Creemore Classic 400

Route Logistics

• Total Distance: ~400 km
• Format: Loop (Central Hub: Owen Sound)
• Terrain: Highly demanding and rugged; features significant climbs up and over the Blue Mountains and Niagara Escarpment.
• Surface: 100% Paved asphalt with long, stretching concessions and winding county roads.

This 400km brevet is sanctioned by Les Randonneurs Mondiaux, and can therefore be used as a pre-qualification event for Paris-Brest-Paris 2027. See below for other shorter rides available in this series.

About the ride

Welcome to the Creemore Classic 400, an absolute monument in the Ontario randonneuring scene designed for riders who look at a topographical map and smile. While this legendary route has historically laid its roots further west starting in Port Elgin, this year features a brilliant logistical migration: the central hub has officially moved to Owen Sound! Starting and finishing at the local Tim Hortons, riders gain the security of ample day parking and immediate access to the scenic, testing roads that define the region.

The course is mapped as a magnificent and sweeping circuit that acts as a true tour de force of the Georgian Bay interior. You will ride right past the dramatic coastlines of the bay, drop into deep hidden river valleys, cross historic stone-flanked settlements, and face the towering walls of escarpment country before circling back home.

A Very Special Note

This event is proudly part of the Huron Entertainment Series! When you roll into the Collingwood Control, your checkpoint is none other than the Georgian Bowl. To inject a little extra fun into this ultra-endurance challenge, we offer a trophy to the rider who bowls the highest score while at the control. To enter, simply lace up some bowling shoes, roll a game, and email photo proof of your final bowling score to the ride organizer! (Note: You must complete the brevet within the time limit to qualify for the trophy).

The Journey Breakdown

Owen Sound to Flesherton (0 km – 45 km) Leaving the start control at the Tim Hortons in Owen Sound, the route moves south to clear the town basin and immediately starts tracking upward into the high country. This opening segment delivers a relentless, rewarding test for the legs as you climb into Grey County's rolling highlands. Your first control checkpoint is found at the Flesherton General Store ("Top O' the Rock"), which provides water, washrooms, and the perfect opportunity to warm up and fuel your engines early in the day.

Flesherton to Creemore & Collingwood (45 km – 220 km) From Flesherton, the route twists east through old farming settlements before tracking toward the dramatic ridges of the Niagara Escarpment. You will drop into the valley to find the next control at the historic Creemore Jail, where plenty of local services are available for riders. From there, you head toward the shoreline, rolling straight to the entertainment hub of the ride at the Collingwood control (Georgian Bowl), where your ten-pin championship quest begins.

Collingwood to Blue Mountain Village & Port Elgin (220 km – 320 km) After logging your frame scores, the path carries you westward along the shoreline roads, cutting directly through the vibrant Blue Mountain Village control. Leaving the village, you hit long, stretching concessions that span across the base of the peninsula, pointing your wheels back toward the shores of Lake Huron. This big interior block of riding brings you into Port Elgin for your final major checkpoint at the local Tim Hortons. Ensure you cross this control before its 10:00 PM closing time.

Port Elgin back to Owen Sound (320 km – 400 km) The final leg of your journey swings northeast, completing the grand circuit back toward the sound. As the night deepens, the rural tranquility of the Bruce interior shines. Randonneurs will face a few final rolling ridges before a spectacular, fast-rolling descent drops them back down into the Owen Sound basin, bringing a triumphant end to an epic 400 km masterpiece right back where you started.