2013 touring: where are the CLOSEST mountain roads to Ontario?

+1 on Vermont.
I recommend crossing into NY State at the 1000 Island crossing, cut through NY passing through Lake Placid. Cross into Vermont south of Lake Champlain. Check out staying overnight in Stowe (Ski resort town so great deals in the summer) and ride through Smugglers Notch then anywhere in Vermont is great riding so getting to and from Mt. Washington is going to be beautiful.
Slabbing it on the 401 out just past Kingston isn't even that bad when you have something to look forward to!
I am hoping to squeeze this very ride into this season.
Stowe resorts have mtn bike specials, free bike rental with room. Early breakfast, trailhead right behind resort, ride the trails for a few hours, jump in pool, gear up and ride through Vermont for the rest of the day just trying to get lost!
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yup - just be careful going and coming on a sunny day on the 401- the glare from rising and setting sun is brutal and tiring. Go really early if you can....beat the traffic out of the GTA and take a break a couple hours east if it's sunny until the sun gets high enough.
Same thing coming home and when your tired in GTA traffic that sun can be devastating. Been there - hate that.

There is also an alternative that involves the Wolf Island Ferry that is apparently a worthwhile effort just at the end Lake Ontario
I've not done it but others have.
Pack stuff so it can easily be unpacked at the border...a random check can be a long wait and THEY unpack it while you are away from the bike

If you stay in the Lake Placid area - be sure to do Whiteface but watch the whoops in the pavement. :eek:
It is clearly a mountain - we were right at cloud base and it was damn cold at the top - 10 degrees.

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It was just luck that it was me not my over stuffed riding partner that got checked - I travel light. :D

Vermont certainly on my bucket list...last time we were heading to the Catskills there was a monster storm hovering that flooded al the roads...we diverted south.

Also - Lake Placid can be hard to find accommodation as it has many events during the warm months. Book ahead if you can.

Try https://www.airbnb.com for places to stay -
 
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^^ Wolf Island Ferry is definitely the way to cross to the US but beware that it doesn't run until May I think. Check schedules.
 
jc100 said:
^^ Wolf Island Ferry is definitely the way to cross to the US but beware that it doesn't run until May I think. Check schedules.
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Yep, a nice diversion as long as you're not in a hurry.
 
Jayell said:
Yep, a nice diversion as long as you're not in a hurry.
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Catch it right and it's way less time than going via the 1000 islands crossing, plus there's always room for bikes on the small ferry to the US and also from Kingston to Wolf Island. Last ferry from Cape Vincent to Wolf Island is pretty early though so watch for that too. Also...every time I've been there's been a State Trooper near the ferry docks in Cape Vincent waiting for Canucks to get a bit speedy outside of town.
 
I live in belleville and sure wish I'd discovered just how close great roads in upper NY State are years ago instead of the last couple. An extra bonus is the cheaper gas and food prices. Maybe I have rosy glasses, but drivers seem to be more courteous or better educated. On the expressways I was surprised at how well they follow the slower vehicles in the right lane rule, not the disorganized mayhem in the GTA. I really don't know how much leeway the troopers will give as far as speed goes so i just kept with the flow, or if on a stretch alone I just stayed at posted limit. Never had issues with cars following too close, sure cant do that here for long.
As far as crossing border, the Wolfe Island is a great option especially if heading directly south. The ferry from Kingston to Wolfe Island is free and usually on schedule. Bikes go to the front of the waiting line at a side spot and they fit you on. It's about a 10 min or less rip to the Cape Vincent ferry. It's very small but they will fit bikes on even if cars have to wait for next one. I think it was 7 bucks last summer, but if you use the ferry time as your rest time, it's worth it. As always, it depends who is working the station as to how long it takes to get through border check. I've been stopped and checked at both sides there, but not at Gananoque. Personally, if crossing and continuing east toward lake Placid area, I exit 401 at Montreal St in Kingston then take highway 2 along the St. Lawrence to the Gananoque crossing as its a nice ride.
Have fun!
 
A.K. said:
I'd consider Mont-Tremblant area. You'll be still in Canada, where your health card is still valid. ;-) Not that you need to use it necessarily... But you never know.
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Actually, it's not - your health card is covered by OHIP - "Ontario Health Insurance Plan", anything out-of-province needs to be covered by other means, such as your automobile coverage (which should cover your machine), your employment insurance plan (if you have one) and/or optional travel insurance coverage.

I used to be an independent contractor so for travel I purchased a yearly travel insurance plan which covers any trip outside of Ontario that was < 30 days, through CIBC. It was about $75 for the year. I've got the same coverage now through my credit card :)
 
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Kri$han said:
Actually, it's not - your health card is covered by OHIP - "Ontario Health Insurance Plan", anything out-of-province needs to be covered by other means, such as your automobile coverage (which should cover your machine), your employment insurance plan (if you have one) and/or optional travel insurance coverage.

I used to be an independent contractor so for travel to the states I purchased a yearly travel insurance plan which covers any trip outside of Canada that was < 30 days, through CIBC. It was about $75 for the year. I've got the same coverage now through my credit card :)
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Ohip will reimburse you for any medical expenses in Quebec.
 
boooya said:
Ohip will reimburse you for any medical expenses in Quebec.
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i'm trying to connect MEDICAL EXPENSES IN QUEBEC to nearest MOUNTAIN ROADS TO ONTARIO!!!! LOL :D let's keep it real guys shall we?
 
Ummm - if you ride the closest mountain roads to Ontario you will be riding in Quebec.
If you fall off OHIP will cover you.

If you ride the closest to the GTA you will ride in Pennsylvania and need out of province health coverage.

.....it's very real. You can be bankrupt in a heartbeat if you get your health coverage wrong.

got it??
 
If you are really worried about insurance there is tons out there . I got one off of the canadain tire site and is called SecureiGlobe.
I think it was 53$ a year - it covers every thing - life insurance - hospital stays - If u have to be air lifted or flown home.
It covers me for 18 days at a time. Now the kicker - As long as I come back to Canada for 1 day (24 hours) I can go back
to the states for another 18 days. With this policy I can make as MANY trips during that year as I like and be fully covered.
I make usually 4 or 5 trips a year so it is worth it for me.

If you want to check it out - call this number - 1- 888 - 211 - 4444
 
MacDoc said:
Ummm - if you ride the closest mountain roads to Ontario you will be riding in Quebec.
If you fall off OHIP will cover you.

If you ride the closest to the GTA you will ride in Pennsylvania and need out of province health coverage.

.....it's very real. You can be bankrupt in a heartbeat if you get your health coverage wrong.

got it??
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you're missing the point, if i wanted to know about that, i would ask, i wanna know the answer to what i asked for.. GOT IT????
 
Just moved from Montreal (and definitely miss my day rides in the mountains). For riding in Quebec, there are a few options North of Montreal. I personally don't go up to Mont-Tremblant, to many tourists and the roads are not worth it but just before, there is a nice loop that is worth it:
http://goo.gl/maps/mPKv8

South of Montreal, along the US border there is also a nice scenic road that I enjoyed almost every week-end:
http://goo.gl/maps/0nkLw

Finally, as other mentioned, the Adirondacks offer great riding. Among the unavoidable are Tracy Rd. and Ensign Pond Rd. In any case, most major roads around Lake Placid are worth riding. You can look on 9, 9N, 73 and lots of camping possible in the area as well:
http://goo.gl/maps/2UYZL

Have fun!
 
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If you like to ride some distance, I can attest to how amazing the roads are through West Virginia and Pennsylvania. I just came back from Myrtle Beach, and was awestruck at the hours upon hours of great mountain roads, and most in great condition. I'm going back later this summer!

BTW, I live in Hamilton (aka the filthy armpit of southern Ontario), and we have a mole hill in comparison. :)
 
Triple said:
If you like to ride some distance, I can attest to how amazing the roads are through West Virginia and Pennsylvania. I just came back from Myrtle Beach, and was awestruck at the hours upon hours of great mountain roads, and most in great condition. I'm going back later this summer!

BTW, I live in Hamilton (aka the filthy armpit of southern Ontario), and we have a mole hill in comparison. :)
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Lol thanks buddy.
im definitely doin the adirondacks and maybe more south this summer!

yeah hill is the word for Hamilton's and Quebec lol... Coming from riding the Swiss alps and the Rockies, you can't possibly call these "mountains" :)
 
Ramtin said:
Lol thanks buddy.
im definitely doin the adirondacks and maybe more south this summer!

yeah hill is the word for Hamilton's and Quebec lol... Coming from riding the Swiss alps and the Rockies, you can't possibly call these "mountains" :)
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Have you actually been up mont tremblant and had a look out over the laurentians? They aren't hills.
 
jc100 said:
Have you actually been up mont tremblant and had a look out over the laurentians? They aren't hills.
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Yes air still hills to me. I'm talkin about being up high enough that you're having trouble breathing!
 
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