for its ice wine, before taking in the brilliance of the blue-green Niagara River.

It is easy to navigate the area’s flat and even back roads that connect peach and apple orchards and more than 50 Ontario wineries. Spacious tasting rooms and shaded outdoor seating areas provide a perfect respite for cyclists, and many wineries have small bites, casual restaurants or pop-up events with food trucks.

Throughout the region, well-tended public garden displays are lush and vibrant. Farm markets and roadside stands are abundant with local fruits and vegetables. End a good ride with sweet and savory rewards — a bag of fresh-picked cherries or peaches from Kurtz Orchards farm market or a charcuterie plate and a glass of perfectly chilled riesling at Between the Lines Winery. Take in a Lake Ontario sunset from the viewing deck at Konzelmann Estate Winery, the area’s only lakefront winery, and be sure to pick up some Ontario-grown fruit spreads at Greaves Jams & Marmalades.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, jump on the Welland Canal Parkway Trail and bike alongside the cargo freighters making their way from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. A museum and viewing area at Lock 3 is worth a look. Cool off after a long ride at Nickel Beach in Port Colborne at the southern end of the path. For more information about these and other destinations in the area, visit niagaraonthelake.com.