The view of Davies Lake [Sand Lake] is very pleasing. The many islands, as if floating on a transparent mirror which mellowed and reflected by the tint of the morning, strikes the contemplative mind with a sensation of pleasure not easily forgotten. - Surveyor John Burrows’ impression of Sand Lake while paddling the Rideau in May 1827.
The Rideau Canal is a wonderful place for young and old alike to canoe or kayak, offering some of the best paddling in Canada. The locks have created an easy to paddle slackwater system and the central lakes have hundreds of interesting nooks and crannies for the paddler to explore. There are lots of camping locations, many with washroom facilities. Multiple points of access along the Rideau provide the paddler with easy ways to get out on the water.
Best Paddling in Canada
The Rideau is one of the best places to paddle in Canada, in fact one of the best places to paddle in North America. See my:
EVEN BETTER - New for 2011 - Parks Canada has just announced (July 2010) a new initiatve that will add new canoe/kayaks docks, ramps and signage to the Rideau Canal lockstations encouraging paddling and safe boating practices. Paddling is great now and it will be even better in 2011.
Planning Information
Paddler's Trip Planner - All the basic information you need to plan your canoe/kayak trip on the Rideau.
Rideau Paddling FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions (with answers) about paddling the Rideau.
Boater's Trip Planner - A list of general information that is useful for boating of any type on the Rideau.
A group of canoeists and kayakers at Kilmarnock Lock
Travel Ideas
Travel Guides - specific travel guides with route descriptions can be found in the section below.
Travel Ideas - a compilation of ideas for Day Tripping, Shoreling and Lily Paddling.
Travel/Route Guides
Full Route: the two full route guides provides information about travelling the entire length of the Rideau.
Touring the Rideau - Paddling Routes (PDF file) - A paddler's guide to the Rideau Canal put together by the Rideau Heritage Route Tourism Association in 2009.
Paddling the Rideau Canal - A guide to canoeing/kayaking the Rideau, written by Don MacKay, a canalman with Parks Canada. Includes lots of great hints about paddling the Rideau as well as two travel guides.
Watson's Paddling Guides: (NEW for 2010) I'm creating a series of detailed route guides. Each one contains a 1:50,000 scale map (when printed at 8.5" x 11"). Adjacent maps overlap and so can be used for longer route paddling. I've tried to include most of the information a paddler would wish to know (water access points, distances, points of interest, etc.). The listing is sorted in geographic order, south to north. To do the entire Rideau is going to require about 20 guides - it will take some time to get them all done (so be patient).
Rideau Canal Waterway Website - I know you're here already but have you checked out all the other information on this site, the boating page, boater's trip planner, accomodation listing, attractions, etc. etc.? A page of interest if you don't own a canoe/kayak is the canoe/kayak rental section on the Boat Rentals Page
Paddling the Tay River - info about paddling the Tay River, including the Tay Canal portion of the river.
Paddling the Beverley Lakes - just east of the Rideau, on the Rideau Heritage Route, these lakes make for interesting day paddles.
Paddle Canada - headquartered in Kingston, they offer lots of information for the paddler.
Cataraqui Canoe Club - this is the canoe association that covers the southern portion of the Rideau Waterway.
Rideau Canoe Club - this is the canoe association based in Ottawa (at Hogs Back).
Have you found this website useful? It is a non-commercial site run (and paid for) on a hobby basis by Ken Watson. You can help with its continued development by making a donation using PayPal (credit card) - just click on the button
The Rideau Canal is a wonderful place for young and old alike to canoe or kayak, offering some of the best paddling in Canada. The locks have created an easy to paddle slackwater system and the central lakes have hundreds of interesting nooks and crannies for the paddler to explore. There are lots of camping locations, many with washroom facilities. Multiple points of access along the Rideau provide the paddler with easy ways to get out on the water. 
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