Cycling Route: Lighthouses South

This ride features the shoreline of Lake Huron; it offers intriguing beaches, inspiring communities, and a couple of lighthouses.

The Kincardine Lighthouse, an octagonal wooden tower built into the harbour hillside, features a marine museum. The adjacent beach has a boardwalk with interpretive signs on local shipwrecks. Saturday nights watch the Kincardine Pipe Band, marching down Main Street.

Heading south, from Kincardine to Point Clark. En route lies Boiler Beach with its namesake steam boiler from the wreck of the Erie Belle visible on shore. The route’s second half climbs to the top of a ridge about half-a-km inland, and runs along its crest all the way to Lurgan, at the mouth of the Pine River.

The Point Clark Lighthouse was built in 1859. Visit the museum and climb to the top of the 26.5-m-high limestone tower. On a calm day you can actually see the dangerous shoals under water that lake freighters have to navigate around. The Ripley loop crosses numerous tributaries of the Pine and Penetangore rivers.

You’ll have the wind at your back heading out. The road is smooth, the going is fast, and the small community makes for a delightful destination.