The Top 10 Fat Bike Trails Near Toronto: Incredible Winter Riding

There’s nothing quite like hitting the trails on a fat bike when it comes to winter activities.

Fat bikes are growing in popularity, providing some incredible winter riding for casual and hardcore cyclists.

The GTA is home to some great fat bike trails, so if you’re interested in getting out, here are ten of my favourites!

Don’t own a fat bike? Not sure if it’s right for you?

Then check out my post, “What is a Fat Bike? Plus 12 Pros & Cons of Fat Biking!” to get a better idea before you start worrying about where to ride!

Don Valley

Located in the heart of Toronto, the Don, as it is commonly called, offers an extensive network of fat bike trails that stretch 10s of kilometres through the city. The trails are quite heavily trafficked, meaning you’ll be met with nicely packed, well-defined paths you can follow. 

The Don has endless options, letting you pick and choose where you want to go. The trail difficulty ranges from easy and flat (green trails) to hilly and much more difficult (black trails). One thing to note is the trails are unsanctioned, meaning there is no overseeing body maintaining them or ensuring they are in good condition. So, you’re never quite sure what you will get. But that’s half the fun and, honestly, the essence of Toronto fat biking!

By the way – I wrote an extensive guide to the Don’s summer mountain bike trails. While it focuses on mountain biking, there is still lots of great info there that will help you better understand what the Don has to offer!

Tommy Thompson Park

Another great downtown Toronto fat biking option is Tommy Thompson Park! This incredibly unique landscape offers a raw and exposed feel as you face the whipping winds and blowing snow that screams off Lake Ontario. 

The trails are flat and easygoing, offering a leisurely ride as you make the 5 km+ ride to the tip of the spit. Once out there, you’ll see a great view of the Toronto skyline and Tommy Thompson Park’s abundant bird population. The complete loop can be anywhere from 10 to 15 kilometres long, depending on what side trails you want to take. Overall, it’s an easy ride, perfect for beginners and families alike!

Oh – I also wrote an entire post about Tommy Thompson Park and its many bike trails. Again, summer focused, but it’ll prepare you nicely for what to expect when visiting!

Durham Forest

Travelling out of downtown will get you to our next stop on the list, Durham Forest! Located roughly 65 km outside of Toronto in Uxbridge, Durham Forest offers a plethora of spectacular fat bike trails, all diligently groomed and maintained by the Durham Mountain Bike Association.

The variety of terrain is great, including long and sustained climbs, flat and flowy sections, and fast and fun downhills! There is something for everyone, which is a huge reason why it’s become so popular. The excellent grooming only adds to the experience, giving you peace of mind that you’ll arrive to as good of trail conditions as possible when you visit.

Yes – I also wrote an entire post on Durham Forest mountain biking (it just so happens that a lot of the best mountain bike areas also offer great fat biking!). Full details on parking, best trails, facilities, and so on are included. Give it a read before you head out!

Mansfield Outdoor Centre

We’re starting to stretch our legs here, but trust me, it’s worth it! Located roughly 100 kilometres north of Toronto, the Mansfield Outdoor Centre boasts, what they call, the “best single track and groomed fat bike trails in all of Southern Ontario.” Are they exaggerating? No!

Mansfield Outdoor Centre offers perhaps the best fat biking trails in Southern Ontario, providing a vast 36.4 kilometres of groomed trails across both doubletrack and singletrack. That said, unlike the above areas, you will have to pay for what you get.

Both seasons passes and day passes are available. Depending on how often you visit, one will make more sense than the other. They also offer fat bike rentals, meaning this could be a good option to test a fat bike out to see if you like it enough to purchase one. And, thanks to it being one of the most expansive fat bike trail networks around, it also makes for a great testing area for any newly purchased fat bike accessories!

If you live closer to Ottawa and are looking for some similarly incredible fat bike trails – perhaps the “best single track and groomed fat bike trails in all of Eastern Ontario” – then consider reading my post, “5 Top-Rated Fat Bike Trails Near Ottawa.”

Mono Tract / Mono Cliffs Provincial Park

A little closer to Toronto are the fat bike trails at Mono Tract & Mono Cliffs Provincial Park. Located just outside of Orangeville, there are more than 20 km of beautifully cut singletrack trails that wind their way through a mix of dense coniferous forest and old-growth maples.

There is relatively little elevation change, but this is more than made up for by the wonderfully built trails that twist and turn to keep things interesting. Overall, the difficulty level is on the easier side of things, with all trails being rated green (beginner) and blue (novice).

Like the Mansfield Outdoor Centre, Mono gets significantly more snowfall than its friends to the south. This means better trail conditions and a longer season, making it a particularly good stop in the early winter or warmer spring months when conditions may not be as good closer to Toronto.

Side note – I wrote a complete guide to hiking at Mono Cliffs and an ultimate guide to mountain biking at Mono Cliffs. Be sure to read each if you plan on visiting during the summer months!

Albion Hills

Next up on this list is Albion Hills! 

Located just north of Bolton in the larger Albion Hills Conservation Park, the Albion Hills fat bike trails are short but sweet, offering just over 5 kilometres of fat bike specific trails. Compared to most fat bike trails, these are much more difficult, with each rated black (advanced).

The elevation change is also significant here – the primary trail has an elevation gain of 46m or 151ft – making for more tiring riding as you contend with slow rolling snow on the ups and slippery hard pack on the downs.

There is an additional 18.4 km of multi-use doubletrack trails. However, as the name suggests, you will share these with skiers and snowshoers. Be aware of others around you if you choose to venture out onto these.

Palgrave Forest and Wildlife Area 

The Palgrave Forest and Wildlife Area is just a couple kilometres north of Albion Hills and has more than 27 km of pristine fat bike trails. 

Overall, Palgrave is similar to Albion Hills, full of sustained ups, fast-moving downs, and winding flats through your classic plantation pine forests.

It’s a favourite amongst locals and provides an equally, if not more, challenging ride to Albion Hills. There is also significantly more singletrack at Palgrave, keeping you in the thick of the forest longer and riding the best trails possible!

And – Of course, I’ve written a complete trail guide to Palgrave’s mountain bike trails! They’re punishing but incredible and for sure worth a visit come warmer weather.

Jefferson Forest

Located in Richmond Hill, Jefferson Forest has a complex maze of fat bike trails and wider doubletrack, forming a significant 50+ kilometres of distance when combined.

Its proximity to the city makes it easily accessible and thus a favourite for those that live closer to downtown. Trail difficulty ranges significantly, with everything from green beginner trails to red expert trails there.

The trails are multi-use, two-way, and somewhat heavily trafficked (classic Toronto fat biking), so be sure to keep your head up and stay aware of your surroundings when riding!

Greenwood Conservation Area

Located east of Toronto in Ajax is the Greenwood Conservation Area which consists of 283 hectares (700 acres) of immaculate natural terrain along the banks of Duffins Creek.

Within the conservation area is more than 30kms of singletrack and doubletrack riding, providing a really good amount of riding close to the city. The network difficulty is more manageable, with most trails rated green (beginner) and blue (novice).

It’s an excellent option for those on the GTA’s east end, offering easier access and quieter riding compared to the Don or Tommy Thompson Park.

Simcoe County

Last but certainly not least is Simcoe County. And yes, I mean the entire county!

Honestly, Simcoe County could almost have its own top 10 fat bike trail list, with the entire county offering some of the best fat biking in Ontario – but that’s for another day. Most of the trail networks are between Barrie and Orillia, with the hot spots being Copeland Forest, SCMBC Oro, and the Simcoe County Admin/Sports Complex + Hickling Tract.

The trail networks are extremely extensive and full of passionate fat bikers. The entire county is in the snow belt, meaning more snow than almost anywhere else in Southern Ontario, meaning absolutely ideal conditions for most of the winter!

I love Simcoe County – Seriously, it might be Ontario’s densest area of mountain bike trails. As such, I’ve written a lot about it. If you plan on visiting, feel free to learn more about Copeland Forest’s mountain bike trails, read about the area as a whole in my Ontario mountain bike vacation post, or learn more about the county’s bike parks!

Final Thoughts

The fat bike is the ultimate answer for those who love mountain biking and want to continue their hobby (passion?) all year!

Luckily, Southern Ontario is dense with fantastic mountain bike trails that transform into equally amazing fat bike trails once the ground freezes and the snow falls.

For me, these are the top 10 Toronto fat biking trails, each worth a visit this coming winter. Are you a local fat biker? If so, what Toronto fat biking trails would be on your list? Let me know in the comments below!