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The locks on the Rideau operate today much as they did 160 years
ago. The large wooden lock doors are opened and closed using hand cranks.
Hand cranks are also used to let water in and out of the
locks. Most of the stone blocks that you see are the ones originally
emplaced in the 19th century. The locks cater to tourists and
even the novice boater will have no trouble locking through. Parks
Canada staff are always there to assist.
All the locks offer nice grassy lawns with picnic tables. Lock
watching is an interesting pastime, a great way to spend a lazy
afternoon, watching boats of all descriptions go up and down in
the lock. Many transient boaters moor at the locks which offer
good dockage, washroom facilities and an interesting area to explore.
Several of the locks have defensible
lockmaster houses and blockhouses
which are open for public viewing. Many of the locks offer hiking
trails. Several of the locks such as those at Ottawa, Merrickville,
Smiths Falls, Chaffey's, Jones Falls, and Kingston have heritage
museums located close by.
For those interested in exactly why there are locks and how they
work, be sure to visit my What is a Lock
page.
The whole of the Rideau Waterway is a park of sorts, but along
the way you can stop in at two Ontario Provincial Parks, Murphys
Point and Rideau River Provincial Park. These parks offer camping
opportunities for the boater, trails, and interpretative displays.
You can visit the Web sites for these parks by going to either
Murphys Point Provincial Park
or Rideau River Provincial Park.
In addition to the Provincial Parks, there are several conservation areas that offer lots of family fun. Some are free, and some charge a $5 day use fee (a $40 annual pass is available). For more information contact the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority at 613-692-3571 or toll free at 1-800-267-3504. Conservation areas (listed geographically, south to north) are:
Nature lovers will enjoy their journey through the Rideau, which
provides a haven for many species of wildlife. Loons are common
on all the lakes, and at night, their haunting cries echo across
the water (those interested in loons may wish to visit the The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey website). The Rideau is also home to the blue heron and osprey.
Many species of duck stop off at the Rideau for several weeks
in the spring and fall. Of course frogs
and turtles are permanent
residents, and it is not uncommon to see half a dozen
turtles sunning themselves on a floating log in amongst the lily pads.
During the day, hummingbirds flit back and forth, searching out
nectar and small flies, and at night flashes of fireflies can
been seen in the trees. Beaver abound in the region and the alert traveller
may even spot an otter. In addition, Rideau boaters may find the
occasional muskrat locking through with them.
Those interested in nature and wildlife should have a look at the Ecology of the Rideau section of this website.
Outside of boating, there is no better way to see the the wildlife of the Rideau and just enjoy nature in general than taking a nice hike through the woods. There are many trails that the hiker can take advantage of. The most extensive trail system in the region, The Rideau Trail, forms a traverse from Kingston to Ottawa. An interesting portion of the Rideau trail for the boater, is the section between Westport and Murphys Point Provincial Park, where the trail runs close to the shores of Upper Rideau and Big Rideau Lakes.
More sedate hikers will enjoy the Cataraqui Trail, part of the Trans-Canada trail system, which follows an old railway bed (no more than a 2% grade).
For more about hiking, see the Hiking the Rideau section of this website.
Canoeing or kayaking is a lovely way to see the Rideau. The whole of the Rideau is accessible by canoe/kayak, and every year many intrepid paddlers do the full length of the canal. For information about paddling the Rideau have a look at the Paddling the Rideau Waterway section of this website.
Another option if you don't own a canoe is to rent one. Information on canoe and kayak rentals can be found on the Boat Rentals Page
Local canoe clubs include the: Cataraqui Canoe Club.
One way a group can discover the historic heritage of the Rideau is by taking a guided lockstation tour.
Explore a variety of learning and recreational opportunities for
groups of 25-88 people combining a blend of historic
and natural environments. Contact the Parks Canada Tour Booking Officer for information about hours, locations and facilities. Call 613-283-5170 or 1-888-773-8888
Several communities are located on the shores of the Rideau Waterway,
and all offer services to the boater. Smiths Falls the largest
community between Ottawa and Kingston, is close to the
halfway point of the Rideau Waterway. The Rideau Waterway passes
through the heart of town, and it is well worth while to tie up
at the dock and spend a day exploring. Smiths Falls is also home
to the Rideau Canal headquarters, the Rideau Canal Museum, and
train buffs will enjoy a visit to the Railway Museum.
There are also several smaller communities that work hard to cater
to the traveler. Westport, a short jaunt off the main channel,
offers many interesting shops. Merrickville, the Jewel of the Rideau,
prides itself in its artistic community, boasting over thirty local
artist and artisans. You can also make a nice side trip up the
Tay Canal to visit historic Perth.
Several Rideau
communities have their own websites. You will find these listed on
the Links Page.
To see maps, histories and walking tours of Rideau area communities have a look at the Rideau Community Histories section of this website.
The lakes and rivers of the Rideau Waterway offer great fishing
opportunities. Species caught along the length of the Rideau Waterway
include Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Lake
Trout, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie and Walleye (Yellow Pickerel).
Information about fishing is detailed on my Rideau Fishing Page.
The whole of the Rideau is well serviced with marinas. Most offer
fuel, repair services, supplies, and transient dockage. Marina
staff are always friendly and always willing to help the traveler,
offering advice to make your journey more pleasurable. For a
full listing of marinas along the Rideau, be sure and have a look
at my Marinas Page.
For those of you who like to take a stroll through history, there
are several museums along the Rideau Waterway that will be of
interest to you:
Naturally, the large communities of Kingston and Ottawa offer
the traveler ample opportunities for fine dining. But you will
also find culinary delights as you travel the Rideau. Most of
the lodges and Inns along the route have dining rooms offering
the traveler a delicious selection of meals. In addition, the
communities along the route offer various restaurants to satiate
almost any type of food craving.
Of course no trip is complete without engaging in a shopping expedition,
or two, or three. The communities along the Rideau all offer shopping
opportunities for the tourist. Discover a hidden treasure in one
of the many antique stores along the route, check out the products
of the many local artisans in the quaint craft shops you will
discover in many of the towns. Shopping doesn't have to be restricted
to dry goods. Many of the stores offer locally made food products
including maple syrup, honey, and cheese. During late July and
early August be sure to pick up some cobs of corn from a local
vendor and sink your teeth into the delicious sweet tender kernels.
Bicycle enthusiasts can fully enjoy the Rideau region.
Although there are no bicycle trails directly along the
Rideau (except for bicycle paths in Ottawa), there are many trails and secondary roads close by that the bicyclist can enjoy. 
Whether Kingston is the beginning of your Rideau adventure or
the end, it is well worth spending a couple of days to take in
the town. Founded in 1673, it is known as the "Limestone City" and offers
many examples of beautiful early Canadian stone architecture.
For the boater, Kingston offer two municipal and several privately
owned marinas, all catering to the transient boater. The Flora
MacDonald Confederation Basin marina for example can accommodate
300 transient boats and is located in the downtown core.
Kingston offers an excellent choice of restaurants, interesting
museums, art galleries, and shopping. Main attractions include:
For more on what to do and see in Kingston, you can follow the
links that I have included.
Ottawa, Canada's capital city, caters to the tourist. You could easily spend a week here and there would still be more things to see. It offers world class restaurants, great shopping opportunities and a very long list of interesting sights to see, of which I will only list a few. There are several marinas catering to the transient boater and Rideau Canal itself features 24 hour a day docking privileges. Many of the sites are within easy walking distance of the canal. A few of the attractions are as follows:
For more on what to do and see in Ottawa, you can follow the links
that I have included.
When the cold winds of winter descend upon the region, the Rideau does not shut down. The residents of Ottawa strap on their skates and enjoy crisp winter days by skating
on the frozen canal. The Rideau Canal Skateway holds the Guinness World Record as the world's largest naturally frozen ice rink. The 7.8 km long skateway is 165,621 m2, equivalent in size to 90 Olympic sized rinks. Skating on the canal has become a favourite pastime of winter visitors, especially during Ottawa's winter festival, Winterlude (first three weekends of February). It's a great way to see some of the sights, and you can enjoy a delicious Beaver Tail from one of the kiosks on the canal in the centre of downtown.
The National Capital Commission maintains the skating section of the canal in winter. Visit their skating conditions website for current information. You can also call their toll free number to obtain information about ice conditions (and anything else to do with Ottawa tourism)- 1-800-465-1867. You may initially reach a short recorded message, but the line is staffed by live persons during the workweek normal workday hours. The local city number, which gives a pre-recorded message 24 hrs. a day and is updated daily is (613) 239-5234. A red flag flying over the canal means it is closed to skating; a yellow flag means the conditions are fair to good and a green flag means very good to excellent.
The Canal usually opens for skating in early to mid January, depending on the temperature.
When the deep fluffy snows of winter cover the ground, Canadians slap lumber on their feet and take to the frozen lakes and trails.
Cross country skiing has become a favourite pastime, it's inexpensive and anyone can do it. When the lakes freeze over, they become an ideal place for a leisurely ski, places accessible only by boat in the summer, can now be visited by skiers in the winter. A word of caution however, there is often open water around the locks throughout the winter. Before venturing out onto the lakes, check with a local source regarding safe access points and ice conditions.
Several of the local parks and conservation areas offer skiing opportunities such as Murphys Point Provincial Park (25 km of groomed trails), Foley Mountain Conservation area (4 km of groomed trails) and Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area (13 km of groomed trails). See the Parks section for links. And of course there is the Cataraqui Trail, offering 200 km of groomed trail.
The really adventuresome, who wish to re-live the experience of early Canadian explorers, can strap on a pair of snowshoes and head off into the woods. If you're the type of person who likes to get off the beaten track, then snowshoeing might be for you.
For those of you who like to fill the silence of the winter wilderness with the roar of engines, then snowmobiling in the Rideau region will be a fun sport for you. Snowmobiling should only be done on existing trails with full respect for the private property. The local snowmobile association can show you how to responsibly enjoy your snowmobile adventure in the Rideau region.
Visit the Rideau Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club webpage for more information.
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