The Discovery Routes Trails Organization hopes to make the trip from the Ottawa Valley to Greater Sudbury a little more scenic thanks to a 380-kilometre cycling route that would connect Deep River to the eastern border of Sudbury.
The Voyageur Cycling Route would recreate the voyage French explorer Samuel de Champlain made into what is now northeastern Ontario during the early 1600s, using existing roadways and bike trails.
With the proper signage, and modifications to make some portions of Highway 17 safer for cyclists, the trail will connect 15 communities and could attract more tourists to the region.
Jennifer McCourt, executive director of the Discovery Routes Trails Organization, a non-profit organization that promotes the development of recreational trails, said she expects great tourism potential for the trail.
Cycling tourism is big business in neighbouring Quebec where 250,000 cyclists regularly go on long-distance tours across the province.
The sport contributes around $1.2 billion in spending in Quebec each year.
Because of the historical significance of the proposed Voyageur Cycling Route, and its connection to many Francophone communities in northeastern Ontario, McCourt said it could attract a lot of visitors from Quebec.
“A lot of them have already experienced the trails within their province so they're looking for other places to ride,” she said.
Once completed, the route would also make cycling more attractive to locals, and would help drivers get used to sharing the road, McCourt added.
Discovery Routes hosted a four-day mobile workshop – from Monday, Sept. 19 to Thursday, Sept. 22 – which allowed experienced cyclists to try different portions of the proposed route.
“The overall impression is that we have a fantastic opportunity here with this cycling route,” McCourt said.
Part of the route will include a 192-kilometre section of the Trans Canada Trail connecting North Bay to Sudbury, due to be completed in 2017, in time for Canada's 150th anniversary.
West of Sudbury cyclists will be able continue on the Lake Huron North Channel Trail, which would take them to Sault Ste. Marie.
The Lake Huron North Channel Trail is due to be completed by Canada Day 2017.
McCourt said Discovery Routes would like to eventually extend the Voyageur Cycling Route east to Ottawa.
