Old Railway Bike Trail

The Old Railway Bike Trail is an easy-grade, 16 km (about 10 mi) point-to-point route from Rock Lake Campground to near Cache Lake. It follows a broad, mostly level former railway bed through forest past lakes, rapids, and bridges. You can ride or walk it; on foot, allow about four to five hours before longer stops. The complete route is one way, so arrange a pickup or choose a shorter out-and-back. Walking back makes it roughly 32 km.

The park lists access at Rock Lake, Raccoon Lake, Pog Lake, Kearney Lake, Lake of Two Rivers, and Mew Lake campgrounds. That makes it easy to pick a shorter section without taking on the whole traverse. The Two Rivers Store sits along the route and rents bikes. A valid park permit is required.

One park map labels three sections as 6, 5, and 7 km, which total 18 km even though its full-route label says 16 km. The mapped Rock Lake-to-Cache Lake line is about 16 km, so use the full distance for the complete traverse and treat those shorter-section figures as approximate.

The route is flat and hard-packed for most of its length, but it is not paved. Some riders report loose gravel or rocky patches, while others have managed on a road bike. Expect an easy grade rather than a smooth road surface. The route passes lakes, rapids, and several bridges, with stretches of forest between them. Interpretive panels point out natural and historic features along the way.

For most of the route, the trail follows the bed of the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway. The railway was built across the park in 1895, opened in 1896, and was decommissioned in 1959. The present trail later grew west from Mew Lake toward the Track and Tower Trail, giving the old rail corridor a new use.

Bicycling is for snow-free periods. In winter, staff may groom and trackset part of the corridor for cross-country skiing; snowshoeing, fat biking, and other winter recreation may also use it. When ski tracks are set, keep other travel out of them. Dogs are allowed on most park trails; keep them on a leash no longer than 2 m and follow posted restrictions.