RIDEAU

The Rideau Canal was cut through the wild and beautiful areas of the Frontenac Axis to provide an alternative to the St. Lawrence in case of attack from the Americans. Happily, it was never used for that purpose and has become a well-used recreational waterway. It extends from Ottawa to Kingston and we'll use it as the general direction of our tour while making side trips to take advantage of the unique attractions, historic sites and natural resources of the area.

The Frontenac Axis is an arm of the PreCambrian Shield which extends south to the Kingston area; its edges provide some rugged escarpments for some challenging hiking and stunning views. The Rideau Trail cuts through the area and links a number of provincial parks and conservation areas. We'll hike some of the most interesting of the trails available.

We’ll explore some of Rideau's river valleys and rolling farmlands, walk along quartzite ridges, look out over the countryside from a number of high points and enjoy the urban landscape of Ottawa along the Ottawa River and Kingston along Lake Ontario.

A Thousand Islands boat cruise and the sunset ceremonies at Old Fort Henry are included. We explore canal locks, the murals at Athens and historic Merrickville. All accomodations on this tour are in unique small inns, with historic significance.

The Tour starts and ends in Ottawa.