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Bicycling the |
| Your location: Rideau Region > Rideau Waterway > Bicycling the Rideau > Ottawa to Kingston Tour |
 Ottawa to Cataraqui Trail to Kingston (191 km without side trips) The following are directions for a self-guided bicycle tour from Ottawa to Kingston via the Cataraqui Trail. If you want an all paved road tour, then please see the Grand Tour - Ottawa to Kingston. Depending on your skill (stamina) as a bicycler, for the average bicycler, this is a hard one day, or relaxing two day journey. Please note that the kilometre distances are only approximate, they have been measured off a map. The road portion of this tour are on lower traffic paved back roads. The Cataraqui Trail follows an abandoned rail bed, so it is flat with a few rough sections (see the Cycling Notes on the Cataraqui Trail Website). Place names with links will lead you to a map and description of that community. Highlights of this trip outside of the many attractions in Kingston and Ottawa include the Rideau Canal Waterway (stops at several lockstations), the scenery along the Cataraqui Trail, the beautiful villages of Portland, Merrickville, Kars and Manotick, the interesting variety in the Town of Smiths Falls, including the Hershey's Chocolate Factory. Plus of course the lovely scenery along the rural back roads. If you see any errors in this information, please email me. |
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| Route Arrow - continue along main route | Right or Left Turn Arrow | Side Loop - a side trip off the main route | Stop of Interest | Bicycle Route - where this route intersects another bicycle route |
| Ottawa to Kingston Route Directions | |||
| Km | Location | Description | |
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0 | Hogs Back | The Lockstation at Hogs Back marks the start of our journey. You can get there by following the bicycle paths (head out to Carleton University and from there to Hogs Back). Follow Hogs Back Road east to Riverside Drive. |
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1 | Riverside Drive | Turn south (right) onto Riverside Drive and continue to Mooney's Bay Park |
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2 | Mooney's Bay Park | A City of Ottawa Park on the shores of the Rideau River. |
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2 | Riverside Drive | Continue south on Riverside Drive, crossing Hunts Club Road to River Road. |
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6 | River Road | Continue south on River Road to Limebank Road |
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8 | Limebank Road | Turn southeast (left) onto Limebank Road and take it to Armstrong Road |
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13 | Armstrong Road | Turn west (right) onto Armstrong Road and take it to Spratt Road. |
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15 | Spratt Road | Turn south (left) onto Spratt Road and follow it County Road 8. |
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19 | County Road 8 | Turn west (right) onto County Road 8 and follow it to Manotick. |
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21 | Manotick | Manotick offers a variety of services. Be sure to take time out to visit historic Watson's Mill. |
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21 | County Road 13 | From Manotick, head south along County Road 13 (Rideau Valley Drive) to Kars. |
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30 | Kars | The Village of Kars is a small place with few amenities but lovely ambiance. |
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30 | County Road 13 | Head south along County Road 13 to Baxter Conservation Area. |
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38 | Baxter Conservation Area | Conservation areas offer picnic tables and washrooms. A small day fee applies. |
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38 | Dilworth Road | From Baxter Conservation area turn west onto Dilworth Road and take it to County Road 5. Note that you will be passing by Rideau River Provincial Park. |
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41 | County Road 5 | Turn south (left) on County Road 5 and take it to County Road 44 |
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47 | County Road 44 | Turn south (left) onto County Road 44 and take it to County Road 23. |
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48 | Kemptville (7 km) |
The town of Kemptville, only 3.5 km away, offers several services, including a fast food strip with a Tim Hortons (turn south at the intersection with County Road 43). |
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48 | County Road 23 | Turn southwest onto County Road 23 and take it to Burritts Rapids. |
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60 | Burritts Rapids | Burritts Rapids is one of the oldest communities on the Rideau. If you feel like a hike to stretch your legs, try the Tip to Tip Trail (start from the Burritts Rapids Lockstation). |
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60 | County Road 23 | Continue along County Road 23 to Upper Nicholsons Locks |
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64 | Upper Nicholsons Locks | A lovely lockstation with swing bridge. Picnic tables and washrooms. |
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64 | County Road 23 | Continue along County Road 23 to County Road 43 |
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66 | County Road 43 | Turn southeast (right) onto County Road 43 and continue to Merrickville |
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68 | Merrickville | Merrickville is well worth a stop. Accommodations, groceries, restaurants, and many shopping opportunities. Visit the Blockhouse and the locks. While you are in Blockhouse Park, stop in at The Depot, run by Friends of the Rideau and pick up an interesting Rideau book. Take a boat tour of the Rideau on the electric cruise boat, the Harriet By. |
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68 | Toledo Alternate | A lower traffic alternative to passing through Smiths Falls is to head from Merrickville to Jasper, from there to Toledo and for there to the Cataraqui Trail near Lombardy. See the end of this section for details of this route. Or, continue on to Smiths Falls where highlights will include a fast food strip (incl. Tim Hortons), the Rideau Canal Museum, and the Hershey's Chocolate Factory. |
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68 | Cty Rd. 43 | From Merrickville, take County Road 43 west to the turn-off for Kilmarnock. | |
80 | Kilmarnock Lock Side Trip (2 km) |
Kilmarnock Lock - a peaceful rural lock with a lovely wooden swing bridge. Picnic tables and washrooms. |
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80 | County Road 43 | Continue west along County Road 43 to the turn-off for the Hershey's Chocolate Factory. |
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91.5 | Hershey's Chocolate Factory | The Hershey's Chocolate Factory offers free tours and has an attached retail outlet which caters to everyone's sweet tooth. Once you've loaded up on chocolate, return to County Road 43 |
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91.5 | County Road 43 | Continue along County Road 43 to the turn-off (left) for Old Slys. |
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92 | Old Slys Locks | Old Slys is another lovely Rideau lock. Picnic tables and washrooms. |
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92 | Jasper Avenue | From Old Slys, continue down Old Slys Road and follow it as it swings into Jasper Avenue. Continue along Jasper Avenue to the lights at Brockville Street. |
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95 | Lock & Museum Side Trip (2 km) |
To take this side trip, you might find it easier to walk your bike across the intersection and then head north, down the west side of Beckwith Street, over the bridge to the first road on the left, leading to the Combined Lock. You'll also find the walkway to the Rideau Canal Museum just a few feet down this road (on the north side). Once you've done these, cross the bridge over the weir (water dam) and continue straight on Confederation Drive which will swing around to the north to join Strathcona Street. Head west down Strathcona Street to Abbott Street. Turn south on Abbott Street and just after you cross the first bridge will be the entrance to the Detached Lock and the Bascule Bridge. Once you visited these, head back to Abbott Street and turn south on Lombard Street. |
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95 | Lombard Street | Continue straight through the lights on to Lombard Street and follow Lombard to the turn off (left) for Tim Hortons/Harveys. |
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96 | Head of Cataraqui Trail | You'll find the starting point of the Cataraqui Trail located behind Harveys Restaurant. Follow the Cataraqui Trail west to its intersection with County Road 1. |
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105.5 | Cataraqui Trail | This is the point where the Toledo Alternate Route rejoins this route. Continue west along the Cataraqui Trail to Portland Station Road. |
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121 | Portland | You can exit the Cataraqui Trail at Portland Station Road and take it into Portland. Once you've "done" Portland, you can return to the Cataraqui Trail via this route. |
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121 | Cataraqui Trail | Continue along the Cataraqui Trail to its intersection with County Road 42 |
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126 | Forfar Side Trip (2 km) |
A short 1 km jaunt to the west down County Road 42 will bring you to ForFar, home of the Forfar Cheese Factory. Pick up a variety of delicious cheeses, including fresh (squeaky) curd cheese. |
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126 | Cataraqui Trail | Continue west along the Cataraqui Trail to Chaffeys Locks. |
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139.5 | Chaffeys Locks | At Chaffeys, stop for a bit to take in the locks, the beautiful grounds of the Opinicon Resort Hotel, visit the Chaffeys Lockmasters House Museum. Take time out for a tour of Opinicon Lake aboard "Chuckles", a lovely 1940s cruiser (Rideau Canal Boat Tours). To get to Chaffeys, you might find that it is easiest to exit the Cataraqui Trail at Indian Lake Road and take Opinicon Road into back into Chaffeys (less than 1 km away). |
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139.5 | Cataraqui Trail | Continue west along the Cataraqui Trail to its intersection with Herm Johnson Rd. |
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155 | Herm Johnson Rd | The first road that crosses the trail is Herm Johnson Road. As of this writing, there is loose slag on the trail starting about a kilometre from this point (you might have to walk your bike). Turn south (left) off the trail onto Herm Johnson Road and follow it just a short distance to Opinicon Road. |
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155 | Opinicon Road | Turn west onto Opinicon Road and follow it to County Road 10. | |
156 | Cty. Rd. 10 | Turn south (left) onto County Road 10 (to Perth Road Village) and continue to the exit for County Road 12 at the south end of Inverary. |
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167 | Cty. Rd. 12 | Turn east (left) onto County Road 12 and take it to Sunbury. |
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171 | Cty. Rd. 11 | At Sunbury, turn south (right) on County Road 11 and take it to Kingston Mills Road |
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183 | Kingston Mills (4 km) |
Take Kingston Mills Road 2 kilometres east to the Kingston Mills Lockstation. Beautiful scenery, picnic tables and washrooms. |
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183 | Cty. Rd. 10 | Continue south on County Road 10. When you pass under Highway 401 it will turn into Montreal Street which you can take into downtown Kingston. |
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191 | Kingston | You're done. |
| Toledo Alternate - Merrickville to Cataraqui Trail |
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68 | County Road 16 | Take St. Lawrence street south out of Merrickville, and turn southwest (right) onto County Road 16. Take County Road 16 to Jasper. |
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83 | County Road 16 | From Jasper, continue along County Road 16 to County Road 29 |
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88 | County Road 29 | Turn south (left) on County Road 29 and continue to the exit for Toledo. |
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95 | County Road 8 | Turn (right) onto County Road 8 and take it in to Toledo |
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96 | Toledo | Gas station with groceries. Limited services. |
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96 | County Road 1 | From Toledo, head north on County Road 1 and take it to where it intersects the Cataraqui Trail (just past where County Road 1 crosses Strictland Road) |
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110 | Cataraqui Trail | You're back on the main route - head west along the Cataraqui Trail. |
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Comments: send me email: Ken Watson