Some rides begin in the mind before the tires ever hit the dirt. I loaded up my Rocky Mountain Element into the car and set out down the 401 on a warm Sunday morning. The day was new and fog was playing on the gentle light falling across farm country. The mist hung in the air just above the tree line in some spots and in the valleys in others. It was a picture perfect day given to me on that flawless September morning heading up to the Muskoka’s to meet up with friends for a ride. The scenery and the hassle free drive set the mood for a perfect ride.
The smell of the forest filled my car when I parked under the mature trees at Buckwallow Cycling Centre. Odours create a mood and linger long in the memory. They say that you can judge a restaurant kitchen by the condition of the washrooms. How about an outhouse; what does that say about a place. Smile. The facilities at Buckwallow were freshly painted, somehow odour free and clean even by indoor plumbing standards which speaks volumes about how well the trails are kept and managed by the staff of the cycling centre. Mike is the friendly face who greets riders upon arrival and collects the ten dollar entrance fee. He gave us a map of the trail system which was easy to follow and an asset to those who are not regular riders there. A few years back I raced a few O Cup races at Buckwallow and since then I have often thought I should get back there to ride the trails when I have time to take in the riding experience; this was going to be that day. My friends and I set out on our ride with the map in hand and smiles on our faces. The trails there are unique to that place and that place alone. The land is scattered with huge boulders and large sections of the Canadian Shield that jut out of the ground making the terrain surreal. The harshness of the forest floor is juxtaposed by the beauty of the mature forest growing over the rocks with roots climbing over the boulders and rock faces. It is all of these distinctive elements that make riding in this forest both fun and challenging. The trails are rated in levels of difficulty between one and five hoof prints; the ratings are to be taken seriously. It has been my experience that trail ratings are relative only to other trails in that system. A new rider would find that even some of the double track trails present a challenge to their skill level. Ratings of one and two offer some challenge to new riders and trails rated a three will present a challenge to intermediate riders. Trails rated four should be considered expert and trails rated at five should be considered expert and above. There is a trail there rated five hoof prints called “The Weasel” which has some very technical bits, steep drops and some sections that better resemble a section from a trials course. Not many riders venture down this trail which was evident by the moss growing on the start of the trail. “The Weasel” challenged me and exposed the limits of my riding abilities but finding those limits showed room for growth. My favourite run was something called “West D Nile” which is a trail that largely runs over outcroppings of the Canadian Shield. This trail earns a well-deserved rating of four hoof prints. Overall I would rate the whole Buckwallow experience a five out of five hoof prints. Buckwallow is without a doubt one of my favourite places I have ridden in a lifetime of riding experiences. Check it out for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.
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January 2024
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