Cross-Border Cycling the Gordie Howe Bridge
How to Take a Bike-Friendly City & County Trip to Windsor Essex
After several return trips to the Windsor Essex region, it’s become clear to me that this part of Ontario is perfect for visitors who appreciate travel on two wheels. Between its wide open roads, scenic farm fields, rivers and lakes, and a bevy of bike-friendly businesses to boot, there are so many ways to appreciate Windsor Essex by bike.
And to top it all off, when Chris and I learned that the long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit was open for pedestrians and cyclists, we knew we had to plan a return trip. This is a trip you’ll definitely want to bring the bikes for!
View this post on Instagram
Biking the Gordie Howe Bridge Between Windsor and Detroit
Since cycling the Gordie Howe Bridge took centre stage for this trip, we started by checking in at the Hyatt Place Windsor. With its close access to both the Ambassador and Gordie Howe bridges, this hotel is easy to drive to and makes a great jumping off point for cycling across to Detroit, and back again.
The rooms at Hyatt Place were comfortable and spacious, and had plenty of room for our bike gear and luggage during our visit. They also offer an excellent complimentary buffet breakfast for all guests to enjoy, which Chris and I were impressed with.
From the hotel, we biked for a short ten minutes to get to the Malden Park Observation Area. This spot at the top of the park has lovely panoramic views of Windsor, Detroit, and the new bridge. It was easy to bike over to Sandwich Street from here and follow the signs and cycling lanes going south to take you to the bridge entrance.
View this post on Instagram
As we approached the cyclist path to the bridge, Chris and I spotted a few historical plaques and art installations, which we stopped to read about and admire. The sculpture “Make a Joyful Noise” by Jordan Sook is an especially moving piece about the Detroit-Windsor corridor’s role during the Underground Railroad.
It’s hard to miss the entrance to the bridge, since there is a very clear “Bridge to USA” sign once you reach the cyclists’ entrance. After reading all of the signs reminding us to bring our passports (and triple-checking our pockets to ensure we did!), I couldn’t believe how easy it was to get onto the bridge! No lines, no tolls, no waiting behind cars—just a push of one door, and we were off.
As we began cycling across the bridge, we took the dedicated path for pedestrians and cyclists to share and felt the gradual incline begin. It isn’t bad for experienced cyclists, but it’s worth noting that there is a 5% incline and decline on either side of the bridge. So make sure your brakes are in working order.
It’s been a long time coming to see this bridge open, and it’s so nice we can appreciate it by foot or by bike–it’s never been an option at this border crossing before. As I biked across this cable-stayed bridge, I found it was hard for me to keep my eyes forward. All I kept wanting to do was look up and admire the web of cables as they caught the sun against the sky above us. Needless to say, it’s worth stopping several times as you bike across to admire the bridge. It’s an architectural marvel!
Where to Cycle on Either Side of the Bridge
If you’re planning to head into Detroit, you can cross customs and continue by bike over to Mexican Town to Corktown and the Detroit RiverWalk before heading back. Worthwhile stops on this side include Taqueria Lupita’s for tacos, Michigan Central and Roosevelt Park for photos, and Alba in Corktown for coffee and a snack. The Detroit Greenway takes you down to the RiverWalk where you’ll find beautiful views of the Detroit River, Windsor and the river side parks here.
For cyclists thinking about where to go on the Windsor side of the bridge, you’ll want to focus on the Sandwich Loop and the Windsor Riverfront Trail. After customs, follow the signs down to Historic Sandwich before connecting with the Riverfront Trail. Along the way, you’ll want to stop for a pint at Sandwich Brewing (their back patio has bike parking!) and a bite at Rock Bottom Bar & Grill before continuing along the Detroit River.
If you’re looking for more cycling options to add to your trip, you can find them here.
One of My Favourite Regional Biking Add-Ons: The Essex Pelee Island Coast Wine Region!
If you’re like Chris and me and you’re looking for more than just one or two days of biking the bridge and around Windsor or Detroit, then heading over to the Essex Pelee Island Coast (EPIC) wine region for some cycling in Essex County is a great way to extend your time on two wheels. We’ve visited this region before and loved it, so it was nice to return on this trip.
From Windsor, Chris and I headed over to Colchester and stayed at The Grove Motel. This independent hotel has a ton of charm and it’s great for a bike trip. They have a bike rack, large rooms (each with their own theme), and they’re conveniently located right on the wine trail. There are over 20 wineries in the region, so your biggest decisions here will be about how many spots you’ll want to visit and how many day(s) you’ll want to spend biking—it’s hard work, but someone has to do it!
View this post on Instagram
We started each day with breakfast at Joe Hot + Cold at The Grove before heading out to bike-friendly stops for tastings, a bite to eat and a little history and culture. We biked to Colchester Ridge Estate Winery (CREW) for lunch and a tasting, followed by tastings at North 42 Degrees Estate Winery, Carolinia Cider Co. (also home to The Fruit Wagon for produce!), and Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards.
If you’re looking to stretch your legs with a dose of history, John R. Park Homestead was essentially one of the first settlements in this region in the 1830s. You can visit for a self-guided tour of its historic buildings on this beautiful lakefront property. And depending on how far you’re looking to bike, a few more spots worth visiting to learn about local history and culture are the Canadian Transportation Museum and Heritage Village, and the Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary.
A Few Final Stops to Add to Your Bike-Friendly City and County Trip
There’s so much more to do on a trip around Windsor and Essex County than what’s listed above, but here are a few more highlights I’d recommend looking into that we checked out:
Stops in Windsor
● FlowState Nordic Spa is a wonderful spot to visit after a long few days on a bike. They’re a boutique, family-owned Nordic Spa located at Urban Surf Co. and Sketch Clay + Pottery. You can spend a relaxing few hours rotating through their outdoor steam rooms, saunas, cold plunges and relaxation circuits. We really loved relaxing here!
● While you’re in the area, Harbour House Waterfront Eatery and Stop 26 Ice Cream are both great places to visit either by bike or by car. Have lunch or dinner at Harbour House, followed by ice cream at nostalgic Stop 26
Stops in Essex County
● Chris and I weren’t exactly sure what to expect at Ure’s Country Kitchen & Mini Golf in Amherstburg, but the quality of our delicious home cooked breakfast here was only outdone by the friendliness of owners Laurie and Randy. Their 18-hole mini putt course was even professionally designed by world-famous Harris Miniature Golf out of New Jersey.
● Whether you bike from Colchester to Kingsville or drive, spending a little time in Kingsville in Essex County is a must. Banded Goose Brewing Co. is a central place to come in town to sample delicious craft beer and enjoy a meal.
● Another unique stop in the region is Colasanti’s Tropical Garden. This multi-generational family market has a little bit of everything–famous fried chicken and homemade donuts (perfect for lunch or a snack), plenty of local produce for grocery shopping, a garden centre, arcade games and mini golf. It really has it all! Between having a meal, browsing, and gaming, I’d set aside a fair chunk of time for a stop here.
● Since Chris and I were coming and going from Toronto, Iron Kettle Commissary makes an excellent spot to stop on your way in or out of Windsor and Essex County from Highway 401. They brew some excellent coffee and have a whole host of unique and delicious pastries and delicacies, perfect for breakfast or a box to go.
So there you have it—there are plenty of ways to make the most of a trip to Windsor Essex centred around cycling the Gordie Howe International Bridge. The only question you have to answer now is when will you cycle the bridge? Windsor by bike is calling you!
Article by Bri Mitchell @brimitchelltravels
