Copeland Forest Mountain Biking: A Simcoe County Classic

Copeland Forest mountain biking is vast and rugged, providing one of Ontario’s rawest mountain bike experiences.

With 450+ feet of vertical, Copeland Forest boasts amongst the most elevation gain of any mountain bike area in the province.

Spread that vertical across 115 km of trails, and you have two of mountain biking’s most rewarding things: gruelling climbs and long descents!

Let’s take a closer look at everything this Simcoe County classic offers.

Why Visit the Copeland Forest Mountain Bike Trails?

The Copeland Forest mountain bike trails are just one part of the vast Simcoe County mountain bike scene.

With so many other fantastic riding options nearby, why should you go out of your way to visit Copeland Forest?

Here’s why!

The Vertical

The amount of vertical is the #1 reason you should ride your bike at Copeland Forest.

Sure, by BC or Quebec standards, Copeland Forest is nothing more than an ant hill. But, for Ontario, the 450+ feet of vertical is quite substantial.

As a result, you will find some of the longest and most fun descents in Ontario!

In fact, Copeland Forest tops Horseshoe Resort’s lift-accessed bike park vertical by more than 100’. So, while you will have to work harder for Copeland’s descents, they are bigger and longer than even Ontario’s most popular bike park. Not bad!

In all seriousness, though, with the Blue Mountain Bike Park now being closed, this is some of the best descending in the province. The primary climb up is only 8-10 minutes which you’re then quickly rewarded for with 3-5 minute descents.

The downhill trails are natural and raw, full of rocks, roots, ruts, natural berm and drops, and all the other makings of a tremendous descending experience.

The Distance

If the vertical isn’t enough for you, then Copeland Forest has distance too.

Copeland Forest is vast, to say the least, with Trailforks showing 115km of trails weaving and winding their way up and down the rolling landscape.

With this amount of distance, you can easily make a day of Copeland Forest, stretching your ride out to several hours across a variety of different trail types.

From the long climbs and descents surrounding the primary peak of the forest to rolling 3+ km long trails surrounding the perimeter, the variety is great, and provides a nice tempo of climb, descend, recover, and repeat.

Do this throughout the day across 115 kilometres of trails and 450 feet of vertical, and you’re going to have yourself a time!

The Ruggedness

Wow, this is quite a wild and rugged place.

That was one of my first thoughts as I pedalled into Copeland Forest and made my way toward the day’s first climb.

I’ve ridden many of Ontario’s most popular riding areas (Durham Forest, Dagmar, Albion Hills, Palgrave, Don Valley, Dufferin County Forest, Hydrocut, Blue Mountain, HAFTA, etc.). Still, none feel as rugged as Copeland Forest. The trees are taller, the hills are higher, the valleys are lower, and that polished and well-ridden look of a busy trail system just isn’t there.

It’s a bit hard to explain, but you just feel more isolated, and the sense of adventure and the excitement of getting away and escaping into the forest is just a bit stronger.

For me, this sense of escape is a huge reason I like mountain biking so much. So, being able to ride into Copeland Forest and immediately feel that stuck out to me and continues to be a huge draw to visit as much as possible.

If you are someone who likes that sense of adventure, of riding away from the car knowing you’re going to be deep in the woods for a while, then Copeland Forest will quickly become a favourite of yours.

The Proximity to Other Bike Areas

Wait, I thought you said it made you feel isolated? How can that be if it’s close to other bike areas?

I’m not sure, to be honest, but somehow Copeland Forest manages to feel that way while still being very close to several other bike areas.

To me, this proximity to other areas is like a little bonus, providing some variety if you want to make a long day even longer or stretch your one-day ride into a multi-day weekend staycation.

The most notable area is Horseshoe Bike Park, located directly across the road from Copeland Forest. As mentioned, this lift-accessed bike park primarily caters to downhill biking. Of course, being the only lift-accessed bike park in the area is pretty unique. It provides a riding experience you can’t find without getting that mechanical assistance up the hill.

On the more normal side of things, you have the mountain bike trails at SCMBC Oro, a few kilometres from Copeland. Oro is another beast of a system, with 105+ kilometres of trails offered. The area is much more mellow than Copeland Forest, with nearly every trail rated blue (novice). This accessibility is great for beginner and novice riders wanting to warm up before heading to Copeland. It’s also ideal for expert riders looking for a fun rip around on high-speed, flowing trails or a cool-down ride after Copeland.

And finally, just a few more kilometres south of SCMBC Oro, you have Hardwood Ski and Bike. Hardwood is arguably Ontario’s premier cross country destination, hosting yearly Ontario Cups, their well-known Epic 8-Hour Series, and most notably, the 2015 Pan Am Games. Hardwood has 50+ kilometres of singletrack, offering everything from beginner trails to those difficult enough to challenge the world’s best. The quality of races ridden at Hardwood alone makes it an enticing destination to visit and test yourself at.

As you can see, Copeland Forest is by no means in the middle of nowhere, and you’d be hard-pressed not to stop by at least one of these locations before or after your ride!

---

Side note – My post, one of the three locations in my post, “Ontario Mountain Bike Vacation: Three Must Visit Locations,” was Simcoe County. As such, I discuss Copeland Forest, Horseshoe Bike Park, SCMBC Oro, and Hardwood Ski and Bike in much more detail. So, give it a read before visiting the area to make the most of your time!

I also wrote a post discussing Ontario’s twelve best bike parks, which included Horseshoe Bike Park and Hardwood Ski and Bike. You can read it here to learn more about Horseshoe, Hardwood and ten other bike parks worth visiting!

---

Riding the Copeland Forest Mountain Bike Trails: An Overview

Alright, you’re convinced; time to head to Copeland Forest as soon as you can. But where should you start from, what direction should you ride in, and what can you expect in terms of facilities?

Let’s find out!

Where to Start Your Ride

Two parking lots provide good access to Copeland Forest.

The primary lot (Copeland Forest Trailhead – Horseshoe Nordic Center) is located directly across the road from Horseshoe Resort which you can find here.  I recommend starting your ride here as the lot is large and provides the most logical route through the forest.

The other option (P4 Parking) is to the northeast of the primary lot on the opposite side of the Copeland Forest. You can find it here.

What Route to Follow

Copeland Forest is a bit of a complicated system, not providing an overly interconnected or logical integration of trails. 

That said, the general flow follows a counter-clockwise direction, with most routes heading right from the Copeland Forest Trailhead parking lot and working their way left as you continue.

I recommend following a predetermined route if you’re visiting for the first time. This way, you won’t get lost, and you can ensure you hit up all the trails you want to.

A great starting point, and the route I first followed when visiting, is the Copeland Forest Showcase on Trailforks. Take a look!

*Note: All trails are multi-use and two-way, so be aware of oncoming traffic and hikers, especially on the high-speed downhills.*

---

Trailforks

I highly recommend downloading Trailforks and using it during rides at new and unfamiliar trail systems. Even with great signage, which direction to go or trail to turn onto next isn’t always clear. Having Trailforks, especially if you’re following a predefined route, that problem disappears, and you’ll quickly know where to go during your ride. If you don’t have Trailforks downloaded, you can find download links for iOS and Android here.

Strava

If you don’t know already, Strava is a fantastic app if you’re interested in tracking your rides. It not only lets you compare yourself to your previous rides, but it also lets you see how you stack up compared to others riding the same trails as you. For those of you that are competitive, this is a lot of fun. You can download Strava here.

---

What Facilities to Expect

Just a quick note on facilities; there aren’t many.

Outside of the two parking lots, Copeland Forest doesn’t offer much, with no washrooms, map boards, trail signage, water stations, or work stands present. Just something to keep in mind when planning your visit.

That said, Horseshoe Resort is right across the road, providing various food options, washroom facilities, and a bike shop for emergency fixes.

The Best Mountain Bike Trails at Copeland Forest

And now, my favourite part.

Here are the best mountain bike trails at Copeland Forest!

Copeland Downhill

The name says it all. This is Copeland’s premier downhill trail!

While starting somewhat flat, the trail quickly turns downwards, bringing you into the natural and raw descent that makes Copeland so much fun. It’s a high-speed trail and has great flow but maintains its hand-cut feel with eroded roots, chunky rocks, and steep chutes mixed in.

Ridge Run/Left Bank

Ridge Run/Left Bank is like Copeland Downhill but stretched out.

As the name suggests, Ridge Run/Left Bank runs along the ride of the hill, meaning it’s your classic off-camber ridgeline trail that swoops up and down as you traverse your way across.

The result is a much longer descent, with Ridge Run/Left Bank clocking in at 1.7 km vs. Copeland Downhill’s 0.7 km. So, whereas Copeland Downhill is steeper and rowdier, Ridge Run/Left Bank is longer and flowier while still having equal amounts of speed and raw trail features.

5th Dimension

Easily my favourite trail at Copeland Forest, 5th Dimension is an absolute riot, blasting its way down the fall line of Copeland Forest’s eastern edge.

You’ll likely find the highest speeds in all of Copeland Forest on this trail, as much of it is nothing less than a straight shot down its 195 feet of vertical.

Throw in some chunky chutes, side hits, and natural drops, and you have that dream mix of downhill speed and technical trail riding.

Rail Trail

Shortly after 5th Dimension, you’ll come across Rail Trail. This meandering trail is a nice reset after your ride down 5th Dimension.

While nothing overly special, it does follow a unique creek bed, with the trail crisscrossing its way over it via some nicely built bridges. Overall, Rail Trail is pretty flat, meaning it’s easy to maintain high speeds while dodging your way through the trees as the trail intertwines with the nearby creek.

Swamp

Swamp is a unique ride through the very swampy lower area of Copeland Forest.

The woodwork is extensive, and you’ll find yourself rolling on and off more bridges than you can count.

Again, nothing overly special, but the amount of time and effort that has gone into the trail building is something to note. I’ve always enjoyed riding trails that wouldn’t exist without the hundreds or thousands of man-hours it took to build the infrastructure in place.

Copeland Forest Friends is responsible for managing and maintaining Copeland Forest. If you’d like to show your appreciation for their hard work, you can sign-up for an annual membership ($25) or make a donation here!

My Final Thoughts on Copeland Forest Mountain Biking

Copeland Forest is an absolute pleasure to ride, offering a refreshing experience and instilling a sense of adventure that is hard to come by in the ever-growing Southern Ontario.

Whereas other mountain bike systems can feel busy, manicured, and cramped, Copeland Forest feels vacant, raw, and vast, taking full advantage of the 450+ feet of vertical spread across the raw and unforgiving terrain of the forest.

It’s truly a mountain biker’s paradise and a can’t-miss stop for anyone visiting Simcoe County!

– Garrett

Stats