By Land: Stay Grounded and Celebrate our Colours

Lock Stations

The Rideau Canal features 47 locks in 24 lock stations, which can be visited by car, boat, bicycle, or on foot. Pack your picnic basket and put your wide-angle lens on your camera to take in the history and engineering of our locks.

Locks in South Eastern Ontario include: Kingston Mills, Upper & Lower Brewers, Jones’ Falls, Chaffey’s, Davis , Newboro, Narrows, Beveridges, Poonamalie, Detached, Combined, Old Slys, Kilmarnock, Merrickville, Clowes, Upper & Lower Nicholson’s, Burritts Rapids.

Cities, Towns & Villages

The Kingston to Kemptville Day (or two) trip. It’s a manageable 1.5 hour drive as the crow flies from Kingston to Kemptville but you’ll want to stop to do some exploring along the way.

Kingston

The leaves are turning and the warmer layers are coming out. Celebrate the changing of the seasons in Kingston with 25 exciting online and physically distanced in-person experiences. Enjoy live music, haunted walks and trolley tours, Pumpkinferno at Fort Henry.

Seeley’s Bay

Seeley’s Bay is a charming destination on the heritage Rideau Waterway, offering a friendly port of call for paddlers and visitors alike. The very first ‘trading post’ in the area was a tipi erected at Haskin’s Point which marks the water entry to Seeley’s Bay. Haskin’s Point has been designated one of the “amazing places to visit” by the Frontenac Arch Biosphere. Make time to visit Ridgway Confections for their seasonal pumpkin spiced chocolate!

Newboro

One of the four blockhouses built by Colonel John By to protect the Rideau is located here. Whether you come by boat or by car, the lock station is a nice place to stop, get out, and stretch your legs. Take a self-guided heritage walking tour and take in the unique experience that is Kilborn’s on the Rideau.

Westport

Steeped in heritage and flanked by water, the Municipality of Westport is a welcoming small village that’s big on community and cottaging. Discover all that this little gem has to offer from restaurants and shopping to arts, sports and music.

Merrickville

Dubbed ‘the Jewel of the Rideau’, Merrickville has become a favourite weekend getaway spot on the gorgeous Kingston-Ottawa Rideau Heritage Route. Located near the mid-point of the Rideau Canal system, Merrickville evokes fond memories of times gone by. You won’t find any parking meters or traffic lights here but you’ll find quaint shops, friendly villagers and Nana B’s butter tarts!

Kemptville

Located within the beautiful countryside of North Grenville, Kemptville and surrounding areas will fill your wandering soul with delight. This pretty little riverside town offers everything you’d expect including restaurants, heritage and little shops to while away the day in.

Fall Hikes

Lennox & Addington

No matter where you find yourself in L&A, you are guaranteed to find a trail or nature park close by. Hike one of the prettiest provincial parks at Bon Echo.
Explore 117 hectares of wooded areas, wetlands and waterfront at Parrott’s Bay Conservation Area or walk through the botanically rich Menzel Centennial Provincial Nature Reserve.

Prince Edward County

Get in touch with nature in a place where you can easily spend a day (or week) on the shores of Lake Ontario. The County is dotted with Conservation Areas and Provincial Parks boasting enough forest, birds, streams, trails, flora and fauna to inspire even the most urban of urbanites to pick up a field guide. At Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area, hikers and picnickers will have plenty to see and explore from the famed Birdhouse City, to the 20km of hiking trails, and all the way up to the steep east-west escarpment on this 440 acre property.

Bay of Quinte

Who’s ready for family fall foliage viewing? From Frankford to HR Frink Centre, the autumn hues are coming out in full force in the Bay of Quinte region. This is the perfect time to get the kids out for some exercise and appreciate nature before the colder temperatures set in.
 

Fall Cycling

South Eastern Ontario has a wide range of bicycle routes that take cyclists across the region through vibrant communities, alongside scenic waterways and to quiet rural and naturalized settings. Explore from Quinte West, Belleville and Prince Edward County, continue eastward via Kingston and Gananoque, the 1000 Islands and the Waterfront Trail, Brockville, the St. Lawrence Seaway to Cornwall and the Quebec border. Find your perfect route.

Cornwall & SDG Counties

Cycle traffic-tree trails along the shores of one of North America’s longest rivers. Roll along a series of islands surrounded by the remnants of historic villages that were submerged over half a century ago. Along the way, you can visit key landmarks in the history of Canada’s development, from the Battle of Crysler’s Farm – a pivotal conflict in the War of 1812 – to the St. Lawrence Seaway and Hydro Project, one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century. Enjoy amazing scenery and fun attractions, cozy restaurants and cool breweries and fascinating stories at every turn. Your next cycling adventure awaits in Cornwall and SDG Counties. Let loose and check out these super cool rides: Cheese & Crankers, Fat in the Forest, Tour de Brew or Wine and Cheese Anyone? These are but a few of the awesome routes the SDG-Cornwall Adventure Club showcase and you can send each route to your phones GPS.

Bay of Quinte

Bay of Quinte hosts a growing network of cycling routes and trails making exploring the region by bike a sustainable option. So, leave your car at home—cycling may just become your favourite outdoor activity!

Prince Edward County

Bring your cruisers, tandems or your training wheels. There are routes between towns, farms and shorelines for all cyclists – discover the right one for you. Go the distance across the Millennium Trail, a former rail-bed stretching 49km from Picton to Carrying Place, along tree-lined paths through conservation areas, and connect with mainland Ontario via the Great Lakes Waterfront trail. Left your ride at home? Stop in at the local bike shops for rentals, recommendations and repairs. Planning to pinot and pedal? Share the road, rock a helmet, join a tour and ride responsibly.

Frontenac County

Frontenac County boasts quiet country roads, friendly cycling groups, small towns and Rail Trails. The K&P is a developed riding experience suitable for families, with a typical stone dust surface. The Cataraqui Trail is less well developed and more suited to the mountain bike and gravel bike enthusiasts. Jump on the ferry and take in Wolfe Island which has miles of paved and gravel roads and picnic areas. If you’re lucky, you can catch live music on the patio of The Hotel on Wolfe Island.

Lennox & Addington

Located in the heart of beautiful Eastern Ontario. Stretching northward from the shore of Lake Ontario, the L&A County Trails include 12 well-marked and and easily accessible looping routes with 600 kilometres of paved roadway. The routes are ideal for cycling enthusiasts and have wide, paved shoulders, which make for a more comfortable and safe ride. Experience the natural beauty, unique history, and rural charm that L&A has to offer. In addition to our 12 itineraries, we also share the road with some amazing regional, provincial and national trails that pass through L&A.

Kingston

Canada’s best kept cycling secrets are here. Rent a bike or bring your own — and spend a day exploring the winding roads and trails while taking in the beautiful and historic Kingston scenery. Check out the plethora of trails ready for you to explore.

Brockville

Whether you’re planning a cycling trip along the river or just looking for an excuse to break out your old bike, be sure to pass through beautiful downtown Brockville! Looking for more adventure, check out the Frontenac Arch Bioshphere’s list of trails to find your groove.

Fall Camping & RV’ing

Whether you’re pitching a tent or rv’ing your way around this fall, experience the beauty of Ontario’s fall colours with more of the comforts of home.

Otentiks

A mix between a rustic cabin and a tent, get the perks of camping without those pesky bugs.

KOA’s

When you’re looking get closer to nature and the fall colours, camping at an KOA campground is where it’s at. KOA has a number of campgrounds in South Eastern Ontario, each of which allows you to connect with nature and all that this region has to offer.

St.Lawrence Parks

Pristine waterfronts and sandy beaches welcome fall campers with cabin rentals and authentic outdoor experience.

L’il Crow Cabins

Nestled along the shores of the Bay of Quinte, this tranquil Oasis offers an
adults-only vibe; Perfect for couples, writers, nature lovers, or solo travellers.