Rideau Trail
| Rideau Trail | |
|---|---|
| Length | 387 km (240 mi) |
| Location | Ontario, Canada |
| Trailheads | Ottawa, Ontario and Kingston, Ontario |
| Use | Hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing |
| Elevation | |
| Highest point | 207m (Foley Mountain) |
| Lowest point | 44m (Ottawa River) |
| Hiking details | |
| Trail difficulty | easy to moderate |
| Season | Year-round |
| Sights | Rideau Canal, Canadian Shield |
The Rideau Trail is a 387-kilometre (240 mi) hiking trail in Ontario, Canada, linking Ottawa and Kingston. Crossing both public and private lands, the trail was created and opened in 1971. It is named for the Rideau Canal which also connects Ottawa and Kingston, although the two only occasionally connect. The trail crosses terrain ranging from the placid farmland of the Ottawa River and St. Lawrence River valleys to the rugged Canadian Shield in Frontenac Provincial Park. The trail also passes through Richmond, Ontario, Perth, Ontario, and Smiths Falls, Ontario. It is intended only for walking (hiking), snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
The Rideau Trail begins at Confederation Park in front of City Hall in Kingston. In Ottawa the trail ends at the foot of the Rideau Canal Ottawa Locks on the Ottawa River, within sight of Parliament Hill. The main trail is marked with orange triangular markers from Kingston to Ottawa. In the opposite direction the orange triangles have a yellow tip. Side trails sport blue triangles. The trail is maintained by the Rideau Trail Association, a non-profit organization which organizes both regular hikes along the trail (and other nearby trails) and work parties for maintenance. The association's registered trademark is an isosceles triangle.
Further reading
- Trischuk, Ernie, and Linda Hayes, The Rideau Trail Guidebook, (Rideau Trail Association, Kingston, 7th ed., 2006) ISBN 0-9693759-7-2
.svg.png){kind=small}