Summer is officially here and there’s no better time to escape the city in favour of a scenic bike trail.

The Star asked Jared Kolb,executive director at Cycle Toronto (formerly the Toronto Cyclist Union), to tell us where is best across the GTA to kick-start a wheel-y good adventure.

Trails map

1. The beginner’s path: Martin Goodman trail from Marilyn Bell Park to Coronation Park

“The most important thing for inexperienced riders is to get their feet wet in a low stress environment. There are a lot of picturesque, dedicated trails where you don’t have to interact with motorists, which is vital for beginners.”

2. The route for the reasonably experienced: Loop from Kingston Road through Taylor Creek trail, along the Lower Don River trail and back to the start position via the Lake Shore Blvd. East trail.

“It’s still picturesque, but this loop is a good one for someone downtown to do a nice 25 kilometre loop.”

3. The grueling struggle: travel down Brimley Road to the foot of Scarborough Bluffs Park

“It’s a gorgeous beach and a nice place to hang out, but it’s grueling in the sense that the climb back up is fairly steep.”

4. The waterfront way: a route along the water for east-siders near Pickering

“This is a growing trail and it’s stunning. You ride right along the water through dedicated bridges for cyclists. You can connect all the way to Pickering.”

5. The picturesque path: the ride along the North Humber trail (and link to the Mid-Humber or Eglinton West trails if you’re feeling bold)

“I really love this one. There’s one gap in the path but other than that, you can ride all over Etobicoke. It’s a gorgeous way to spend a day.”

6. Short and sweet: beginning near Queen St. West and Shaw St. and finishing close to Augusta Ave. and Dundas St. West

“Going through Kensington Market is always an adventure. Connecting at Trinity Bellwoods is nice, too.”

7. Up north: a quick route in North York from near G. Ross Lord Park leading to the Finch TTC stop

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“This is a wonderful route that allows you to connect over to other trails in the east.”

8. Way out west: Lower Humber trail leading onto the western section of the Waterfront trail

“Going past Lakeshore from the Humber along the waterfront is a great, multi-use path.”