This section commences with a pleasant, but unspectacular,
28 km
ride from Kingston to Gananoque. However, the Thousand Islands Parkway route
from Gananoque to Brockville is arguably one of the nicest sections of the entire trip.
The ancient rocky outcrops that form the Canadian Shield will
be hard to miss as you ride between Gananoque
and Brockville.
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Maps |
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| 0 km |
W-T Kingston3 |
Leave Kingston on County Road #2. This is quite busy all the
way to Gananoque, but it has an excellent paved cycling shoulder for
cycling. Unfortunately, you are away from the water, otherwise you would witness the end of Lake
Ontario and the start of the St. Lawrence River. |
| 1 km |
W-T Kingston4 |
Royal
Military College, a military university
that exists to educate and train the future
leaders in the Canadian Forces. It was established by an act of Parliament in 1874.
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| 1 km |
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Old Fort Henry -
built between 1832 and 1837 to
replace an existing fortification from the War of 1812. The fort is open
to visitors during the summer months. |
| 2 km |
W-T Kingston5 |
Canadian Forces Base, CFB Kingston. |
| 15 km |
W-T Kingston6
W-T Willowbank |
Grass Creek Park.
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| 28 km |
W-T Gananoque1 |
Gananoque ("Gateway
to the Thousand Islands") is an attractive tourist town on the St. Lawrence
River. Either attempt to follow the Waterfront Trail as it heads down
to the harbour, or simply ride east on C.R.2 (King Street), Either way you
need to leave Gananoque on C.R.2. |
| 30 km |
W-T Gananoque2 |
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Start of the Thousand Islands Parkway. By
the 1870's, the Thousand Islands area was becoming a Mecca for summer
vacationers from all over the continent; many built summer homes whilst
others stayed in the numerous resorts that sprang up alongside the river.
A paved bike path (which sadly is becoming quite rough in places,
particularly at the west end)
parallels the highway, and you are very close to the river all
the way. The Canadian Shield, which has been to the north of you to this
point, extends as far south as the St. Lawrence River in this region. The
ancient rocky outcrops that form the shield will be hard to miss as you ride
along the parkway. |
| 42 km |
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Village of Ivy Lea. |
| 45 km |
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Bridge to USA (constructed in 1937). |
| 48 km |
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Rockport. It is worthwhile to take the
short (500 m) detour required to visit this small tourist village,
particularly if you are hungry!
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| 58 km |
W-T Mallorytown |
St. Lawrence Islands National
Park Visitor Centre. Consisting of 21 islands, the St. Lawrence
Islands park is Canada's smallest national park and was the first such park
to be established (in 1904) east of the Rocky Mountains. You may wish to
drop by the Visitor Centre for information about this interesting, and
historic, area.
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| 62 km |
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Brown's Bay Picnic Area.
A great spot for a swim and/or picnic. There is no admission fee for
cyclists.
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| 66 km |
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The Thousand Islands Parkway ends. Be sure to turn right
here, otherwise you will end up on Highway #401! Cross the Parkway to
Brockmere Cliffs Road (Butternut Bay) on the south side and you should find yourself
cycling between the 401 and the St. Lawrence River. There is also a
Waterfront Trail sign that directs you this way. |
| 69 km |
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At the stop sign, turn right on County Road #2, which you now follow into
Brockville. This is a fairly busy four lane highway, but there is an
adequate paved shoulder. |
| 76 km |
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St Lawrence Park (City of Brockville).
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| 78 km |
W-T Brockville |
"City of the 1000 Islands", Brockville was
founded by the United Empire Loyalists in 1784 and was the first
incorporated community in Upper Canada. It began as a small village known
as "Buell's Bay", but grew quickly as settlers received free
land grants. It was renamed as a tribute to General Isaac Brock, a
Canadian hero of the war of 1812.
Rather than attempting to navigate the Waterfront Trail through town, it is
a lot simpler to follow C.R.2 (King Street).
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