Cowansville Knowlton Gravel Loop Ride

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Cowansville, Québec, CA

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Estricycle

Vélo de route et de gravelle

66 km

666 m

The Cowansville/Knowlton Gravel Loop ride is composed of mainly hilly, traffic free gravel roads, that begins and ends in Cowansville's Centre de la Nature park.

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The Cowansville/Knowlton Gravel Loop ride is composed of mainly traffic free gravel roads, that begins and ends in Cowansville's Centre de la Nature park.  The park is an ideal location to start this excursion; plentiful parking, potable water and washrooms are readily available.  The Centre de la Nature's beach (open from end of June to end of August) makes this also the ideal location to end your ride.  There's nothing like a dip in a cool lake to help get those kinks out of your over worked quads!

Given that this route follows gravel roads surrounded mainly by farms and pastures, with little or no opportunity for resupplies, be certain to bring plenty of water and snacks.

The route is also not for the faint of heart.  Several of the climbs are pretty taxing.  Bikes equipped with at least 28 mm wide tires are a must.  The only technical parts of the route are the downhills.  Speeds in excess of 70 kph are easily reached, unless you want to ride your breaks!

The best time of the year to ride this loop is beginning of May to end of October.

## **PLANNING AND RESOURCES**

For more to see and do near this gravel loop ride, take a look at [Eastern Townships](https://www.easterntownships.org/).

Forgot you lunch?  No problem!  An @poi[IGA Extra](49559823) is close by.

For bicycle repairs or the purchase of tubes, tires or anything that you might have forgotten a fully equipped [bicycle shop](https://cowansville.veloibike.ca/) is located just two kilometers from your starting point.

## **ROUTE DESCRIPTION**

Once you are out of the park, you’ll need to cross the 104 to continue towards Scottsmore Road.  Be cautious at the 104, traffic can at times be heavy and speeding is not uncommon.

The views on Scottsmore Road are impressive.  Take the time to admire the Eastern Townships. At kilometer 3.2, you'll come across one of the many family/community @poi[cemeteries](49559819) that dot the landscape of the Eastern Townships. The traveler of backroads will discover these burial grounds in virtually every hamlet, at deserted crossroads seemingly in the middle of nowhere, in farmers' fields, and on hilltops. Some have been unused for decades; others for considerably longer.  You’ll cross several of these along your ride.   *How many you can find?*

Turning right onto Childerhouse, you will encounter your @slice[first climb of the day](d,4592.89,8833.34).  The view from this road is well worth the effort.  If you prefer to safe your legs for bigger and steeper climbs located further down the route, feel free to ride on straight to Scotts Road.

On Scotts Road you come across another Eastern Townships auditee: @poi[a round barn](49559820)!  Built in 1915-1916, it hasn’t been in use for several years, but it’s still remarkably well preserved. Its cedar shingles, its pinched sheet metal roof, its dormers, and its pretty turret all contribute to its olden day charm.

At kilometer 15.9, exercise caution for despite the yellow flasing light traffic moves quickly through the tiny village of West Brome.  Just 100 meters further, one of the area's last old school general stores, @poi[F. G. Edwards](49559821), can be found.
If you are riding on a particularly hot day, you can seek some relief by wading in the cool waters of Calls Mills park.  It is a great spot for a picnic.   To get there @point[turn left on Stagecoach](d,26470.96) (kilometer 26.5).  You simply can’t miss the sign for the park (intersection of Soles and Stagecoach).

It is at this point that you will notice that @slice[the climbing kicks in](d,21018.91,38154.49).

After about 9.5 kilometers, turn left on to Byers.  The views of the surrounding area will hopefully help mitigate the burn your legs will feel at this point.  Then turn right on Sugar Hill, and left on Mount-Écho.  Some of the mansions along the route are very impressive.

The ride at this point is @slice[downhill](d,38154.49,41084.67) all the way the Knowlton.
___
@point[Knowlton](d,41198.54) provides ample dining opportunities and a chance to refill water bottles.  The route borders several parks if a picnic is more to your liking.
___
Once refreshed continue north on Lakeside and turn left onto Victoria.  At the intersection of Centre and Tibbitts Hill, there is an old @poi[one room schoolhouse](49559822) that is now a museum.  Built in 1844 to replace a log structure which had been erected in 1827, the one-room fieldstone structure served English-speaking pupils until 1928.  The schoolhouse is in its original state and full of period furnishings.

Continue west on Centre and enjoy the downhill road.  Cross the 241 and then turn left on to Nord at kilometer 62.5.   This road will bring you back to the town of Cowansville.

To return to the park, make a left on Bernard and then a right on James.  From James continue to MacKinnon.  MacKinnon will lead you directly back to the entrance of Centre de la Nature park.

# More resources

The following link is useful if you wish to linger around to savor what Cowansville has to offer:  [Ville de Cowansville](https://www.cowansville.ca/)

# Important Reminders

1. Bring two bottles of water and snacks;
2. Have tires with at the very least 28 mm wide tires;
3. Have spares on hand (tubes, etc);
4. Mobile phone reception in the area can be spotty.

Cowansville Knowlton Gravel Loop Ride

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