Northern Ontario Hosting 2024 GWTA Cycling Tour

Since 2016, Destination Northern Ontario (DNO) has taken an expanding and connective regional approach in developing the tourism cycling product in Northern Ontario.  DNO continues to have a highly successful product development partnership with Waterfront Regeneration Trust (WRT), the provincially recognized cycling trail developing organization. Cycling is an important tourism activity in the north with an estimated economic impact of $11.89 million annually and generating $3.86 million in taxes to all three levels of government.

After the successful development and connection of the Lake Huron North Channel Cycling Route to the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and Trans Canada Trail, DNO and WRT embarked on the development of the Lake Superior Cycling Route.  This tourism initiative was recognized by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) winning the “2022 EDCO Award of Excellence – Tourism Attraction and Tourism Product Development”.

To celebrate Northern Ontario’s recently developed cycling trails, DNO and WRT will be kicking off the 2024 Great Waterfront Trail Adventure (GWTA), showcasing Northern Ontario’s natural beauty, cultural richness and waterfront communities. From August 13th to 20th, a sold-out group of over 110 cyclists from across Canada and the U.S. will embark on a fully-supported, multi-day journey from Chippewa Falls along Lake Superior to explore the west side of Sault Ste. Marie and continue along the Lake Huron North Channel to Manitoulin Island.  This includes 16 communities, 12 heritage rivers, 11 northern lakes, forests, Amish and Mennonite farmland, historic villages, and 24 beaches within the Canadian Shield. 

“Established in 2008, the GWTA has been hugely successful in showing people what 30 years of investment and collaboration can achieve”, says Marlaine Koehler, executive director of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust. “People love the Trail and rave about its vision and the amazing hospitality of its communities, earning it recognition as an international cycling destination.” Northern Ontario hosted the 2019 GWTA to glowing reviews with an estimated economic impact of $475,000 and participants are looking forward to cycling in Northern Ontario again.

“DNO is a long-term partner with WRT in the development and marketing of Northern Ontario provincial cycling trails”, stated David MacLachlan, Executive Director of DNO. “We are excited to be hosting the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail Adventure in the north once again and will continue to work with WRT in the continued development and marketing of cycle tourism.”

For more information regrading the GWTA or cycling in Northern Ontario, contact Michael Wozny, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, DNO at m.wozny@destinationnorthernontario.ca or Marlaine Koehler at mk@wrtrust.com.