Janet Stavinga gives Nicole Florent a letter from Mayor Chiarelli to be hand-carried to Kingston's Mayor

This series of hikes, organized jointly by all three RTA Clubs, covers the entire Rideau Trail, starting in Ottawa on April 30 and ending at Kingston in October. The hikes vary in difficulty, and in length between 9 and 18 km. Long drives and a late return should be expected for the segments of the program at the other end of the trail from where you live.

Members of the RTA who complete the series of hikes may apply for official recognition. Certificates and badges are awarded each year at the June RTA Annual General Meeting. Those who do only some of the hikes, this time, may also apply for official recognition, once they have completed the other segments either on other RTA outings or on privately organized hikes. To apply, document the dates of each segment, and send it to info@rideautrail.org.

As usual, car pooling is the method that will be used to get from the meeting location to the rendezvous point on the trail. Hikers who ride as passengers are expected to make a contribution to the cost of gas. The suggested contribution is included in the hike description and can be clarified on the day of the hike with the Leader.

The rendezvous point is defined as the location on the trail where the cars traveling from the Ottawa, Central and Kingston clubs with their passengers are to meet, prior to the car shuttle.

On some of the hikes, a local bus will be hired to shuttle hikers between the rendezvous point and the place where the hike will start. This will avoid the waiting time for a car shuttle at the end of the hike. There will be a nominal charge for the shuttle bus.

The group at the start of the 2005 End-toEnd

Here is the schedule, clicking "Hike Diary" at the end of each hike description will give you a brief overview of the hike:

Saturday, April 30. End-to-End Hike #1. Map #12.

Level 1. On city recreational paths. Richmond Landing, Ottawa, along the Ottawa River to Corkstown Road & Moodie Drive. 14 km. Suggested car park: below the National Library. Meet at Richmond Landing off Portage Bridge. No car shuttle. Return on the 96 bus. Leader will provide bus tickets at cost. Opening ceremony 10 AM. Depart by 10:30 AM.
Hike Diary
 

Sunday, May 1 - End-to-End Hike #2. Map #11 & 12.

Level 1+. Corkstown Road & Moodie Drive to Fallowfield Road. 15.9 km. Meet at Fallowfield Park and Ride at 10 AM. Gas $2.
Hike Diary
 

Saturday, May 14 - End-to-End Hike #3. Map #10 & 11.

Level 2. Fallowfield Road (at Steeple Hill) to end of Ottawa Street (west of Richmond). Mostly flat country side roads, some woods, lagoon and riverside walking. 14.9 km. Meet at Fallowfield Park and Ride at 10 AM. Gas $3.
Hike Diary
 

Saturday, May 28 - End-to-End Hike #4. Map #10.

Level 2. End of Ottawa Street (west of Richmond) to Kettles Road. 13.7 km. Meet at the end of Ottawa St. at 10 AM. Gas $3.
Hike Diary
 

Sunday, May 29 - End-to-End Hike #5. Map #9 & 10.

Level 2. Afternoon walk. Kettle Road to Rogers Stevens Drive 9.3 km Marlborough Forest. Some wet areas. Rendezvous at parking lot on Roger Stevens Drive at 12:30 PM. Bus shuttle from there to Kettles Road.
Hike Diary
 

Saturday, June 11 - End-to-End Hike #6. Map #8 & 9.

Level 2. Roger Stevens Road to Gilroy Road including Earth Star Loop. 16 km. Marlborough Forest. Lime kiln. Some wet areas. Rendezvous at parking lot on Roger Stevens Drive at 10 AM. Bus shuttle from there to Gilroy Road.
 

Sunday, June 26 - End-to-End Hike #7. Map #8.

Level 2+. Gilroy Road to Smiths Falls (Matheson Drive & Rosedale Road) 14.4 km. Meet at Rosedale Rd. at 10 AM> Bus shuttle from there to Gilroy Rd.
Hike Diary
 

Saturday, July 9 - End-to-End Hike #8. Map #7 & 8.

Level 2. Matheson Drive at power line to Port Elmsley. 17km. Rendezvous time at Port Elmsley: 10:00 a.m. (car or bus shuttle to start of hike on Matheson Road).
 

Sunday, July 24 - End-to-End Hike #9. Map #6 & 7.

Level 2. Port Elmsley to Last Duel Park (Perth). 14.6 km. Rendezvous time at Last Duel Park in Perth: 10:00 a.m. (car or bus shuttle to start of hike in Port Elmsley).
 

Saturday, August 6 - End-to-End Hike #10. Map #5 & 6. Level 2.

Last Duel Park (Perth) to McLaren Lake Road. 14 km. Rendezvous time at Last Duel Park in Perth: 10:00 a.m. (start of hike).
 

Sunday, August 7 - End-to-End Hike #11. Map #5.

Level 2. McLaren Lake Road to Murphy's Point Provincial Park (gate).13.4 km. Rendezvous time at Last Duel Park in Perth: 10:00 a.m. (car or bus shuttle to McLaren Lake Road and start of hike).
 

Sunday, August 14 - End-to-End Hike #12. Map #5.

Level 2. Narrows Lock parking lot to Murphy’s Point Prov. Park Gate. 17.7 km. Rendezvous at 10:00 a.m. at Narrows Lock parking lot.
 

Saturday, August 27 - End-to-End #13. Map #4 & 5.

Lions’ Club beach in Westport to Narrows Lock Road. Level 3. 13.9 km. Rendezvous at 9:45 a.m. at Lions’ Club Beach Park, Westport.
 

Sunday, September 11 - End-to-End #14. Map #4.

Level 2. Lions’ Club beach in Westport to Massassauga & Perth Roads. 17.4 km. Rendezvous at 10:00 a.m. at Lions’ Club Beach Park, Westport.
 

Saturday, September 24 - End-to-End #15. Map #4.

Level 2. Bedford Mills (Massassauga & Perth Road) to Skycroft on Opinicon Road. 13.6 km. Rendezvous at 10:00 a.m. at church in Bedford Mills.
 

Sunday, September 25 - End-to-End #16. Map #3 & 4.

Level 2. Skycroft to Maple Leaf Road and Opinicon Road. 17.1 km. Rendezvous at 10:00 a.m. at Maple Leaf Road and Opinicon Road.
 

Saturday, October 1 - End-to-End #17. Map #3.

Level 3. Maple Leaf Road and Opinicon Road to Bedford Road and Salmon Lake Road. 18.8 km. Rendezvous at 10:00 a.m. at Bedford Road and Salmon Lake Road.
 

Saturday, October 15 - End-to-End #18. Map #2.

Level 3. Bedford Road and Salmon Lake Road to Sydenham Dam.16.6 km. Rendezvous at 10:00 a.m. at Sydenham Dam (park at IGA).
 

Sunday, October 16 - End-to-End #19. Map #1 & 2.

Level 2. Sydenham Dam to Unity Road and Cordukes Road. 16.1 km. Rendezvous at 10:00 a.m. at Sydenham Dam (park at IGA).
 

Saturday, October 29 - End-to-End #20 (Last hike!). Map #1.

Level 2. Unity Road and Cordukes Road to Trailhead in Kingston. 15.2 km. Rendezvous at 10:00 a.m. at Trailhead. Plan to celebrate after the hike!
 

This page last updated September 19, 2005.