It’s necessary to be prepared for the expected seasonal conditions on the trail. For a real challenge, hike, snowshoe and/or ski the entire 327 km of the Rideau Trail during the months of January and February to earn this coveted badge. The Rideau Trail 2018 End-to-End Hikes: 6B. The most challenging (and visually interesting) parts of the Rideau Trail are in the southern half from Kingston to Perth and Smiths Falls. The Rideau Trail is a 387 km hiking trail between Kingston & Ottawa in Ontario, Canada. Hike 150 km from Kingston City Hall (map 1) to Lally Homestead (map 9). End point: Lake Ontario: The Rideau Canal, also known unofficially as the Rideau Waterway, connects Canada's capital city of Ottawa, Ontario, to Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River at Kingston, Ontario. The Rideau Trail is a beautiful 387km hiking trail linking Ottawa & Kingston through a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve & a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. We were expecting heavy thunder-showers. An individual End-to-End hike requires a lot of planning. Come hike with us! The fastest solo end-to-end Rideau Trail time was set all the way back in 1983 by Bob Tysen at three days, 11 hours and 31 minutes. To get this badge, contact the Rideau Trail Association’s Secretary listed in the front of the RTA Newsletter. The Rideau Trail is closed to users one day each year. If you plan to do next Saturday’s End-to-End, don’t read this. To get this badge, contact the Kingston Club’s “Wednesday Walks” Coordinator listed in the RTA Newsletter. The Rideau Trail 2018 End-to-End Hikes: 7. Hike the entire 327 km of the Rideau Trail from Kingston to Ottawa and earn the original end-to-end badge. The Rideau Trail is a 387 km hiking trail between Kingston & Ottawa in Ontario, Canada. Organizing sufficient food and water and possibly camping equipment is a given. End-to-Enders who are Members of the RTA may apply for official recognition of their accomplishment once completed. The main trail is marked with orange triangular markers from Kingston to Ottawa. Tay River Towpath Trail Immerse yourself in Perth’s 200-year history along this 10-km stretch of the Rideau Trail on natural and paved surfaces. Some years, a series of hikes specifically designed to cover the entire trail is organized for a set of weekends. Instead the eleven hikers were treated to ideal hiking weather as we moved another fourteen kilometres along the Rideau Trail towards Ottawa. Part of Ontario’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, Parks Canada permits tent camping at most of them for a small fee. In Ottawa the trail ends at the foot of the Rideau Canal Ottawa Locks on the Ottawa River, within sight of Parliament Hill. DAY 8 - The Narrows to Westport...with the COVID 19 pandemic disrupting the world, our hiking options were limited. They are essential when hiking the Rideau Trail. Hike the 110 km from Rosedale, just outside Smiths Falls (map 12), to the foot of the Rideau Canal Ottawa Locks near Parliament Hill (map 19). A large problem for the End-to-Ender hiking the Rideau Trail in sections is scheduling transportation to a trailhead and back to the trailhead after that section has been hiked. Put together over a period of time, such hikes could cover much of the Rideau Trail and the remaining parts of the trail could be covered when convenient. The Rideau Trail crosses or is near several Rideau Canal lockstations that were each built between 1826 & 1832. It is a hiking only trail with some cross country skiing and snowshoeing. I almost got lost a couple of times. The Rideau Trail begins at Confederation Park in front of City Hall in Kingston. The Rideau Trail 2018 End-to-End Hikes: 12. For a list of campsites and B&Bs, check out our Overnight Accommodations page. If members are unable to attend the AGM, the badge and certificate will be mailed to them after the meeting. Many hikers take several months or years to accomplish the End-to-End, hiking sections of the trail as they have time. Another possibility is to attend a variety of the RTA-organized hikes announced in the our quarterly Newsletter. The Trans Canada Trail, officially renamed The Great Trail in September 2016, is a cross-Canada system of greenways, waterways, and roadways that stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic oceans. Some hikers prefer to hike only in cooler weather to avoid the heat and flies of the summer or the wet conditions of the early spring. It is first essential to obtain a copy of the Rideau Trail maps in order to get an idea of the difficulty of the terrain in each area of the trail and what would be a reasonable day’s progress along the route. January 26, 2021 The Rideau Trail is a 387 km network of hiking trails between the City of Kingston and the City of Ottawa located in the general area of the Rideau Canal and its tributary waters. After a careful period of consideration (about 1 minute) I messaged Noel offering to run it with him. Kingston, Central, and Ottawa end-to-end badges are mailed shortly after hikers contact the RTA clubs. The Rideau Trail 2018 End-to-End Hikes: 3. The Rideau Trail Association is an active charitable organization that maintains and champions the Rideau Trail and arranges self-propelled outdoor activities such as hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on the trail and in nearby areas, through an engaged core of members and volunteers. The trail's length is 328 kms. ... Bruce Trail End-to-End … McLaren Point Road (10A) to Conlon Farm (10D) Note: click on pictures for full size view. To get this badge, contact the Rideau Trail Association’s secretary listed in the front of the RTA Newsletter. This usually means hiking with a friend who can leave their car at the end-location to provide a ride back to the trailhead at the end of the day. These include Chaffeys, Narrows, Smiths Falls (Detached & Combined), Old Slys, Kilmarnock, Merrickville, Nicholsons. There are limited opportunities to camp along the trail when attempting an End-to-End through hike and some hikers choose to stay in Bed-and-Breakfasts near to the trail. Murton Road (03A+) to Freeman Road (04A) Note: click on pictures for full size view. Jack is one of those proud members. An enchanting journey through the forest. Being early morning on Thanksgiving Monday, traffic was light, and the pathways largely empty. This was my first long-distance trail. Where the Trail crosses private property, the Trail is closed on March 9, 2021. Yes. I had to hike this section of the Rideau Trail early as I am busy elsewhere on the scheduled hike day. The Regional Trails Rideau Trail (~200 km one way, 300 km including loops & side trails) - the Rideau Trail is the longest trail in the area, extending from Kingston to Ottawa. How long is the Rideau Trail and how long does it take to hike end to end? Skycroft Access Trail (06A) to Bedford Mills Anglican Church (06D-) Note: click on pictures for full size view. The original or winter end-to-end badge for the entire Rideau Trail covering Kingston to Ottawa, along with a certificate, are given out once a year at the June RTA Annual General Meeting (AGM). Hike 67 km from Lally Homestead (map 9) to Rosedale (map 12). Note that the trail was also run as an 11-woman relay, as posted by Gemma Kitchen: The Wild Bruce Chase, made up of 11 women (this FKT), set the women's relay fastest known time on the Rideau Trail. To get this badge, contact the Central Club‘s secretary. 1.9K likes. The Rideau Trail definitely redeemed itself even though there was lots of road walking at the end (but the final few kms of that was our decision). Hikers should keep track of where they hiked, when, and with whom, and provide this information when they apply for their badge. Join Bruce on his 2014 OktoberQuest - A 326.5 km solo thru-hike of the complete Rideau Trail. I would like to receive occasional updates from the Rideau Trail Association. Spoiler Alert! Download the Rideau Trail maps in PDF or GPS formats. It travels through a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Wild Bruce Chase completed the continuous, end-to-end run in 34 hours 40 minutes. DAY 3 - Marlborough Forest to Burritts Rapids - ...with the COVID 19 pandemic disrupting the world, our hiking options were limited. Certificates are awarded each year at the RTA Annual General meeting in June. The trail extends over 24,000 kilometres (15,000 miles); it is now the longest recreational, multi-use trail network in the world. The Rideau Trail 2018 End-to-End Hikes: 22. Rideau Trail is a 2.9 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Kingston, Ontario, Canada that features a great forest setting and is good for all skill levels. It proved to be enjoyable and compelling every step of the way through the varied, sometimes spectacular, scenery of Eastern Ontario. This trail is really cool because when the Rideau Canal was built, it formed a small island. Either I wasn’t paying attention or the signage wasn’t great. It’s an easy hike, but accessing the trail isn’t for the faint of heart- we had to walk over a … With all the rain we were hoping that the trail wouldn't be too wet for the next day of hiking. A hot, muggy day, but fourteen hikers made fast time along the 13.1 kilometre route into Perth. Corkstown Road (18G) to Lincoln Heights (19C) I was in a hurry today. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until November. Tip-to-Tip Trail is a 2.7 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near North Grenville, Ontario, Canada that features a river and is rated as moderate. The badges described below can be earned by hiking sections over a span of a few days, a few months, or a few years. I would like to receive occasional updates from the Rideau Trail Association. Come hike with us! This network of trails encompasses mix-wood forests, charming towns, vibrant birdlife, Canadian shield lakes, and historic sites, mixing in a little bit of everything for hikers to enjoy. Day 1/3 of an ultralight hike on the Rideau Trail through Gould Lake Conservation Area and Frontenac Provincial Park. This is to protect the private property of the landowners who generously let us use their land. End-to-End Last Sunday, on a cloudless day, I walked into the heart of Ottawa, thereby completing my end-to-end journey along the Rideau Trail. Petrie Island: Drive to the north end of Trim Road in Orleans and you’ll find this island—actually, a collection of islands—in the Ottawa River. Rideau Trail Association, Kingston, Ontario. And now, you can hike from one end of that little island to the other- hence the name of the trail! Your location: Rideau Canal Home Page > Getting Here > Maps > Rideau Canal Waterway Map Map of the Rideau Canal click on lockstation name or selected towns for more information Seven kilometres of gentle trails offer great river views. If members are unable to attend the AGM, the badge and certificate will be mailed to them after the meeting. Travel either upstream or downstream from the hub at the Tay Basin, using the “navigational trail markers” to guide you, much like buoys in the Tay River. Great for mildly experienced … This approach solves the transportation problem since from any of the three Club hike meeting places, a system of car shuttling is organized (for a fee) for hikers without cars and those not wishing to drive. Upper Rock Lake Blue Side Trail Junction (05F) to Skycroft Access Trail (06A) Note: click on pictures for full size view. This usually means hiking with a friend who can leave their car at the end-location to provide a ride back to the trailhead … EACH DAY Bruce created a video and uploaded it for all to see. In summer, the beaches here are busy and you’ll have to pay for parking. Having missed the official end-to-end hike two days ago, I was playing catch-up. For example, packing rain gear and insect repellent for summer hiking and long pants for travel in the bush. Yes. Totalling a stunning 400 kilometres (249 miles) between Ottawa and Kingston, the Rideau trail is a popular hiking route for locals and visitors alike. In fact, at an average speed of 3.42 km/hr., this was one of our fastest journeys so far along the Rideau Trail. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, camping, and nature trips. It is 202 kilometres long. The distance of the Rideau Trail, not including side loops, is roughly 327km (203 miles) from Kingston to Ottawa with an elevation gain of only about 600m (2000 feet). A large problem for the End-to-Ender hiking the Rideau Trail in sections is scheduling transportation to a trailhead and back to the trailhead after that section has been hiked. That something was to run the Rideau Trail from end to end starting in Kingston and ending in Ottawa where he lives. Learn more about End-to-End recognition on our Badges page. Whether you visit for a few hours or the full two weeks necessary to complete the end-to-end accomplishment, you won’t be left disappointed. To get this badge, contact the Ottawa Club‘s secretary. DAY 7 - Murphy's Point to the Narrows ...with the COVID 19 pandemic disrupting the world, our hiking options were limited. The original or winter end-to-end badge for the entire Rideau Trail covering Kingston to Ottawa, along with a certificate, are given out once a year at the June RTA Annual General Meeting (AGM). Though the end-to-end trail is less than half of the Wild Bruce Chase’s record run between Niagara Falls and Tobermory, Ont. Burritts Rapids (14B) to Roger Stevens Drive (15B) Close-up of the Earthstar Trail, twisting and turning through the forest: Note: click on pictures for full size view. It is maintained by the Rideau Trail Association. The Rideau Trail 2018 End-to-End Hikes: 18. The Rideau Trail is a 387 km network of hiking trails between the City of Kingston and the City of Ottawa located in the general area of the Rideau Canal and its tributary waters.