Great Loop: Rideau Canal from Ottawa to Smith Falls


We began our Rideau Canal journey in Ottawa.  It was a challenge to contain our excitement, as we had dreamed and planned of boating the Canadian canals for such a long time.    It was a beautiful day, with the initial flight of 8 locks gleaming  and welcoming in the morning  sun.  The fact that they are flanked by the Parliament building and the Chateau Laurier Hotel adding to the ambiance. 

When anticipating the Loop, we were uncertain we could do both  the Rideau Canal or the Trent-Severn Waterway due to time constraints.   Only recently had we changed our plans to both.  The beauty of the areas through which they pass was not to be resisted, and hey, when were we likely to be this way again.

The Rideau is 125 miles long and is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Shown below are websites that we found useful for planning our Rideau trip.
  • Parks Canada maintains an informative website for those wishing to boat the Rideau Canal.  
  • Rideau Canal Information is another very useful site. Especially when trying to determine the services available at each lock.
  • Information on Moorage and Lockage Permits is available on the Passes and Permits webpage.  
    • We purchased both the seasonal moorage and lockage permits from the lockmaster at the first lock operated by Parks Canada.  Easy transaction.


The Rideau Canal connects Ottawa with Kingston.  The Canal was originally constructed for military purposes in the early 1830's.  It is 125 miles long and has 47 locks.  Approximately 12 miles of its length are man made.  The remainder is connected  rivers and lakes. We traversed 45 of the 47 locks on our straight thru trip from Ottawa to Kingston.



Here's a profile of the heights  along the Canal.



The entrance to the staircase of Locks 1 - 8, in Ottawa.
It took us approximately 2 hours to traverse this flight of eight locks.
The locks are operated just as they were when completed in 1832.




The original Royal Engineers Commissariat building alongside  Locks 1-8.



The Rideau passes the Canadian Senate building in Ottawa 



The Parliament building on the left and the Chateau Laurier Hotel on the right.



Amy Marie is tied to the Quai



Paths and parkland adorn the edges of the canal



One can walk or cycle for miles alongside the Canal



This bridge was raised  hydraulically to allow passage



Amy Marie  travels south through Ottawa



Occasional Cafes provide a spot to watch boat traffic.


We are exiting  the city and entering the countryside 



Locks 9 & 10, Hartwell's
The lockmaster's house
Other boats moored to the lock wall overnight.



Exiting the Hartwell Locks



A rustic residence 



Homes in Carleton Heights



Amy Marie on the Quai at Lock 13, Black Rapids Lock.
We discovered "duck weed" can clog your raw water intake to your engine.  You then have to dive under the boat to remove it!


Amy Marie at Black Rapids Lock.
We arrived in late afternoon to find a Toga party underway at the house in the background.  They had a live band so we had an Animal House soundtrack for our visit.


I want to be this guy!
A float plane and boats in front of his house.



Country living...



A wonderful spot to spend the night.
On the Quai at Lock 17, Burritt's Rapids



Sunset at Burritt's Rapids






Exiting Burritt's Rapids Lock



A swing bridge at Lock 19



The bridge turns on cast steel wheels.
The lock operator manually spins the bridge!



The bridge in the open position 



Leaving Lock 19, Upper Nicholson's


The Merrickville Blockhouse 



Mike preparing  to clear grass from the engine's raw water intake



Rental boat surrounded by rubber bumpers.
Le Boat's Rideau Rental Fleet was based out of Smith Falls.
This is a perfect way to tour the Rideau Canal.



Sunset in Smith Falls


Downtown Smith Falls had everything a boater would need.  
Convenient grocery stores, pharmacy, ice cream, restaurants, brew pubs, banks & ATM's



Eastern Ontario Train Museum - Smith Falls



Inside the old Smith Falls train station.



Mike on the platform



Beth in the station office



Inside a vintage dining car



The kitchen 


The dish room



Beth is checking  out the snow flanger



The old Smith Falls train station.
They are available  through Air BnB


Part 2 - Rideau Canal from Smith Falls to Kingston

The Blog posting on the second half of our Rideau Canal Adventure is available at the following location:

Trip Logs

Ottawa to Black Rapids Lock Station



Black Rapids to Burritt's Falls Lock Station



Burritt's Rapids to Smith Falls Lock Station




Relocation to Central Basin in Smith Falls








Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing your Ottawa experence.

    ReplyDelete

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