Explore the Great Outdoors of Rideau, Gananoque & Brockville

If you’re eager to get out of your car and explore 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways on foot, by bike or by paddle, don’t miss these parks, trails and scenic routes.

The rural landscapes that support the region's farms, orchards, maple forests and local food producers also provide some of Eastern Ontario's most rewarding outdoor experiences. Quiet country roads wind past farm fields and historic villages, while waterways, forests and conservation areas invite you to slow down and experience the countryside from a different perspective.

A bike ride through the back roads, a paddle along the shoreline, or a hike to a scenic lookout offers more than beautiful views. It provides a deeper connection to the landscapes, communities, and agricultural traditions that help define the 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways, Brockville, and Gananoque.

• AOG Gallery Art Trails: Walk, ski or snowshoe 4 kilometres of field and woodland trails, admiring more than 40 artworks along the way, on this property in Frankville.
• Cataraqui Trail: The 103-kilometre Cataraqui Trail—a multi-use rail-to-trail conversion—cuts across much of 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways on its route from Smiths Falls to Strathcona. It is part of the Trans Canada Trail.
• Charleston Lake Provincial Park: This park near Lansdowne offers seven hiking trails, as well as extensive paddling opportunities along 75 kilometres of shoreline.
• Foley Mountain Conservation Area: On a ridge overlooking the village of Westport and the Rideau Lakes, this conservation area features 10 kilometres of hiking trails.

• Frontenac Arch Biosphere Region: Check this website for hiking, paddling and diving experiences in the southwestern corner of 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways.
• Great Waterfront Trail: This 1,600-kilometre trail hugs the shore of the St. Lawrence River as it passes through the 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways region.
• Limerick Forest: Explore some 180 kilometres of multi-use trails in Limerick Forest, a collection of wooded areas scattered across the 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways region.
• Lyn Valley Conservation Area: Relax on a sandy beach on a spring-fed lake and explore a short hiking trail. 
• Mac Johnson Creek Conservation Area: Paddle a canoe or kayak and hike 11 kilometres of trails in this protected wetland just north of Brockville.
• Merrickville trails: The Merrickville District Trails Society maintains a network of hiking paths around Merrickville.
• North Grenville trails: Some 50 kilometres of recreational trails criss-cross the Kemptville area.
• Rideau Trail: This network of some 450 kilometres of trails is centered on the Rideau Canal Waterway.
• Rock Dunder Nature Reserve: One of the region's most iconic hikes, Rock Dunder rewards visitors with sweeping views of the Rideau Waterway, surrounding forests and rugged Frontenac Arch landscape.

• St. Lawrence Park: You can rent kayaks at this Brockville park on the St. Lawrence River.
• South Eastern Ontario cycling itineraries: You can download detailed cycling guides for two different routes: a western route that includes Westport, Jasper and Delta, and an eastern itinerary that features Kemptville, Jasper and Merrickville. 
• 1000 Islands Parkway recreational trail: This 37-kilometre trail parallels the 1000 Islands Parkway and offers the same beautiful views of the 1000 Islands, from the seat of a bike. (You can also walk it, if you’re very energetic.)
• Thousand Islands National Park: Located in the St. Lawrence River off Mallorytown, this national park is popular with paddlers.

Outdoor adventure and agritourism often go hand in hand in 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways. You might spend the morning cycling country roads, stop at a farm stand for fresh produce, enjoy lunch made with local ingredients and finish the day paddling along the St. Lawrence River. The region's trails, waterways and rural landscapes make it easy to combine active exploration with authentic farm and food experiences, creating memories that linger long after the trip is over.

Header Image: Credit Rosanne Lake