NEW 2022! The Montréal - Ottawa - Kingston Triangle

The Ottawa River, the Rideau River and the Thousand Islands on your bike and surrounded by water

We meet in Oka and head out along the Ottawa River heading for the capital city of Ottawa. From there we head to Kingston riding along the famous Rideau River. Kingston marks our arrival on the shores of Lake Ontario. We finish the trip cycling along the Ontario Waterfront Trail, and similar to the Route Verte, known for its safe riding. We follow the Waterfront Trail for our return to Oka.

This route takes you back to some of the most popular routes among cyclists, but we also take you down new routes through the forests and lakes between Ottawa and Kingston. The scenery changes a lot in these three different regions that connect the countryside around the Ottawa River, the Big Rideau Lake, the forests and the St. Lawrence!

The EKILIB guide transports your luggage in the support vehicle while you pedal along at the roads of our province at your leisure. The support vehicle is always available in case of a glitch or should you need a refreshment.

This trip is for experienced cyclists who are used to riding an average of 80 to 100 km per day. In order to fully enjoy this trip, you should be an intermediate level cyclists with a good level of fitness.

Itinerary

This itinerary gives the broad outline of a trip (cities and sites). However, it is essential to understand that an itinerary is never set in stone. There are always unforeseen circumstances (e.g. weather), which often make up the best part of the trip.

The reported daily altitude changes are indicative only.

Day 1: Oka - Hawkesbury (80 or 110 km)

Meet the guide at the designated parking lot where you will leave your vehicle for the duration of the trip. And now, let’s go!

Leaving Oka, we cycle along the north shore to the Carillon dam and then head inland into the the Laurentians. Climbers will have the option of a lovely challenge through a bucolic route surrounded by lakes. Taking the Long-Sault Bridge allows us to jump over Chenail Island and cross over into Ontario. We are in search of better asphalt conditions than what we had in Quebec.

Night in Hawkesbury

Itinerary: 81 or 108 km

Day 2: Hawkesbury – Ottawa (115 km)

Day 2: Hawkesbury – Ottawa (115km)

We take a route through peaceful countryside towards Ottawa. On the way, you may want to do a few extra kilometres to view Popsilos Strardust, a creation by artist Ankh One, which is art painted on Silos depicting the theme of vulnerability. The south shore of the Ottawa River dominates the day's route and the quiet roads soon make you forget about everyday life. Ottawa, our nation’s capital, welcomes us with 20 kilometres of impeccable asphalt bike paths!

Night in Ottawa

Itinerary: 115km

Day 3: Ottawa - Smith Falls / Perth (105 km)

It's time to rediscover the Rideau Canal. You may have skated the canal during the winter; a favourite spot for locals. Pedestrians, runners, cyclists, rollerbladers, as well as those on scooters, all share these multi-purpose paths. This urban route begins at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, continues towards the Rideau River at Burritts Rapids Locks, ending in Smith-Falls/Perth.

Night in Smith Falls

Itinerary: 105 km

Day 4: Smith Falls / Perth - Kingston (100 km)

Leaving Smith Falls/Perth, we ride through rolling green hills before reaching Elgin. Then north of Battersea, we find ourselves in the classically Canadian Shield features of the Frontenac Arch, as the road climbs, descends and winds through cuts in granite rock, around lakes and through white pine forests.

Night in Kingston

Itinerary: 80-100 km

Day 5 : Kingston (rest or loop 80 km)

Kingston is situated ideally on the shores of Lake Ontario. Its main street and historic downtown filled with shops and restaurants with outdoor patios will convince you to take a break on your day off. For more excitement, you can choose to take a cruise to the Thousand Islands, enjoy a visit to Fort Henry or to the Penitentiary. This is a great place to stop and stretch your legs. You also have the option of cycling the loop south of Kingston that takes you to the shores of the lake.

Night in Kingston

Regular itinerary: 100 km, altitude gain + 815m

Day 6: Kingston – Brockville (95 km)

Leaving Kingston, we hit the road and take a ferry to Howe Island for a short break on these almost deserted roads before reaching Gananoque, a beautiful town in the heart of the Thousand Islands National Park. The town of Gananoque also marks the beginning of the Thousand Island Parkway bike path, which runs along the St. Lawrence River and affords us beautiful views of the park's islands and guides us right to Brockville.

Night in Brockville

Itinerary: 95 km

Day 7: Brockville - Cornwall ( 105 km)

Want to learn more about the history of the river? Make a stop at the Battle of the Windmill Historic Site. Built of old stone and topped with a red roof, it marks an important battle site in the war between the Americans and the British. Foodies will enjoy stopping at its brewery and grabbing a sweet treat before heading back to Upper Canada Village and the Long Sault Parkway. This scenic and unique road links eleven islands that bear witness to the past and remind us that certain villages were swallowed up by the river when the seaway was built. This is a road that alternates between bridges crossing over the river and the mainland in the heart of these small green islands.

Night in Cornwall

Itinerary: 105 km

Day 8: Cornwall – Oka  (96 km)

The last miles before crossing the border...Welcome back to Quebec! We follow the road along the river, which affords us a breathtaking view of the parc Pointe-des-Cascades. Just a few more kilometres before completing the loop and returning to Oka by the Hudson ferry.

Our arrival in the parking lot marks the end of the trip.

But if you feel like it, stop at the cheese factory and the Abbaye d’Oka to taste local products as a way of truly making the end of this lovely group trip.

Our guide will take us back to Montreal for those who have booked the package including transportation.

Itinerary: 96 km