Take your pick: adrenaline packed or slow and contemplative?
Published on Aug 8, 2022
It’s hot and you feel like going for a bike ride? No problem, thanks to its many waterways and shade-covered areas, the Eastern Townships region is the perfect playground for cyclists, even at 30 degrees Celsius!
Here are some destinations where you can enjoy the summer through these refreshing bicycle getaways in Granby and the surrounding area.
By Laura Pedebas
Very popular with families, the Estriade bike path offers cyclists a paved route with little elevation gain. Accessible for everyone—including young children—it’s also a well-shaded route that runs along several waterways. So, during summer heat waves, the riverside rest areas become true small natural cooling spaces.
Very easy
38 km paved
From the Granby Tourist Information Office, enjoy the shade as you ride under the trees of the Estriade along Lake Boivin, loving the cool breeze on your face. Continue on the bike path that runs along the Yamaska River to the Parc National de la Yamaska, its beach and water games.
Extend the pleasure of pedalling under a cool canopy of trees before returning to the beach. Or rent a boat and head out on the water, a perfect opportunity to give your arms a workout as well.
Then, head back by way of the Parc National de la Yamaska bike path all the way to Granby. This time, follow the north shore of the lake where you’ll find the observation tower and the discovery trails of the Centre d’interprétation de la nature du lac Boivin.
Easy
44 km paved
From the National Park, you can continue along the Estriade until you reach Waterloo, and the municipal beach, with its water games and picnic tables. Here you can enjoy a bite to eat. Linger here awhile longer and stroll along the shaded path of the Sentier des Libellules on the shores of Lake Waterloo.
If you wish to pause for a bit, the Robin bière naturelle microbrewery offers a wide range of beers, fresh meals and a terrace where you can continue to enjoy the outdoors.
From Waterloo, you can either head back towards Granby on the same path, or continue further on the Artria bike path and loop your way back.
Easy
56 km (35 km paved, 21 km unpaved)
From Granby, more than 60 works of art have been installed along the bike path of the Artria Cultural Loop creating a true open sky museum. Did you notice any of them when you first started out? You can still discover three sculptures as you head back to Granby. To learn more about this project, the Waterloo Tourist Information Office will gladly offer you a brochure.
So, from Waterloo’s municipal beach, retrace your steps to the Waterloo Tourist Information Office, take the footbridge, and cross to the other side. Turn left towards the south and continue on the Estriade bike path, which will take you to the south side of Mount Shefford, and then slowly back to the shores of Lake Boivin in Granby. This time, take the trail on the north side of the lake to complete the loop and finally return to your starting point.
Here are some end-of-day activities to conclude this freshness pause in Granby:
