Your location: Rideau Canal Home Page > Cycling the Rideau > Kingston to Ottawa


Bicycling the Rideau
The Grand Tour - Kingston to Ottawa
(180 km without side trips)

The following are turn by turn directions for a self-guided bicycle tour. Mate this information with a paper or digital map (see the Maps Page for information on various maps of the Rideau).

This is a self-guided bicycle tour from Kingston to Ottawa. Depending on your skill (stamina) as a bicycler, for the average bicycler, this is a hard one day, a moderate two day, or relaxing three day journey. Please note that the kilometre distances are only approximate, they have been measured off a map. All the roads are paved and in general, most are lower traffic back roads.

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 beautiful villages of Lyndhurst, Delta, Merrickville, Kars and Manotick. Plus of course the lovely scenery along the rural back roads.

If you see any errors in this information, please email me.
Symbol Legend
Bicycle Route
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
Kingston to Ottawa Route Directions
  Km Location Description
0 Kingston Follow Montreal Street, north, under Hwy 401, to Kingston Mills Road. Note that Montreal Street turns into County Road 11 (Battersea Road).
8 Kingston Mills
(4 km)		 Take Kingston Mills Road 2 kilometres east to the Kingston Mills Lockstation. Beautiful scenery, picnic tables and washrooms.
8 Cty Rd. 11 Continue north along County Road 11 to Sunbury. Small grocery store in Sunbury. Continue to intersection with County Road 12 (Sunbury Road)
Turn Right 20 Cty Rd. 12 In Sunbury, turn east on County Road 12 (Sunbury Road). Continue to Upper Brewers Mills Lockstation
Stop 31 Upper Brewers Lock A nice place to stop for break. Washrooms, picnic tables.
31 Cty. Rd. 12 Continue along County Road 12 to Highway 15
Turn left 32 Hwy 15 Turn left (north) on Highway 15. Continue to Brewers Mills Road (just a few hundred metres down the road)
Turn Right 33 Brewers Mills Road Turn right (east) onto Brewers Mills Road and continue to Taylor Road.
Turn left 38 Taylor Road Turn left (east) onto Taylor Road (turn is at the apex of where Brewers Mills Road turns south to meet Pine Grove Road) and continue to County Road 32.
Turn left 39 Cty Rd. 32 Turn left (north) on County Road 32. Continue to Hwy. 15
48 Hwy 15 Intersection Gas station here has groceries. Also small restaurant.
48 Hwy 15. Continue along Highway 15 to County Rd. 33 exit (Lyndhurst exit). Note that Hwy 15 can be busy with traffic.
Turn Right 49 Cty. Rd. 33 Take the County Road 33 exit and continue on to Briar Hill Road.
Bicycle Route 56 Jones Falls Loop This route intersects the Jones Falls loop at Old Briar Hill Road (just before you get to Lyndhurst). This side loop can be done in one of two ways. You can continue on the main route to Philipsville and then do the Jones Falls side loop (you'll end back on this route at this location). Or, you can exit here, take the Jones Falls loop and then at Philipsville make a decision about whether to backtrack to visit Delta and Lyndhurst (worth doing).
56 Cty. Rd. 33 Continue along County Road 33 to Lyndhurst.
Stop 57 Lyndhurst Lyndhurst village. Take time to view the historic Lyndhurst Bridge
57 Cty. Rd. 33 Continue along County Road 33 to intersection with County Road 42
Turn Left 63 Cty Rd. 42 Turn north onto County Road 42 towards Delta
Stop 66 Delta Village of Delta. Take time to stop and visit the historic Old Stone Mill Museum, now beautifully restored. Restaurant and groceries available in village.
66 Cty Rd. 42 Continue along County Road 42 to Philipsville
Bicycle Route 71 Jones Falls Loop This route intersects the Jones Falls loop at Philipsville. If you take the Jones Falls Loop you'll end up back on this route at Old Briar Hill Road and Cty. Rd. 32 (just south of Lyndhurst).
71 Forfar Side Trip
(12 km)		 At Philipsville, you are only 6 kilometres from Forfar, home of the Forfar Dairy. It offers various cheesy items, including curd cheese. Simply continue along Cty. Rd. 42 to Forfar and then return to this spot.
Turn Right 71 County Road 8 In Philipsville, turn north, onto County Road 8 and continue to Toledo.
stop 83 Toledo Gas station with groceries. Limited services.
Bicycle Route 83 Smiths Falls Loop At Toledo, this route intersects the Smiths Falls Loop. The Smiths Fall loop will put you back on this route at either Jasper or Merrickville (no need to backtrack)
left-turn-arrow.gif - 482 Bytes 84 County Road 29 Just past Toledo turn north onto County Road 29 and take it to County Road 16, the exit for Jasper
91 County Road 16 Turn east onto County Road 16 and follow it all the way to Jasper
Bicycle Route 96 Smiths Falls Loop The Smiths Falls Loop intersects with this route in the village of Jasper. This loop will put you back on this route at Merrickville.
96 County Road 16 Continue along County Road 16 to Merrickville
stop 111 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.
111 County Road 43 Follow County Road 43 to the intersection with County Road 23 (to Burritts Rapids)
113 County Road 23 Turn north onto County Road 23 (aka River Road). Continue to Upper Nicholsons Lockstation.
stop 115 Upper Nicholsons Locks A lovely lockstation with swing bridge. Picnic tables and washrooms.
115 County Road 23 Continue along County Road 23 (River Road) to Burritts Rapids
stop 119 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).
119 River Road Continue along County Road 23, aka River Road, to its intersection with Actons Corners Road. The road swings to the right onto Actons Corners Road and you must turn left, back onto River Road and follow it to County Road 44.
Side Loop 131 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).
Turn Left 131 County Road 44 Turn west onto County Road 44 and take it across the Rideau River to its intersection with County Road 5
Turn Right 132 County Road 5 Turn north onto County Road 5 and take it to the Dilworth Road. Note that you will pass by Rideau River Provincial Park
Turn Right 138 Dilworth Road Turn east onto Dilworth Road and take it to the Baxter Conservation Area
Stop 141 Baxter Conservation Area Conservation areas offer picnic tables and washrooms. A small day fee applies.
Turn Left 141 County Road 13 After leaving Baxter Conservation area, turn north onto County Road 13 and take it to Kars.
Stop 149 Kars The Village of Kars is a small place with few amenities but lovely ambiance.
149 Roger Stevens Rod Turn east onto Roger Stevens Rd and take it to Rideau Valley Drive (Cty. Rd. 13)
Turn Left 149 County Road 13 Turn north onto Rideau Valley Drive (Cty. Rd. 13)
149 County Road 13 Continue along County Road 13 (Rideau Valley Drive) to Manotick
stop 158 Manotick Manotick offers a variety of services. Be sure to take time out to visit historic Watson's Mill.
right-turn 158 County Road 8 Turn east onto Bridge Street and cross the two bridges. Continue straight, along County Road 8 to Spratt Road. A note from a traveller in 2004 noted that Cty. Road 8 is bumpy with potholes.
left-turn 160 Spratt Road Turn north on Spratt Road and continue along to its intersection with Earl Armstrong Road
Left 164 Earl Armstrong Road Turn left (west) onto Earl Armstrong Road and take it to River Road.
Turn Right 165 River Road Follow River Road north to Hunt Club Road. Note that vehicle traffic will be an issue until you hook up with one of the Ottawa Cycling Paths. A cyclist noted that River Road north of Earl Armstrong Road has either a bike lane or a wide paved shoulder.
173 Riverside Drive Continue north, crossing Hunt Club Road to Riverside Drive. Continue along Riverside Drive to Mooney's Bay Park
177 Mooney's Bay Park A City of Ottawa Park on the shores of the Rideau River.
177 Riverside Drive Continue north along Riverside Drive to Hogs Back Road.
left-turn 178 Hogs Back Road Turn west onto Hogs Back Road and continue to Hogs Back Lockstation
stop 179 Hogs Back This marks the end of the route description. At Hogs Back you'll find an Ottawa Bicycle Path. Continue on the bicycle path into Ottawa. Hogs Back offers picnic tables and washrooms. This spot also marks where the Rideau Canal splits from the Rideau River. Take time to view the Hogs Back Falls.
My thanks to Dave Wellstood who provided several updates/improvements to this route.


Home ButtonBack to Bicycling the Rideau




Comments: send me email: Ken Watson

©1996- Ken W. Watson