The following questions and answers are the most common queries we receive from hikers interested in following the Rideau Trail. If you do not see an answer that helps you, please email us and we will do our best to respond.

1. What are the activities in the Rideau Trail Association?
2. When are hikes held?
3. Do I have to be a member of the RTA to hike on the trail?
4. What is the age range of the RTA members?
5. How can I join the RTA?
6. How can I tell if my membership is still valid?
7. Where can I get a map of the Rideau Trail?
8. Where can I camp on the Rideau Trail?
9. May I travel the Rideau Trail on my bike?
10. Where can I take my ATV on the Rideau Trail?
11. When is the hunting season along the Rideau Trail?
12. How can I plan an end-to-end hike of the Rideau Trail?
13. Can I bring my dog or other pet to an RTA outing?
14. Can I bring my dog or other pet on the Rideau Trail?
15. Can I bring my dog or other pet to Gatineau Park or the Greenbelt (NCC land) for a non-RTA hike?
16. How can I reach the National Capital Commission (NCC) which administers Gatineau Park and the Greenbelt?

Most of the activities in the Rideau Trail Association are in the form of weekend outings appropriate for the season. These consist of day hikes lasting at most about 6 hours in total. In the winter there are cross-country ski outings and snowshoeing. During the rest of the year, hikes are held almost every weekend and may only slow a bit in the Spring when wet conditions make foot travel a little difficult. Some years, a series of hikes may be scheduled with the purpose of covering the entire trail (300km) from Kingston through to Ottawa. This is called an End-to-End series, for which members (only) who are successful are awarded a badge and certificate. Sometimes an End-to-End may occur during the winter months. Other kinds of outings are trail maintenance outings where the emphasis is on work, bicycle outings (not on the Rideau Trail) and occasionally a barbeque, skating party or potluck supper. At all times the emphasis is having a socially enjoyable time.
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Most hikes in the RTA are held on weekends, but there are other outings during the week in some Clubs, usually on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Refer to current outing pages for each area.
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No, non-members may hike on the Rideau Trail. It is strongly suggested that hikers do not travel alone, and that before getting on to the Rideau Trail, a Trail Guidebook is obtained, either from a nearby bookstore or from the RTA directly. The trail is marked with orange triangular markers that point the way from Kingston to Ottawa. If hiking towards the southern end (Kingston) these markers display a yellow tip. Remember to dress appropriately for the weather and bring sufficient food and water for the day.
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Members are not asked for their age or age group on joining, but a likely average is around 50. Ages vary from 30s to well into 70s and beyond for some of our really fit hikers. Outings are designed for an adult group, so that young children may not find the hiking pace or the social grouping to their liking.
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The best way to become a member is to fill out a membership form and mail the membership fee (by cheque) to the RTA address in Kingston displayed on that form. Memberships may also be taken out at the annual Association or Club meetings. Prospective members may choose to go along on a few of our outing before joining, to see what the RTA is all about. Our current outing pages provide local Club telephone numbers for further contact.
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All members receive copies of the quarterly Rideau Trail Newsletter. The mailing label on the back page of the Newsletter includes the expiry date for your last-paid membership. Members may buy a yearly membership, which covers from April 1 to March 31 of the following year, or may buy a life membership. In this case, rather than showing an expiry date, the mailing label would show the word "Life".
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Maps of the trail are available in a poster size, showing the entire trail, or as the twelve detailed individual maps that form part of the Trail Guidebook. The latter maps are those that are needed for hiking purposes. Some bookstores may sell one or both of these; if not, each may be ordered by mail from the RTA directly. Refer to the membership application form for prices and the mailing address. Note that from time to time re-routing of the trail becomes necessary. Updates to the trail direction are shown on the website at Trail Changes and this page should be regularly consulted.
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Camping on the Rideau Trail is prohibited. The trail is intended for day-hiking only. Hikers will find a list of public campgrounds in the general vicinity of the trail by referring to the Rideau Trail Guidebook, available from a bookstore or from the RTA directly. Another type of accomodation to consider is Bed and Breakfast establishments. Hikers could refer to the B&B Canada web site to find B&Bs in the towns and villages along the route of the Rideau Trail.

The Rideau Trail could not exist without the cooperation of a large number of landowners who generously grant us formal permission to access their land, for foot-traffic only. Such permissions have been granted by Provincial Parks, Conservation areas, and individual farmers and landowners, not for access to all their land, but only to the portions which they know lie along our trail as shown in the Guidebook.

Respecting the wishes of private landowners is a very important issue for the RTA. This means hikers are not welcome to simply camp when tired anywhere along the trail; much of the path of the trail lies on private property.
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No. The Rideau Trail is for day-hiking only. It is for foot travel only. No vehicles are allowed, either human-powered or motorized. This includes ATVs, snowmobiles, motorbikes and bicycles of any type. Wherever public roadways form part of the trail, these other types of travel may be allowed, but in general only pedestrians may use the Rideau Trail.
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The trails along the Rideau Trail are not intended for motorized traffic or indeed for anything but travelling by foot. This is because where our trail crosses private land, we are granted access for foot traffic only. Abuse of this agreement can result in the landowner's withdrawing their permission to use their property for hiking.

There are a few all-purpose trails in eastern Ontario, where ATVs and snowmobiles may be used. Parts of the Trans Canada Trail is all-purpose, but the Rideau Trail is for hiking alone.
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The hunting season in Ontario depends on several factors including: the area, the type of game, and even the type of hunting equipment used. Generally, the hunting season along the Rideau Trail includes a good part of the Fall and a good part of the Winter. Please see the Ministry of Natural Resources website or call 1-800-667-1940 for details. It's also a good idea to wear hunter orange clothing if you are hiking where and when hunting may be permitted. Any of the scheduled RTA hikes held at this time of year will take hunting access in mind when choosing a venue.
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An individual End-to-End hike requires a lot of planning. It is first essential to obtain a Trail Guidebook in order to get an idea of the difficulty of the terrain in each area of the trail and what would be a reasonable day's progress along the route. The most challenging (and visually interesting) parts of the Rideau Trail are in the southern half from Kingston to Perth and Smiths Falls. The Guidebook shows locations of public camping sites for those who wish to backpack; note that these sites are not along the trail itself. A Rideau Trail Guidebook can be ordered from the RTA directly by mail using the membership/order form. If it's more convenient, Trail Guides are also available from some stores. After obtaining a Guidebook, be sure to consult the web page for Trail Changes to the maps and trail descriptions.

There are insufficient opportunities to camp along the trail when attempting an End-to-End in one continuous run; some hikers make use of Bed-and-Breakfasts near to the trail. Have a look at www.bbcanada.com

In any case, it would be necessary to be prepared for the expected seasonal conditions on the trail, e.g. to carry wet-weather apparel as well as insect repellant for Summer hiking and long pants for travel in the bush. Some hikers prefer to hike only in cooler weather to avoid the heat and flies of the Summer or the wet conditions of the early Spring. Organizing sufficient food and water and possibly camping equipment is a given.

If not backpacking, a large problem for the End-to-Ender who is limited to day-hikes is to schedule transportation to a trailhead and then back to that location after that section has been hiked. This usually means hiking with a friend who can leave their car at the end-location to provide a ride back to the trailhead at the end of the day.

Many hikers take several months or years to accomplish the End-to-End, hiking sections of the trail as they have time. Another possibility is to attend a variety of the scheduled (mostly weekend) hikes announced in the member's Newsletter. This would solve the transportation problem since from any of the three Club hike meeting places, a system of car shuttling is organized (for a fee) for hikers without cars and those not wishing to drive. Put together over a period of time, such hikes could cover much of the Rideau Trail and the remaining parts of the trail could be covered when convenient. Some years, a series of hikes specifically designed to cover the entire trail is organized for a set of weekends.

End-to-Enders who are Members of the RTA may apply for official recognition of their accomplishment once completed. Certificates are awarded each year at the RTA Annual General meeting in June.
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No. Dogs or other pets, with the exception of certified guide dogs accompanying a visually impaired participant, are not allowed at RTA events due to problems with park regulations, wildlife, landowners, and also other participants during the event or during transportation to and from the event.
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Not where the Rideau Trail crosses private land. Dogs or other pets, especially when un-tethered, may upset or agitate farm animals, which can result in a landowner or farmer withdrawing permission for the RTA to access his/her property, requiring a great deal of effort by the RTA to re-route the old path of the trail. There is also some chance of meeting up with a farmer's dog or wild animal as well, which could be a problem.
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Yes, in many cases. The NCC has information regarding pets in their Animal Regulations FAQ
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Contact information for the NCC is on their website. It’s a good idea to bring along the NCC 24 hour emergency number (613-239-5353) if you will be entering Gatineau Park or the Greenbelt. This is true even if you don’t carry a cell phone since you may be with, or encounter someone who does.
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