Erie Shores - Itinerary
Riders for Cycle Canada's Erie Shores bicycle tour meet at Brock University in St. Catharines for a bus ride to Windsor. An orientation session will be held on the bus.
From Windsor we follow the Detroit River and reach the community of Amherstburg, which was the Canadian terminal in the Underground Railway. The shore of Lake Erie in this area now is mainly summer cottage country.
Along the way riders can visit several bird sanctuaries such as those found at the Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary and Point Pelee National Park.
In 2004 the Jack Miner Bird Sanctuay celebrated its 100th anniversary. Jack Miner, who founded the sanctuary, is internationally credited for conservation measures that are in existence today. Point Pelee is the southernmost tip of continental Canada.
Agriculture is the main industry through much of southwestern Ontario and the big crops are tomatoes, grapes for wine and, less and less - tobacco. This region is also known for oil production which was first discovered in the late 1800s. Some of the old wells are still working and you'll pass some of the pumps.
Mid-week we stay in Port Stanley. Port Stanley a delightful beach resort town. It's the largest natural harbour on the north side of Lake Erie. Beach bars, good restaurants and acres of sand means there are ample opportunities to enjoy the day.
From Port Stanley we cycle along the shore of Lake Erie on quiet cottage-country roads. We then head inland briefly to cross the Grand River and follow the old canal that once was a busy thoroughfare for communities away from the lake.
Cycle Canada's Erie Shores route takes riders along the Niagara Parkway to the great falls. We pass right by the falls and through the busiest tourist street in the town of Niagara Falls.
You'll find directions to the start point of Erie Shores here: Directions to start of Erie Shores
