Rideau Canal

Kingston, Canada

Canada, Rideau Canal, The Great Loop

Completing our cruise down the Rideau Canal, Three Sons docked at Confederation Marina to explore the city of Kingston and prepare for our the next leg our journey, the Trent Severn Canal. The marina is in the heart of downtown Kingston and give us a great jumping point to take it all in.

Canadian Side Trip Recap

Canada, Ottawa River, Rideau Canal, St. Lawrence River, The Great Loop

Leaving Clayton, NY we were 18 nautical miles from the next suggested destination on America’s Great Loop, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. However, we chose to do a 350 NM ‘side trip’ which involved many, many, locks but absolutely, beyond beautiful cruising grounds. Our route was basically a triangle taking us northeast into Montreal then west to Ottawa and finally southwest arriving in Kingston. We traveled the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal. Each waterway had different characteristics and interesting surrounding towns. The side was well worth the extra time and locks!

Cruising the Rideau Canal

Canada, Rideau Canal, The Great Loop

Cuising the last 37 miles of the Rideau was some of the most beautiful. Lots of skinny, shallow water with the reward of the feeling we were all alone in a stream or pond that we had no business on with our Trawler. The stops were equally tranquil, simple tie up along lock walls in park like settings.

Westport, Canada

Canada, Rideau Canal, The Great Loop

Of course, we needed to make a side trip to a place called Westport. Venturing off the Rideau Canal brought us to the quaint, little town of Westport, Canada. A wonderful stop, with a brewery, (the brewery was actually closer to the marina than the marina bathrooms) a great grocery store, restaurants and wonderful shops to browse.

Colonel By Island, Canada

Canada, Rideau Canal, The Great Loop

Not much here except a little dock, a few mooring balls, a fire pit, and path through the woods. The peace, quiet and surreal feeling was probably the best on this side trip. We did not read about this place in any of our many books, but discovered this gem by chatting with some locals.

Cruising the Rideau Canal

Canada, Rideau Canal, The Great Loop

After our visit to Ottawa and transiting the staircase locks know as the ‘flight of 8’ we set off to cruise the rest of Rideau Canal. Approximate travel time to travel the entire 125 miles from Ottawa to Kingston takes 3-4 days. We estimate it will take 10 days to reach Kingston making many stops along the way.

Ottawa, Canada

Canada, Rideau Canal, The Great Loop

Three Sons left Montebello, Canada and set out for the capital of Canada. Frist, we stopped at a marina for one night to stage for our trip up the ‘flight of 8’ into the center of Ottawa. While at Kitchissipi Marina we biked into Ottawa to explore. On the second day, we moved Three Sons to the center of Ottawa and tackled the “flight of 8 locks.” We did not know what to expect in the capital but boy were we blown away! We just loved Ottawa, with beautiful weather and so much to do and see, we stayed longer than we had planned. The joy of this trip is not having a schedule!