• Great Batchawana Adventure Rides – IMPORTANT DETAILS

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    Our latest great adventure is almost upon us…this Saturday is our inaugural Great Batchawana Adventure Rides.  Three rides, three great adventures…pick the one that fits your appetite for adventure:

    1. 70 kilometres – a full day’s ride for hardcore riders (e.g., for those planning to challenge Crank the Shield in August, or one of the other endurance events in the area) (approx. 7 hours) – 70km GPX File
    2. 40 kilometres – a serious adventure, that takes you to the Batchawana river gorge and the falls (approx. 5 hours) – 40km GPX File
    3. 20 kilometres – adventure for those with a lighter appetite, but still filled with some great riding to the gorge on the Batchawana river (approx. 3 hours) – 20km GPX File

    With these 20km, 40km and 70km offerings (profiles below), there are options available for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders. Allowing for photo ops, hydration breaks and rests, we expect the rides to run in the range of 3 hours, 5 hours and 7 hours respectively.

    The rides will start and finish at the Voyageur Lodge and Cookhouse.  Your ride will start with coffee and apple fritters at the lodge (included).  And at the end, you can purchase food and beverages at the lodge to enjoy while looking out over the waters of Lake Superior. If you dare, you can take advantage of the sandy beach and wash-up in the refreshing waters of Batchawana Bay, and if you stay late enough maybe a walk on the beach at sunset!

    These will be no-drop rides. The terrain may be rough in places and there will be stretches of mud, sand and gravel. 40 and 70 km riders will also have the pleasure of wading across a few fresh meltwater rivers and creeks. The 40 and 70km rides are representative of the conditions you would face if you attempted Crank the Shield in August.

    Be sure you have a mountain or fat bike in good working order and reasonable fitness for the ride of your choice. Be particularly certain you have working gears and brakes, and be sure to pack a few emergency supplies like a spare tube, chain link and the tools you need to make field repairs. Additionally, be sure to pack whatever meals, snacks and hydration you will need to last the amount of time you will be on the trail. Probably a good idea to have some fly repellent handy as well.

    The first group out will be the 70 km group, leaving the Voyageur at 9 am followed by the 40 km group at 11 am and the 20 km group at 1pm.

    Parking is available at the Voyageur Lodge. (Additional parking is available at Batchawana Provincial Park in the large lot by the visitor centre.  You can ride your bike through the park (north along the road parallel to the beach) until the park road ends after which you will need to ride a few hundred metres along the shoulder of Highway 17 to the Voyageur Lodge.)

    Please arrive a 15 (or more!) minutes early so you can enjoy a famous Voyageur apple fritter before hitting the trail.  Consider arriving even earlier and having breakfast at the lodge.  

    Ride leaders will be experienced and familiar with the trails but will not be responsible for your personal health and safety. Be sure to ride within your capabilities and make the right decisions so you and your group can enjoy a safe and injury free ride.

    Please pre-register for your selected ride before Friday. 

    To help Frank and Gail at the Voyageur, please let them know if you will be staying for dinner and refreshments at the Voyageur.  You can email them at lodgekeepers@voyageurslodge.ca.

    70 km

    40 km

    20 km

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