11 August 2026
What is its Purpose and how is the Website laid out?
The current Rideau Trail Association (RTA) website is divided into two sections; information available to all users including those of the general public, and information only available to members. The site serves to provide information to all trail users, provide a means to register new and renewing members, and to act as a forum to members for club activities and other key Association information.
What information is available to the public?
It is assumed that members of the public may wish to use the trail sometimes; this includes visitors to the communities alongside the trails as well as longer-term residents. Thus, maps and alerts to changes on the trails are available for free to all users at https://www.rideautrail.org/ , along with some general information about the RTA. Also, specific information about the Rideau Trail Association is provided to the general public so that they may decide to join us. A general guide to the RTA’s activities is provided as Information for Non-Members. This includes a link for non-members to view any RTA activities that have been designated as open to non-member participation and signup.
What information is available to members only?
The Member Hub, accessible once signing on with a member account contains the main link to the RTA Activity Centre. Information on upcoming events, members’ news, badges, association newsletters, specific challenges, and other information are also available, as well as needed forms.
How to become a member
This will be posted here later Fall 2026 as the process will change.
Getting to the Activity Calendar
The Activity Calendar is found on the members-only portion of the website at https://www.rideautrail.org/member-hub/activities-calendar/ from the Member Hub under “Activities Calendar”, either from a tab on the main page of under “I’m Looking for” on the pull-down menu above.
Using the Activity Calendar
As of this writing, a new user guide to our Team-Up pages is in preparation.
Features of the website
The following are the main features available from the website, both on the public site and the members’ site:
- News: News on upcoming events and new programs is posted as RTA Members’ News. A subset of this news that is applicable to the general public is available on the main page of the public site and at RTA News.
- Maps (available to general public): Maps of the 19 sections of the main trail and several side-trails are available that may be printed or downloaded for use whilst hiking (it should be noted that the internet is not always available on all sections of the trail). There are also trail descriptions, elevation changes, and GPS files available for download.
- Trail Alerts (available to general public): There are things that happen from time to time which means it is necessary to issue a caution to trail users; such as constructions, blockages due to weather, or periodic closures that make it necessary to issue Trail Alerts. These may also be accessed on the specific map page which the alert is applicable for. All users should be checking the Trail Alerts prior to going out on the trails.
- Club Pages (available to general public): Club Pages for the three clubs (Kingston, Central, and Ottawa) are accessible from the main public page at the bottom.
- Membership Applications (available to general public): New memberships and renewals can be made at the Membership Registration form and the Renewal Page. This page also describes the benefits of joining as well as the prices.
- Donations (available to general public): Donations of volunteer time, land passage, or money to the Operating Fund or Preservation Fund may be made or inquired about from this page.
- Upcoming and Special Events: This page, accessible only to current members, draws attention to major events during the current three-month period and beyond, in addition to far many more events listed under Activity Calendar.
- Challenges, Endeavours, etc.: Specific multi-event challenges are featured that members will wish to achieve over a longer period of time. These include End-to-End Hike challenges, Frontenac Park challenges, Blue Trail, Rideau Canal Locks, Junior Hikers, 55th Anniversary activities, and many others listed on one page.
- Badges: Badges, earned over most of these activities are displayed along with means of downloading relevant information about the activities, for members to access.
- Newsletters: Newsletters have been issued on a basis of every three months since the founding of the club in 1971. The current newsletter (press the “Current Newsletter” button on Member Hub) and all back-issues are available from the website for members.
- Information for Volunteers: Specific information for hike leaders is available as well as general information on trail coordination.