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This section commences with a
delightful 20 km ride along the south shore of the Rideau River. After
crossing the river, you will head north towards the Nation's Capital and
end with a 10 km ride alongside the Ottawa River on one of the city's many
excellent bikeways. |
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| maps |
distances |
route
description |
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Merrickville |
0 km |
Leave Merrickville on County Road #43,
following the south shore of the Rideau River. |
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2 km |
Be sure to turn left at County Road
#23 (Burritt's Rapids Road). You are in for an excellent stretch of
cycling; quiet, relatively flat (you are now in the Ottawa Valley) and
interesting. This is an historically significant area, and you will notice
many gorgeous old stone, brick and log properties as you cycle along. |
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4 km |
Upper Nicholson's Lock.
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8 km |
Historic Village of Burritt's Rapids
.
Burritt's Rapids was first settled in 1793 by Colonel Stephen Burritt, a
United Empire Loyalist from Connecticut. After the American Revolution,
many Loyalists fled the United States to Canada and received land grants
along the Rideau River. The small village (turn left) is well worth a
visit! |
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9 km |
Be sure to turn left onto River Road. |
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10 km |
Burritt's Rapids Lock
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15 km |
River Road heads off to the left at this
point. Be sure to follow it! |
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21 km |
River Road ends at
County Road #44. Here you turn left, and you will immediately find
yourself crossing the Rideau River. You will also find that Leeds-Grenville
County Road #44 changes to Ottawa-Carleton Regional Road #5 as you cross the river.
Be careful cycling along Regional Road #5 since it lacks a paved
shoulder and tends to be quite busy. |
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23 km |
Rideau River Provincial Park.
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28 km |
Be sure to turn right on to Regional Road #13
(signed to Prescott). This is a much quieter alternative to R.R.5 and it
stays close to the Rideau River. |
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37 km |
Village of Kars
(convenience store).
Continue to ride north on C.R.13 (Rideau River Drive). |
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38 km |
At the four-way stop (Regional
Road 6), proceed straight ahead (north) on First Line Road. |
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44 km |
At the four-way stop (Century
Rd.) proceed straight ahead (remaining on First Line Rd.). |
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Nepean |
46 km |
When First Line Rd. ends, turn left onto Bankfield Road, but at the
lights in 300 m turn right onto (very busy) Highway #16 (Prince of Wales
Drive). |
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47 km |
After 500 m on Highway #16, turn left
(north) on Greenbank Road. |
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50 km |
Warning! A major housing development was underway in Summer
2008. Accordingly, the road conditions could well have changed! |
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52 km |
After crossing the Jock River,
you should find there is a bike lane alongside the road. |
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53 km |
Greenbank Rd. becomes a lot
busier at this point. However, between Stanhead Rd. and Fallowfield Rd.
there a bike lane alongside the road. |
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56 km |
Continue north on Greenbank Rd. at Fallowfield Rd.
However, this marks the start of the
Ottawa Green Belt and much improved cycling as there is an excellent bike
path on the left side of Greenbank for the next 4 km. |
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60 km |
Turn right (traffic lights) at West Hunt Club Rd. Either
follow the bike path on the left (north) side of the road or use the
excellent paved shoulder beside the road - either is fine! |
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62 km |
Turn left (north) on Woodroffe Ave
(traffic lights). Woodroffe has an excellent shoulder for cycling. |
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Ottawa River |
65 km |
Baseline Rd. - here you will really need to pay
attention! Cross over to the NW corner of Baseline and Woodroffe, continue
north on Woodroffe on the west sidewalk for 50 m and you should then see a paved bike
path heading north towards the Ottawa River. This is the Pinecrest Creek
Pathway, and you should follow it for 4 km until you reach the
Ottawa River. Along the way you will come across a number of green
"countdown markers" to the Parliament Buildings, your final destination. This
bike path heads north following the OC Tanspo Transitway, which it
criss-crosses a couple of times, so watch for the signs! |
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68 km |
You should now get your first
glimpse of the Ottawa River (which you will follow in an easterly
direction) and the Gatineau Hills. |
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69 km |
Depending upon which side of the Transitway
you came down you may, or may not, end up on the river side of the Ottawa
River Parkway (a road). If you are not on the river side, be sure to cross
the road (preferably using the underpass) where you will find the Ottawa River Pathway. You will follow this
wonderful pathway (right alongside the Ottawa River) for the final 9 km
ride to to the Parliament Buildings. |
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70 km |
Rapides des Chênes.
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72 km |
Westboro Beach.
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74 km |
Kitchissippi Lookout.
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75 km |
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Look for the rock sculptures in the river! |
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77 km |
Canadian War
Museum. |
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79 km |
Rideau Canal locks. |
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80 km |
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Parliament Buildings! |
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