We caught up with Jason Angus from the Peninsula Mountain Bike Club to learn how Sawmill Trails are becoming the official riding destination on the Bruce Peninsula.

For years, riders have been finding their way through the singletrack at Sawmill Ski Trails.

The terrain was fun. The local riding community was there. The potential was obvious. But like many trail systems across Ontario, the area existed in a bit of a grey zone: people were riding, but the trails were not formally recognized, maintained, or supported as an official mountain biking destination.

That is now changing.

The newly formed Peninsula Mountain Bike Club is helping bring structure, stewardship, and long-term vision to mountain biking on the Bruce Peninsula. Led by a growing group of volunteers, the club is working with local land managers, trail builders, and community partners to create a sustainable trail network that riders can enjoy for years to come.

“We just started the club this year, [2026]” Jason says. “We were thinking maybe we’d see 40 or 50 members in the first year, but we’re already up to 144.”

For a new club, that kind of response says a lot.

A Trail History Shaped by Opportunity and Liability

Mountain biking in Bruce County has a unique history. Around 20 years ago, Bruce County made a strong push to make mountain biking more accessible in the region. In partnership with Bruce Power, the county helped build mountain bike trails throughout Bruce County, including a bike park north of Wiarton.

At the time, some of those trails included technical wooden features often referred to as “North Shore” style structures. After a rider was seriously injured on a wood feature, the municipality was found liable.

The case had a lasting impact on how mountain bike trails were approached in the region. The 2015 trial decision found issues around warning signs, park promotion, risk monitoring, trail progression, and the need for lower-risk training areas. 

“The ruling changed the way mountain biking happened here,” Jason explains.

Since then, liability has become one of the biggest considerations for any official trail project. Clubs now need to think carefully about insurance, trail standards, signage, risk management, and sustainable design. For the Peninsula Mountain Bike Club, that means building trails that are fun, safe and sustainable.

Some riders would argue that those three goals do not always line up perfectly, but Jason sees them as the foundation for creating legitimate, long-term access.

From Rogue Trails to Recognized Trails

For roughly the last 20 years, riders have been building and using informal singletrack in the Sawmill area. The trails were enjoyed by the local riding community, but they were not formally maintained or officially promoted. Jason says the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority had not necessarily prohibited mountain biking, but it also had not actively encouraged it. For years, a committed group of volunteers tried to move the conversation forward.

About three years ago, the right pieces started to come together. The group approached the Conservation Authority, with a clear plan: form a club, carry insurance, organize maintenance, and work with an experienced trail builder.

The club is also fortunate to have support from Zane Davies of Treadscape, whose trail-building experience helped give land managers more confidence in the project. That combination of insurance, organization, professional trail knowledge, and community support helped shift the conversation.

Sawmill’s Terrain: Sandy, Fast, Punchy, and Forgiving

The Sawmill trails have a character of their own. Unlike many Ontario trail systems known for rocks and roots, Sawmill’s terrain is sandy and fast-draining. Even on wet days, the trails remain rideable and often feel better with a bit of moisture because the sand packs down.

“One of the nice things about this area is that it drains super fast,” Jason says. “The trails are actually better when they’re wet because they’re nice and packed.”

That makes Sawmill a great option when other systems may be too wet. Jason compares the soil to places like Turkey Point and Mansfield, where sandy terrain can help extend the rideable season. The trails themselves are generally forgiving, especially for newer riders. But forgiving does not mean easy. Jason describes the trails as punchy, with lots of short climbs and plenty of effort required.

“They’re fast, generally pretty flowy, and a great workout,” he says.

Helping Riders Feel Welcome and Supported

As of July 2026, the trails had just officially opened. As such, the club is still working to improve signage, something Jason sees as important for both safety and rider confidence. While Trailforks is helpful, many riders still want physical signs that confirm where they are and where they should go next.

“It makes people feel supported,” he says. “You know that you’re supposed to be where you are.”

For Jason, official trails are about more than maintenance and insurance. They are also about helping riders feel confident that they are in the right place. As more private properties and informal riding areas across Ontario become restricted or closed, riders are increasingly aware of the importance of staying on approved trails. Clear signage, official maps, and a recognized club presence all help remove uncertainty.

“I know as a mountain biker, I’m always cautious and alert that I’m not trespassing,” Jason says. “We’re trying to be good ambassadors and make sure people feel like they should be here.”

That ambassador role matters. It helps protect access, builds trust with land managers, and shows the broader community that mountain bikers are willing to organize, contribute, and care for the places they ride.

Why Membership Matters

One of the challenges the new club has faced is helping longtime riders understand why a membership or pass is now needed. Some people have been riding at Sawmill for decades and naturally wonder why they are being asked to pay now.

Jason is clear: it is not about profit. The club is volunteer-run, and the money goes toward the real costs of creating and maintaining legitimate trail access. That includes insurance, lease agreements, portable washrooms, parking lot support, trail maintenance, and ongoing improvements.

“We’re all volunteers here,” Jason says. “Our priority is to make these trails last, to have them here, and most importantly, to have people ride them and have fun.”

Membership also gives the club credibility. Once an official organization exists, it becomes easier to have serious conversations with municipalities, conservation authorities, private landowners, and community partners. That recognition is already opening doors.

A Bigger Vision for the Peninsula

Right now, Peninsula Mountain Bike Club has around nine kilometres of trail at Sawmill. But the long-term vision is much bigger. The club has an agreement with Pura Vida, the property east of the current trail area, allowing them to maintain and expand trails there. They are also in discussions with Kiwanis west of the property about creating a corridor that could eventually connect to Georgian Bluffs municipal land.

In five years, Jason hopes the trail system could extend well beyond Sawmill.

“Our master plan is to hopefully expand the trails from here to Wiarton,” he says. “Realistically, we should be able to connect Sawmill Ski Trail to Wiarton and hopefully Sawmill to Sauble.”

That opens up exciting possibilities, including longer rides, destination riding, and even bikepacking-style routes through the region. The club is also working with Bruce County, which Jason says has been supportive of the broader trail vision.

Mountain Biking, Skiing, and a Changing Season

Sawmill is also used by the Bruce Ski Club, which means the mountain bike club has had to consider how trail development fits alongside existing winter use. But as winters become less predictable, the balance of seasonal use is shifting. Jason notes that the ski season is no longer reliably four or five months long. Some years, the area may only see a couple of good months of skiing.

That leaves a much longer window for mountain biking.

“If we’re lucky, we get two months of good skiing,” he says. “Which means we get eight-plus months of mountain biking.”

Rather than competing with other users, the club is working to build relationships and ensure the area can serve the community across seasons.

A New Chapter for Riding in the Region

The launch of Peninsula Mountain Bike Club marks an important step forward for mountain biking in the Wiarton, Georgian Bluffs, and Bruce Peninsula area.

What was once informal is becoming official. What was once tolerated is becoming supported. And what was once a small network of local singletrack now has the potential to become a larger, connected riding destination.

For the volunteers behind the club, the goal is simple: build trails that are sustainable, safe, fun, and welcoming. The early response suggests the community is ready.

With more than 140 members already, strong local partnerships, experienced trail-building support, and a long-term vision that could connect Sawmill to Wiarton and Sauble, Peninsula Mountain Bike Club is helping write the next chapter of mountain biking on the Bruce Peninsula.