Kanata Lakes

1. Kanata Lakes/SMH

by konagroove, Tuesday, September 04, 2012 12:33 PM

A great trail network that has only been improved since its official sanctioning, Kanata Lakes or South March Highlands if you want to get technical about it, is a set of trails that are not for the faint of heart. While once not a place for beginners at all, it has had trails added to it and some loops devised so that as you get deeper into the woods the difficulty level increases, allowing beginners a chance to dip their toes in the front-country areas. These are made up primarily of med-wide singletrack with wide bridges. As you get deeper into the trails the track narrows, and the technicality increases. Flow is very elusive here as anytime you think you have found some a tree appears and the trail veers off in another direction. While the overall elevation change is probably 25m at most, there are many short abrupt ups and subsequent downs that keep you from spending much time in your seat. On the plus side many of the climbs are on rock that is very grippy and leaves you thinking your bike may be related to Spiderman, or velcro. Overall well worth a ride for anyone. Signage added this year is supposed to have improved route finding, otherwise I would have said a 4. Rarely gone without getting lost but if you just keep riding it will let you out eventually.