Trying to finish the route for this summers two day club ride. Anyone have any GPS tracks to share for area around Bancroft? I have the route built up to Eels Lake and I can get myself to close to Cardif by memory but I need to fill in the blanks plus I would like to route north of Bancroft via Lake St Peter for the return trip. I will take anything people have and piece it all together.
My favourite road from up there is the old Airport Road which is an ancient paved road that is in massive disrepair. Ever since Bob lead a ride through there I've been wondering why they would pave a road and then let it fall into such disrepair. It seems like a scene out of an apocalypse movie 50 years after civilization has collapsed. Last time I was on old Airport Road I encounter a moose wandering down the old pavement. Starts from here: https://goo.gl/maps/m6NPZwmX3wzAJqNa7 I emailed you Bob's tracks that he graciously provided last I time I had a beer with him.
I've often wondered about the history of that road myself... it's in such disrepair it seems like it was originally paved in the 50s or 60s! Was it a private road to begin with? Where did it lead to? I've travelled from Bancroft all the way to Loop Rd, and it doesn't seem like there is much inbetween (that you would pave a road for at any rate). If anyone knows a bit of the history or where to read up on it please let me know! PS - y2ktm, if you make it to Cardiff there is a trail that leads from Cardiff North to Airport Rd (which then easily connects to Bancroft). The trail from Cardiff to Airport Rd is NASTY (albeit VERY fun and scenic... there are some amazing "mud flats" in a clearing at the half-way point). The dry river bed would be the most challenging, especially since there's some up-hill sections. Definitely not "newbie" friendly but for any moderate and above riders it is fun as heck!!
Any chance I can the track for airport road? I'd like to try it this summer I can't find it on any maps
I will be using some of this stuff for this years ride. The plan is to ride to Weslekoom Trial ride, stay overnight, ride the event, crash another night and then ride home!
I don't have access to my tracks while here at work, but this is the road: https://goo.gl/maps/CyYNgtDHEW1WWYVX6
The parts of Airport Road shown on Google Maps at the 100m and above zoom level are OK but mainly easy dirt road. The part we always try to use is the west-bound section AFTER the road turns North at Old Diamond Lake Rd at goes over to CR648 (Loop Road). We prefer the W -> E direction as it's mainly uphill and more difficult . I did that a few years back (on my DR350) with Roland Koper on his V-Strom (no knobbies) and not his Husky - he's a braver man than me!!! Bob
Can anyone tell me if these tracks are passable for small bikes? Not a fan of deep mud or water. Planning to go July 7
Drew, I would bet that all those tracks can get tough and wet in places. Anything that says ATV means water to me. Thats what those guys seem to like. A small, light bike is better for the aggressive stuff but if you don't like mud or water you may be looking at the wrong trails. I kinda think i watered out on that Minden to Bigwind run. And your Gooderham trail was part of the Dacre so that could be tricky also. It also depends on the year and month you go. Some years when its really dry, trails aren't near the trouble as when its a wet season.
I've had decent luck in the summer months around Gooderham, I made the mistake of trying some wet trails around May and ended up in some bad situations (dragging my bike out by the wheel). I haven't done the trails north of 503 but the one you posted to the south I don't think is too bad. One thing I learned around there, if you think the water can't get worse once you pass "this hole" trust me it does. Best way to know for sure is give it a try. bring a rope and a friend, let us know how it is!
Thanks guys we are taking four day to go around Algonquin with four of us drz,dr,klx crf230. I'm pretty confident on most of my tracks, these are the ones I'm most worried about so I asked. I'll share my actual route when I get back. Last year we went up old nippising road across powossan to mattawa, through VMUTS and up to Ville Marie QC and then back. It was amazing! It was fun to see the actual track once I got back home on the big screen.
I was up in that area last week for 5 days camping with my bike along with 5 other guys.. The trail system is amazing and lucky for me I ran into a local guy that was more than happy to show me around since he was riding by himself and the other guys I was with had more street bikes than dual sport.. We ran the Calabogie and a bunch of other routes around there. Here is a youtube link to the one trail we took which was double track / snowmobile and fairly easy to get down. My GoPro8 took a small stone to the screen protector the day before so it's suffering from a slight glare but still decent.. The trails get a bit tighter towards the end of the video. https://www.google.com/maps/dir//44.9324484,-78.1126779/@44.9318387,-78.1126013,16.75z
Great looking trail for sure! I would love to know exactly where that route is. Do you follow West Eels Lake Rd. from Dyno Rd. and then veer north all the way to Hwy. 118, or are you following West Eels Lake Rd. south west towards Fire route 72? Appreciate any input, thanks.
We stayed at the Honestead Trailer Park at the corner of west eels lake road and the trail was just outside that south down eels road about 1km on the right. There is also some amazing, slightly more challenging trails right at the stop sign at eels road and homestead road on the right. It leads right to Bancroft apparently but I didn’t go that far. My chain broke so I had to get picked up and got a replacement the next morning at Wayne’s World Polaris (great guys in there) This video starts right outside the homestead trailer park stop sign. Corner of homestead and eels road and goes north-east.
Has anyone ridden from Loop Rd to Bancroft via old Airport Rd recently? Was thinking of doing that solo this weekend but haven't been down that road in over 5 years, so I'm not sure if anything has changed since the last time I took it. Any info greatly appreciated! (and if anyone else is in the area this weekend and is interested in joining me let me know!)
