Mono Tract Mountain Bike Trails – [Ultimate Guide]

Next to the ever-popular Mono Cliffs Provincial Park lies Dufferin County Forest’s Mono Tract and its growing network of pristine singletrack mountain bike trails. 

The network is pretty under the radar, so let’s look at what to expect and get you prepared for your first visit!

Why Mountain Bike at Mono Tract?

Whenever I write these posts, I think about my first time visiting the trail system and try to remember what stood out. Here’s what came to my mind!

Fast and Flowy

The mountain bike trails at Mono Tract are all relatively fast; minimal elevation change makes it easy to maintain your speed. This speed is paired nicely with long, sweeping turns that keep things flowing well, even at high speeds; no abrupt switchbacks or janky turns here!

Very Engaging

The Mono Tract mountain bike trails are highly engaging, with virtually no straight section throughout the entire trail network. The trails are constantly twisting and turning, keeping you guessing at what’s coming up. This takes the engagement factor to 10, as you’re always looking ahead to the next turn in anticipation of the next move or feature.

Very Rewarding

Mono Tract’s mountain bike trails are very rewarding, especially in how the system uses its elevation. Nearly all the climbs are short and punchy and instantly transition into long and fast downhill sections. In other words, you’re always rewarded for your climbing; no climbing to traverse a bench cut for 5 minutes here! For those that are familiar, it’s like riding a miniature version of Palgrave’s mountain bike trails. 

Drains Well

Mono Tract’s trail material is quite sandy and thus drains very well. This drainage makes Mono Tract an excellent option for post-rain rides as it’ll be much drier than dirt or clay-based systems. That said, it still holds moisture well, thanks to some loam and decaying pine straw mixed in, meaning it doesn’t turn into a complete sandpit during drought conditions. Dufferin County Forest’s Main Tract roughly 20 minutes north also drains very well.

Quiet

As I said, the trail system is under the radar. As such, the trails are quiet compared to more popular trail networks like the Don Valley or Durham Forest. I’ve ridden several times for 2+ hours without seeing other mountain bikers. So, Mono Tract is a great option if you like to enjoy the peace and quiet of the forest.

Connection to Mono Cliffs Provincial Park

Mono Tract’s mountain bike trails are fantastic, but the total distance is limited. Having Mono Cliffs’ mountain bike trails right next door alleviates this, as you can quickly ride over and put in some extra kilometres there. The trails in and out of Mono Cliffs are a ton of fun, and Mono Cliffs has some incredible scenery, so it’s worth adding to your ride if you’re ever mountain biking at Mono Tract.

Things to Know Before You Go

Ready to make the trip and the Mono Tract’s mountain bike trails? If so, here’s some information to get you started on the right foot!

Parking

Mono Tract’s primary entrance is on Hurontario Street, roughly 1 km north of Sideroad 20. It’s nothing more than a pull-out on the east side of the road, so keep your eyes out for the Mono Tract sign shown at the start of this post.

Limited Signage

Mono Tract is a bit of a maze, and the signage is limited. Even where there is signage, it’s high up and oddly placed, making it difficult to understand where to go. As such, I highly recommend using an app like Trailforks to help you navigate the system. It’ll prove very helpful at the multitude of four-way intersections.

Trailforks

I highly recommend downloading Trailforks and using it during rides at new and unfamiliar trail systems. Even with great signage, the direction to go or the trail to turn on 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 to track 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.

Ride Counterclockwise

While you can ride Mono Tract’s mountain bike trails in either direction, I recommend you ride them counterclockwise. Most of the features have been built for this direction, so it’ll allow you to hit them properly. 

Shared Trail Network

Mono Tract is a shared trail network. Although quiet, there is the odd hiker or equestrian on the trail. So, be mindful of this, especially on the faster downhill sections and blind corners.

Mono Tract Mountain Bike Trails: An Overview

Three loop trails comprise the bulk of Mono Tract’s mountain bike trail system. Here’s a closer look at each.

Primary Trails

Central Park North

Central Park North is nearest to the primary entrance and, thus, is usually the first trail I ride. Overall, the trail is flat, with moderate climbs that result in the long, fast downhills I mentioned above. There are a few log rolls mixed in, lots of high-speed berms, and many rollers that can easily turn into jumps if you have the speed. It’s the easiest and the longest of the three primary trails, making for a perfect warm-up/cool-down lap.

Central Park Trail

Next up is Central Park Trail, which is the best of the three primary trails. It begins with a fun downhill section full of well-built berms allowing outstanding cornering. From there, the trail mellows until you reach a valley roughly halfway through the loop. Like most valley-side sections, it’s great fun bobbing and weaving your way up and down the traverse. The rest of the trail ebbs and flows back up the valley to the trail’s start. Central Park Trail is a dynamic ride full of unique and engaging sections, making it a can’t-miss at Mono Tract.

Maple Ridge

Finally, we have Maple Ridge. It’s the most one-dimensional of the primary trails, with the first half being all downhill and the second half all climbing. The downhill section is incredibly fun, and the rowdiest section in the system, thanks to high speeds, rougher terrain and a few drops. On the other hand, the climb back up is comfortable and relaxed, with no punchy climbs or technical sections to deal with. Overall, it’s a great trail to have some downhill fun on without suffering through a tough climb back to the top.

Secondary Trails

Two additional trails at Mono Tract serve as connectors to the nearby Mono Cliffs Provincial Park. Both are incredibly fun and worth a ride, so here’s more information on them.

Duff Trail

Duff Trail is the best way to get to Mono Cliffs Provincial Park from Mono Tract. It follows a similar route and contour to the first half of Maple Ridge, with most of the trail ripping downhill. But, whereas Maple Ridge circles back into Mono Tract, Duff Trail continues east into Mono Cliffs Provincial Park. So, if you want to head to Mono Cliffs, jump on Duff Trail. 

*Trailforks shows the trail direction as east to west, but you should ride it from west to east.

Mono Trail/South Boundary Trail

Mono Trail and South Boundary Trail are what you want to take when heading into Mono Tract from Mono Cliffs Provincial Park. Like Duff Trail and Maple Ridge, Mono Trail features a rowdy downhill section that’s a blast to ride. South Boundary Trail continues with high-speed descents as you blast your way into Mono Tract from the heights of Mono Cliffs. 

*Trailforks shows the trail direction as west to east, but you should ride it from east to west.

Additional Information

Here’s some additional information you may find helpful if you’re looking to extend your day or spend a weekend in the area!

• If you need a bike shop, check out Cycling Elements.
• If you’re looking for places to stay, consider Hockley Valley Resort or Best Western Plus.
• If you want to grab some food and drinks, check out Mono Cliffs Inn, Black Birch Restaurant, Hockley Valley General Store, Mono Centre Brewing Co., or Superburger. 
• If you’re looking for other things to do, consider hiking in Hockley Valley Provincial Nature Reserve, visiting Adamo Estate Winery, or mountain biking at Palgrave, mountain biking at Albion Hills, or riding the Bike Trails at Hockley.

Final Thoughts

For years I ignored Mono Tract. How much fun could three loop trails totalling 8 kilometres be, right? Well, after riding there many times, a lot! At first glance, the network seems short and not worth a visit. But a lot of time and effort has been put into the trails these past five years, resulting in a very engaging system that’s an absolute blast. And, funny enough, the one thing that turned me off the most – the loops – is what I enjoy most now. No boring traverses or terrible connecting trails. Just laps on laps in one core area a mere minute from the parking lot. Pretty sweet if you ask me…

– Garrett

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