There are many scenic and enjoyable cycling routes between Ottawa (Stittsville) to Kingston or Perth to Kingston. The route is your choice. If you are a serious, “road less travelled” type, you can design your own adventure! However, most participants travel on the prepared routes, which have differing qualities and attributes of which to be aware.
- Distances(118 – 214 km)
- Elevation (350 – 1000 m of UP! )
- Starting points (Stittsville or Perth)
- Supported or not supported
- Route surface (paved or mixed pavement/gravel)
- Remoteness (from secluded rail trails to busy secondary highways)
Important to note
- Choose a route when you register, but you are NOT locked into the selected route. You are free to travel any route on each day of the weekend; even switch routes part-way along.
- Bib pick up and luggage drop off will be at your chosen start point on Saturday morning. Alternatively you can pick up your bib and drop off your luggage in advance.
Navigation:
All prepared routes have GPS/ turn-by-turn navigation files available to download to your GPS device (Garmin, Wahoo, Hammerhead) or Android or iPhone. Get more information by viewing Part II of the technical guide through this link: https://ottawabicycleclub.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/rlct/Eh0Oz4uOlvZGnb3_yy08r90Bq0-iq2oHaaDXwTC0-KVcA
Veteran Rideau Lakes riders will notice substantive changes to the three routes departing from Ottawa this year.
The Classic, Cruise and Challenge routes launch from Stittsville. The Classic and Challenge have significant changes between Perth or Westport and Kingston.
The two routes starting from Perth (Century Plus and Cataraqui) have minimal change from 2025. Century Plus riders will share the route with Classic riders between Perth and Kingston.
Supported vs Unsupported Route
An unsupported route means that you are on your own through your ride. You must deal with any eventuality with no services provided by the tour.
All unsupported rides have sections that overlap supported routes, in which cases all riders will receive support for the common sections. The route cues for the unsupported routes indicate when support begins and ends. Please review the cues so that you know when you will be on your own!
A supported route means that the following services are provided:
- Route directional signage;
- Water & toilets at specified rest stops;
- Food available for sale by local community groups at specified stops;
- Radio communications provided along the route by a local radio club;
- Mobile bike service vehicles, that will help you get back on the road at no charge except for parts;
- Extra patrols by the OPP with monitoring at major intersections;
- Support vehicles driven by tour volunteers to assist riders as needed;
Please note the RLCT does NOT have SAG wagons (“Support and Gear”) that will carry you and your bike along to the next stop for any reason at all. Rescue rides are only provided by the tour support vehicles to cyclists in some distress.
“Oh… if only I had known!
There is so much to see on the way to Kingston but only so much can be captured in the RWGPS route files. You are encouraged to take a close look at the route maps and note points of interest that may lie just off the route yet add additional enjoyment to your ride. For instance, the locks of the Rideau Canal, such as Upper Brewers, an easy detour on the Classic, Cruise, Century Plus routes. A lovely spot for a break. The Forfar Dairy that lies right on the Century Plus/ Classic routes. When looking at the RWGPS routes, try different map types (e.g. Google Hybrid) to get a fuller view of what is there.
Note that each route has two GPS files: one for the Saturday outbound and one for the Sunday return.
Classic Route (178km, supported)
The Classic Route has been more or less the same since 1972: it’s time for a change! For 2026, the ride will start and finish at the CardelRec Recreation Centre in Stittsville. Veterans will recognize the route heading west to Perth, with a rest stop at Conlon Farm. Moving on, a complete change is in store.
Shortening the distance from Ottawa to Perth has opened up new possibilities for the route between Perth and Kingston. Consequently, the Classic will now head south from Perth, following the Century Plus route to Kingston, offering new less busy roads to explore, new scenery to enjoy and a different sort of excitement to replace the thrill of the Westport Hill! These changes result in a Classic distance 7km longer than 2025.
Century Plus Route (118 km, supported)
The Century Plus Route route starts at Conlon Farm in Perth, heads south down Rideau Ferry Road then through Narrows Lock on the Rideau Canal. Continuing south to Lyndhurst to avoid most of Saturday’s traffic, then west to Sunbury before heading into Kingston on CR 11 for a total of 118km. Official stops are Narrows Locks, Delta (food for sale) and Ormsbee’s in Sunbury. The Sunday route is simply the reverse of the Saturday route. This year, for the first time, you will have the Classic riders from Ottawa following you from Perth. Keep an eye out for sportif riders with places to go!
Cruise Route (183km, Unsupported)
The Cruise route, for the self-reliant is a long-preferred, if slightly longer alternative to the Classic, heads south from Stittsville via Richmond to a crossing of the Rideau River near Kemptville. Continues west to ride beautiful River Road to the historic town of Merrickville, a lovely place for a mid-morning pause. From there, follow a new, scenic route out of Merrickville to the south-west through various small towns before arriving in Kingston. Note: the United Church in Toledo is no longer providing their storied repast of years past, however St. Paul’s Community Centre in Delta will be offering food (cost), water, and toilets. Note the Cruise joins the supported Century Plus and Classic just north of Delta, thus the 50-ish kms between Delta and Queen’s University are supported for all riders.
Challenge Route (210km, Unsupported)
This route is challenging in distance, and includes a good number of hills. The beautiful countryside makes it all worthwhile, if your legs and stamina are up for it. Careful navigation is needed as there are no directional signs posted.
This route follows the Classic route, and is thus supported, for the first 22km out of Stittsville. It then turns north to venture through beautiful Lanark County, Almonte west to Lanark, and south to Westport. One big change, this year, is the Challenge is the only route that goes through Westport. A couple of cafes are marked on the map for those wishing to enjoy a rest in Westport.
The biggest route change is the exit from Westport. Avoiding the #10, you will head east to Crosby, then turn south to follow the side roads to Chaffey’s Locks (suggest a stop at Brown’s Marina), then the twists and turns of Opinicon Road over to Perth Rd Village. At that point, you return to the #10 and follow it to Inverary, where there is another restaurant stop.
Note that you have the alternative, at Crosby (km 152.5), to follow the Classic/ Century Plus route to the end. Download the additional route to your GPS device.
Cataraqui Route (118km, Unsupported gravel)
For the third year, the RLCT is offering a gravel option. The Cataraqui Route starts in Perth, makes use of the Cataraqui and K&P rail trails, as well as quiet country roads.
This is a mixed surface ride, 50% unpaved. Gravel roads, rail trails, and quiet paved roads are not technical, intended to be accessible to a wide range of gravel riders.
The feedback from the first two years’ riders was “two thumbs up”. It’s a great route, quiet and scenic, through the heart of the Rideau Lakes cottage country. The gravel roads and rail trails are in great shape, mostly fast and hard, great for all gravel cyclists. The route is best done on smooth-tread tires, and anything 35mm or wider will be fine (Experienced riders might opt for 32-33mm). At the south end, approaching Queen’s University, about 11 km is paved highway riding.
This is an unsupported route, riders must be prepared to do their own repairs and arrange for emergency assistance if needed. Also note that it follows mainly quiet, remote roads and trails with limited services and that parts of the route use trails which are inaccessible to motor vehicles.
The initial 40km from Perth south follows the Classic/ Century Plus route that is supported. Cataraqui route riders can take advantage of the RLCT Rest Stop at Narrows Locks, as well as all tour support services between Perth and Crosby. Between Crosby and Queen’s University, the route is unsupported. Note that there is no rest stop at Perth Road Village this year, the result being a 30-ish km stretch (km 51 – km 83) with no commercial services.
Cataraqui Plus Route (177 km, Unsupported; rail trail, gravel)
If you wish a longer gravel ride, follow the Classic route from Stittsville to Perth. You can also follow the Trans-Canada rail trail right from the starting point in Stittsville to Carleton Place then head south on the Ottawa Valley rail trail to Beckwith 9th Line where you join the Classic route for the ride into Perth. Download the Classic files as needed.